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Report: Cyclo-Cross National Trophy Round 5
Bradford | Sunday 12 December 2010
Report: Phil Ingham | Images: Joolze Dymond
Results | Series Standings | Series Homepage
A cold, crisp West Yorkshire morning greeted riders at the fifth round of the 2010-11 National Trophy Cyclo-Cross Series, held in Peel Park, Bradford. The course was initially in prime condition, quick and slick after a partial thaw of the recent snow and ice. However, as the day progressed and the thaw continued, things became very slippery and, in a few places, extremely muddy.
Senior Race Video
Race Round-Up - Vets, Juniors, Women & Youths
Images: Photo Sets on Flickr
Richard Seipp | Joolze Dymond | Ian Hodgson | Chris Etchells | Cheryl King
RACE REPORTS
Senior Men
The Senior Men's race was a fitting climax to a great day's sport, with a big crowd thoroughly enjoying the thrills and spills on show. Indeed, the race was only seconds old when there was a big crash on the third corner: Dutch under-23 David Van Der Poel went wide and slid off, bringing down a heap of riders, including two of the pre-race favourites, Paul Oldham and Jody Crawforth.
Ian Field, throwing off the effects of a headache which has dogged him for several days, was at the front off the start and he missed the crash and was soon leading on his own. Once the leading riders had re-organised themselves, Field found himself joined at the head of the race by Oldham, with Ven Der Poel and Crawforth amongst those chasing a handful of seconds down.
For the crowd, the place to watch was a new off-camber descent at the top of the finish straight. Already slippery from the day's previous races, the speed of the senior men combined with the mud made the bank a nightmarish skating rink, where riders found themselves sucked towards the tapes, sliding out of control. Numerous crashes kept the enthusiastic crowd entertained, whilst the mud limited the damage to a little psychological scarring as dignity went out of the window and competitors scrambled their way down as best they could.
Meanwhile, there was further trouble for Crawforth who fell heavily at the foot of the course's signature banking climb at the bottom end of the course. The series leader duly lost touch with the leading group of riders and must have wondered what else could go wrong. A further crash on lap three didn't deter him, though, and knowing he had a series lead to defend he got his head down and carried on.
At the head of the race, Oldham and Field rode together for the best part of three laps, before Field decided to up the tempo and moved clear. Oldham initially stayed in contact but the gap gradually opened up.
Behind this leading duo, Van Der Poel found himself in third place, with Rob Jebb, who always goes well at this venue, chasing close behind. Crawforth was by now up into fifth, with Lewis Craven and Nick Craig locked together just behind, both showing off their excellent technique in the mud.
Going into the last couple of laps, Field had built up a 45 second lead and it was becoming clear that, barring accidents, he was going to win. Likewise, Oldham was now safe in second, a minute and a half up on Van Der Poel, who, having resisted Jebb very well, seemed to have secured a podium place.
Field continued to enjoy a practically clear course and was still going away from Oldham when he crossed the line to take an impressive win, his second in succession in the series. Oldham took second, but behind him things were changing.
Firstly, Crawforth began to close down Jebb and looked certain to claim fourth from the Wheelbase rider. Then, suddenly, in the last half lap, Van Der Poel blew and both Jebb and Crawforth rocketed past him on the final cambered banking. Crawforth turned out onto the finish straight first and took third, a very fine ride after so much trouble in the first couple of laps.
Jebb looked happy with fourth and a rather disconsolate Van Der Pole was fifth. Nick Craig, Lewis Craven and local rider Tim Baldwin completed the top 8. Van Der Poel did at least have the consolation of taking the under-23 race.
Oldham and Crawforth now go to the final event of the series only a point apart, with the rest out of sight.
Interviews with 3rd Placed Jody Crawforth and winner, Ian Field
Brief Results (Full Results)
1 Ian Field Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott/GSI (Elite) 1 h 2 m 35
2 Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing (Elite) @ 0:16
3 Jody Crawforth Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott/GSI (Elite) @ 2:12
4 Rob Jebb Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale (Elite) @ 2:18
5 David van der Poel Isorex Cycling Team - Belgium (Under 23) @ 2:33
6 Nick Craig Team Scott UK (Elite) @ 3:24
7 Lewis Craven Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale (Elite) @ 4:14
8 Tim Baldwin Paul Milnes/Bradford Olympic RC (Elite) @ 4:51
9 Kris Lapere Mez Team Belgium (Elite) @ 5:41
10 Robin Seymour Team Worc - Ireland (Elite) @ 5:57
Brief Series Standings (Full Standings)
1 Jody Crawforth Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott/GSI 201
2 Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing 200
3 Liam Killeen Individual Member 112
4 Nick Craig Team Scott UK 104
5 Rob Jebb Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale 101
Under-23
1 Tom Payton Cult Racing 119
2 Ben Roach Cult Racing 118
3 Robert Watson Paul Milnes RT/Bradford Olympic 116
4 Luke Gray Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott/GSI 109
5 Lee Westwood Individual Member 103
Veterans
The Veteran's race saw run-away series leader Darren Atkins lead off the start and up the first tarmac climb. On his wheel was Jonathan Watson, who then took up the running for the majority of the first lap. Mid lap, Watson and Atkins still held an advantage over Dan Cook, Phil Roach and Matt Denby, with Wheelbase duo Noel Clough and Chris Young a few seconds adrift.
