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Location: Southglade Park, Nottingham
Event: 17 September 2011
Report: Snowdon Sports | Photography: Ray Stuart
Former National Under-23 Cyclo-Cross and Mountain Bike Champion David Fletcher sprinted to a narrow victory at the end of a fast race at Southglade Park in Nottingham on Saturday, second round of the popular Notts and Derby League.
The 22-year-old from Edwinstowe needed plenty of the class which saw him ride for GB in order to win a close race, which ended with the top five riders separated by just two seconds.
Fletcher (Boardman Elite) edged out Buzz Cycles' Adam Biggs for the win, but he couldn't shake off the attentions of the leading group which powered clear on a super fast course.
Short-mown grass topped the hard-packed sandstone, and the pace was high from the outset on the new venue which proved popular with the majority of riders.
Sweeping curves helped the race flow, and it was not long before several distinct groups formed.
Up front it was nip and tuck all the way, with the leaders tracking their rivals' every move. And in the early stages the leading group included another former GB racer, Nikki Harris (Team Telenet) who eventually ended up 13th overall.
The great new course also caused some fascinating racing in the youth event, where Heanor Clarion's James Shaw won by 43 seconds from league regular Arthur Green (Matlock CC).
And there was a great performance from Shaw's team-mate at Heanor Clarion William Gascoyne, who was top Under-14 in fourth spot overall.
The league continues this Saturday (Sept 24) at the Thornbridge Centre in Great Longstone, near Bakewell.
Results:
Seniors:
1 David Fletcher (Boardman Elite) 49:15
2 Adam Biggs (Buzz Cycles) @ 2sec
3 Ben Eedy (Empella Cyclo-Cross.com)
4 Chris Metcalfe (Charge Bikes)
5 Lee Shunburne (Matlock CC) all @ same time
6 Rob Parkin (Buzz Bikes) @ 18sec
7 James Thompson (Boneshakers) @ 1:12
8 Aron Marshall (Sherwood Pines) @ 1:23
9 Andrew Stuart (TFN) @ 1:26
10 Andrew Naylor (Ashfield RC) @ 1:42
Juniors: Nick Barnes (Zepnat RT). Veterans: Dan Cook (Planet X). Under-23s: Aron Marshall (Sherwood Pines). Women: Nikki Harris (Team Telenet).
Youth:
1 James Shaw (Heanor Clarion) 23:58
2 Arthur Green (Matlock CC) @ 43sec
3 Tom Weeds (Derby Mercury RC) @ 55sec
4 William Gascoyne (Heanor Clarion) @ 1:42
5 Chris Barnes (Seacroft Wheelers) @ 2:18
6 Tomos Owens (Mid Shropshire Wheelers) same time
Under-14s: William Gascoyne (Heanor Clarion)
Girls: Sarah Lomas (Matlock CC)
Under-12s: James Swadling (Nottingham Clarion)
Under-12 Girls: Ellie Smith (Matlock CC)
Under-9s: Matthew Luscombe (Derby Mercury RC)
British Cycling would like to thank the organising team, officials and everyone else who helped promote this event. Our sport could not exist without the hundreds of people, many of them unpaid volunteers, who put in many hours of hard work running events, activities and clubs.
