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Location: St Clement, Truro
Event: 2 October 2011
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This weekend saw the inaugural One and All Cyclo Cross event take place at Penair School Truro. The event organised by British Cycling’s Regional Events Officer Andy Parker was designed to encourage greater participation in the west of the region, increasing the opportunities to race in Cornwall.
In advance of the race, One and All club coach Fiona Telfer-Brunton organised a coaching session at the school encouraging the pupils to take part in their own Go Race. Later in the day Regional Talent Development Coach Ric Jamieson invited local youth riders to try their hand at cyclo-cross and build on the skills they have developed on the road.
Race day dawned bright and clear and it was soon evident that instead of battling against the traditional cyclo-cross elements of mud and rain the competitors would be facing up to temperatures of 26C as Cornwall basked in an Indian Summer. A tricky course awaited the riders which made the most of the excellent grounds and facilities at Penair. The sloping terraces between the pitches were used to maximum effect creating off camber sections that would prove the undoing of several riders. These were linked by wooded sections and wide trails.
The Go Race event for Penair pupils was first on the schedule with Rob Taylor storming to a clear win, Anna Covey came in second just piping her brother Duncan in a close fought sprint to the line. Sixteen competitors took to the line of the under 12s race with many drawn from the local cycling community. Early leader Harry Birchill succumbed to a broken chain allowing Harry Meredith of Taw Velo to claim the win and the series lead. First under 10 was Freddy Birchill and in the under 8s Jonny Blue of Cycle Logic was the winner. The biggest cheer of the day went to Andy Ellis who ran the whole event encouraging his son Bailey (complete with stabilisers).
In the under 16 race which used the full circuit Joel Kelly made a successful trip from Newton Abbot to clinch the win from brother Will, with Charlie Meredith leading home the under 14s. After an hour’s break which saw the league officials topping up on sun cream and rehydrating it was time for the main event.
Tim Carpenter Empella Cyclo Cross and Steve Birchill Mid Devon CC took an early lead and enjoyed a race long tussle, with Carpenter eventually proving the winner. Behind them were Clive Mitchell Cycles duo Phil Coad and Graham Sheldon proving that they could be equally competitive on their mountain bikes. A chasing group of six riders formed with Vin Cox eventually snapping the elastic to claim fifth place. Leading home the juniors was the promoting clubs Jake Alderman taking twelfth place in his first ever cross race.
Gathered round the refreshment stand post event riders gave their feedback on the course design, quick racing conditions and energy sapping heat. The consensus of opinion was that it was a cracking promotion, which we intend to repeat in 2012. The next round of the South West league is at Bodmin on the 16 October where temperatures are forecast to be a little kinder.