Darren Atkins Interview
Watson's challenge faded and Phil Roach moved up to join Atkins at the end of the first lap, with Cook, Denby, Clough and Young forming a ragged group of chasers.
The second lap saw Atkins gradually ease clear of Roach who was joined in a battle for second by Matt Denby. Chris Young made two huge efforts up the long muddy bankings in the closing third of a lap and put himself into contention in fourth by the end of the lap.
With the race now settling into a pattern, Atkins continued to push on at the front, apparently untroubled by the difficult conditions as the still half-frozen course began to cut up. Young was equally at home and he moved rapidly into second on his own, some 12 seconds down on the leader. Denby and Roach had begun a battle for third which was to last for almost the entire rest of the race, with Dan Cook drifting away from them in fifth.
Going into the closing stages of the race, Young's efforts to close down Atkins were beginning to tell on him and it became increasingly apparent that he would have to settle for second. Indeed, although pegged for a couple of laps mid race, Atkins' lead was going out again as he crossed the line to claim his fourth win of the series.
Young soloed in to take second, perhaps half a minute down, with Denby a further twenty seconds down claiming third, having finally thrown off Roach in the last lap. Atkins now has a very healthy advantage in the series, which he looks likely to wrap up at the final round in Rutland early in the New Year.
The Over-50 race saw Steve Davis continue his great run this season, once again edging clear of his only serious rival, national champion Ian Wright, and gradually building up a solid lead of almost half a minute which he took to the line to claim his fourth win in five starts in the series. Malcolm Cross claimed third.
Brief Results (Full Results)
Veteran 40
1 Darren Atkins Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk (Veteran) 39 m 2 s
2 Chris Young Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale (Veteran) @ 0:22
3 Matthew Denby www.Zepnat.com RT/Kuota/GSG (Veteran) @ 0:43
4 Philip Roach Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk (Veteran) @ 1:17
5 Gary Lingard CC Hackney (Veteran) @ 1:45
Veteran 50
1 Steven Davies Endura/Thule/24/7/Kinesis/MI Racing (Over 50) 41 m 13 s
2 Ian Wright Raleigh RT/Michelin/High5 (Over 50) @ 0:19
3 Malcolm Cross Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott/GSI (Over 50) @ 1:24
4 Roy Hunt Colnago-Microshift-Skins (Over 50) @ 1:31
5 Dave McMullen Evans Cycles RT (Over 50) @ 1:39
Brief Series Standings (Full Standings)
Veteran 40
1 Darren Atkins Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk 244
2 Chris Young Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale 215
3 Philip Roach Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk 178
4 Matthew Denby www.Zepnat.com RT/Kuota/GSG 176
5 Gary Lingard CC Hackney 165
Veteran 50
1 Steven Davies Endura/Thule/24/7/Kinesis/MI Racing 194
2 Ian Wright Raleigh RT/Michelin/High5 172
3 Dave McMullen Evans Cycles RT 147
4 Mick Rowson Individual Member 100
5 Peter Wilkin Fietsen Tempo/The House/Chapters 94
Junior Men
The Junior Men's race was dominated from the off by three of this season's leading riders, Alistair Slater, Jack Clarkson and Hugo Robinson. This trio were away and clear of the rest of the field within the first minute of racing and they were soon so far ahead that the rest of the field were effectively fighting for fourth place.
Slater eased into a lead of some five seconds by the mid-lap point, with Clarkson also putting a couple of lengths into Robinson. By the start of lap two Slater was 14 seconds clear, but Robinson had re-joined Clarkson in a battle for second.
Alistair Slater Interview
The second lap saw Slater really apply pressure from the front and his rivals had no real answer as he added some 20 seconds to his lead in next to no time. Clarkson again moved clear of Robinson, with slow starting Joe Moses pulling clear of the rest of the pack in the battle for fourth place.
Slater's domination continued right to the finish as he controlled the race, holding a healthy gap of over 40 seconds and never looking in any trouble. Clarkson gradually made second his own as Robinson began to fade, with Luke Grivell-Mellor closing down Moses on the final lap to move into fourth.
Slater duly claimed the win and consolidated his lead in the series, whilst Clarkson took second, his fifth straight podium of the series. Robinson was third and Grivell-Mellor a distant fourth.
Brief Results (Full Results)
1 Alistair Slater Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott/GSI (Junior) 39 m 50 s
2 Jack Clarkson Pedalsport CC (Junior) @ 0:36
3 Hugo Robinson X RT/Elmy Cycles (Junior) @ 1:40
4 Luke Grivell-Mellor Mid Shropshire Wheelers (Junior) @ 2:2
5 Joseph Moses Paul Milnes/Bradford Olympic RC (Junior) @ 2:23
Brief Series Standings (Full Standings)
1 Alistair Slater Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott/GSI 180
2 Jack Clarkson Pedalsport CC 164
3 Taylor Johnstone Team de Ver 125
4 Luke Grivell-Mellor Mid Shropshire Wheelers 106
5 Joseph Moses Paul Milnes/Bradford Olympic RC 97
Women
The Women's race was an intriguing battle, reflecting just how close this category is this season. A big group of perhaps seven or eight riders formed at the front during the first lap, including Hannah Barnes, Hannah Payton, Amy Roberts, New Zealander Genevieve Whitson, Corrine Hall, Bethany Crumpton and Victoria Wilkinson.
Payton it was who finally stamped her authority on the race and over a couple of laps she worked her way into a small lead over an ever-changing and diminishing chasing group. Whitson, a new name to many who were watching, was looking very strong and for a time it was she who looked the most likely to threaten Payton.
Victoria Wilkinson Interview
However, going into the second half of the race, Victoria Wilkinson began to move up through the field. A talented runner, who was a regular on the ‘Cross scene some five or six years ago, when she won the national series on a number of occasions, Wilkinson had made a surprise return to cycling the week before, winning the North of England Championships. Here, amid the mud and tricky run-ups of Peel park she gradually began to wind in Payton.
The last lap began with the pair together, but Wilkinson kept up the pressure and pulled clear to claim an impressive win, much to her delight. Payton held on to claim second and take the series lead, whilst veteran Isla Rowntree made a fine late surge to claim third, revelling in the difficult conditions. Whitson was eventually fourth. Payton now has a healthy lead in the series, despite having not yet won a race, as her closest rivals, Corrine Hall and Hannah Barnes both had days to forget, finishing 7th and 12th respectively.
Brief Results (Full Results)
1 Victoria Wilkinson Individual Member (Woman) 39 m 11 s
2 Hannah Payton(J) Stourbridge CC (Woman) @ 0:23
3 Isla Rowntree(V40) Stourbridge CC (Woman) @ 0:59
4 Genevieve Whitson Swindon RC (Woman) @ 1:19
5 Bethany Crumpton(J) Halesowen A & CC (Woman) @ 1:54
Brief Series Standings (Full Standings)
1 Hannah Payton(J) Stourbridge CC 145
2 Corrine Hall Team Corridori 128
3 Hannah Barnes (J) Motorpoint/Marshalls Pasta 115
4 Lucy Garner(J) Leicestershire RC 115
5 Ruby Miller Forza Cycles RT 89
Youths
The Youth races saw the already muddy course start to really cut up and technique was soon becoming as important as fitness. One rider showing both in spades was local lad Billy Harding, who moved into an early lead ahead of Chris Lawless and Harry Franklin. Series leader Jake Womerlsey was, in contrast, really struggling, suddenly down in fifth place after a promising start and looking well out of contention.
Lawless put in a couple of big laps to drag himself up to Harding and he had even opened up a small gap of perhaps 6 seconds as they took the bell. However, Harding came back at him in the first half of the final lap and by the time the pair came into the finish Harding had re-stablished his dominance of the race and he took the win, his second this season, by some 20 seconds.
Behind them, Womerlsey fought back from that bad start and showing real guts claimed third place on the line, with Franklin just behind him in fourth.
In the other categories there were wins for Arthur Green (under-14 boys), Alice Barnes (Under-16 girls), both of whom have now won four times this season and appear to have their respective series tied up. In the Under-14 Girls' event, Grace Garner took her first win, but Charlotte Broughton, who finished second now has a healthy lead going into the final event.
Brief Results (Full Results)
Under-16 Boys
1 Billy Harding Paul Milnes RT/ Bradford Olympic (Youth) 29 m 10 s
2 Chris Lawless Maxgear RT (Youth) @ 0:17
3 Jake Womersley Sowerby Brothers CRT (Youth) @ 0:48
4 Harry Franklin Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott/GSI (Youth) @ 1:2
5 James Shaw Heanor Clarion CC (Youth) @ 1:22
Under-16 Girls
1 Alice Barnes Palmer Park Velo (Yth Girl) 35 m 25 s
2 Rebecca Hunt Newport Velo CC (Yth Girl) @ 0:58
3 Emily Nelson Halesowen A & CC (Yth Girl) @ 2:28
4 Zoe Armstrong Bill Nickson Cycles RT (Yth Girl) @ 2:46
5 Amy Hill Newport Velo CC (Yth Girl) @ 3:13
Under-14 Boys
1 Arthur Green Matlock CC/Impsport/Farmers/Wards (Under 14) 32 m 40 s
2 Jake Poole Cyclesport UK/Pygott & Crone (Under 14) @ 1:24
3 Joseph Fry Welwyn Wheelers CC (Under 14) @ 1:40
4 Thomas Craig Team Scott UK (Under 14) @ 2:4
5 Tomas Franklin Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott/GSI (Under 14) @ 2:46
Under-14 Girls
1 Grace Garner Leicestershire RC (U14 Girl) 26 m 29 s
2 Charlotte Broughton Leicestershire RC (U14 Girl) @ 0:20
3 Amira Mellor Holme Valley Wheelers (U14 Girl) @ 0:51
4 Sarah Lomas Matlock CC/Impsport/Famers/Wards (U14 Girl) @ 1:17
5 Jessica Wilkinson Birkenhead North End CC (U14 Girl) @ 2:45
Brief Series Standings (Full Standings)
Youth Under-16 Male
1 Jake Womersley Sowerby Brothers CRT 210
2 Chris Lawless Maxgear RT 198
3 Harry Franklin Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott/GSI 194
4 Billy Harding Paul Milnes RT/ Bradford Olympic 186
5 Joe Kirkham VC Long Eaton 180
Youth Under-16 Female
1 Alice Barnes Palmer Park Velo 190
2 Emily Nelson Halesowen A & CC 162
3 Rebecca Hunt Newport Velo CC 110
4 Imogen Buick Thetford MTB Racing 100
5 Amy Hill Newport Velo CC 98
Youth Under-14 Male
1 Arthur Green Matlock CC/Impsport/Farmers/Wards 194
2 Jake Poole Cyclesport UK/Pygott & Crone 155
3 Tomas Franklin Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Scott/GSI 150
4 Joseph Fry Welwyn Wheelers CC 139
5 David Barnes Palmer Park Velo 94
Youth Under-14 Female
1 Charlotte Broughton Leicestershire RC 194
2 Grace Garner Leicestershire RC 142
3 Sarah Lomas Matlock CC/Impsport/Famers/Wards 134
4 Jessica Wilkinson Birkenhead North End CC 119
5 Ffion James Abergavenny RC/Lane/Govilon/Gateway 117
Under-12 Results
1 Dan Tulett Hargroves Cycles (U12)
2 Ben Wait City Road Club Hull (U12)
3 Ben Tulett PPU (U10)
4 Jacob Feetham Wakefield Jnr Tri (U12)
5 Mason Hollyman Sowerby bros (U12)
6 Jenson Young Pedalsport (U10)
7 Jamie Ridehaulgh Aire Valley Cycles (U12)
8 Bailey Walters Plan B racing (U12)
9 Tom Humphrey Wakefield Jnr Tri (U12)
10 Tim Elsmore Matlock CC (U10)
11 Christian Worner Teesdale CRC (U12)
12 Euan Cameron East Bradford CC (U12)
13 Tyla Lofthouse Salt Ayre Cog Set (U12)
14 Lewis Hartley Eastlands Velo (U12)
15 Joe Pilling Wakefield Jnr Tri (U12)
16 Jake Oldfield (U10)
17 Matthew Braybrooke Eastlands Velo (U12)
18 Isabelle Boon Belper BC (U12G)
19 Jack Ford Holme Valley Wheelers (U12)
20 Matt Taylor Pedalsport (U12)
21 Ffyona Booker Matlock CC (U12)
22 Ava Oxley Wakefield Jnr Tri (U10G)
23 Bethany Lewis VC Jubilee (U12G)
24 Katie Allen Stirling Bike Club/Wallace Warriors (U12G)
25 Felicity Gledhill Holme Valley Wheelers (U12G)
26 Christian Boon Belper BC (U10)
27 Simeon Young Pedalsport (U12)
28 Henry Hollyman Sowerby Bros (U10)
29 Adam Fortune Pedalsport (U10)
30 Paul Asquith East Bradford CC (U10)
31 Tom Whitworth Huddersfield RC (U10)
32 J Ince, Woodhouse (U10)
33 Marcus Hiley Pedalsport (U8)
34 Thomas Ford Holme Valley Wheelers (U10)
35 Olivia Braybrooke Eastlands Velo (U10)
36 Cloe Loftus Salt Ayr Cog set (U10G)
37 Nathan Fortune Pedalsport (U8)
38 Jamie Asquith East Bradford CC (U8)
39 Taylor Nunn Paul Milnes (U10)
40 Sally Asquith East Bradford CC (U8G)
41 Jefferson Tear (U8)
