Former British Under-23 Cyclo-Cross Champion David Fletcher warmed up for the National Trophy race on Sunday with a winning ride in the fifth round of the Notts and Derby League, promoted by Heanor Clarion at Shipley Country Park near Heanor in Derbyshire on Saturday.
Fletcher, 22 and from Edwinstowe, crossed the line nine seconds clear of Buzz Cycles’ rival Adam Biggs from Ilkeston after five laps of a large circuit at Shipley, which had softened with the rain which had made the several grassy areas slippery.
Fletcher powered away from the start, and was lapping around 30 seconds quicker for the first couple of laps than the last as he established a lead and then held it.
Behind Fletcher and Biggs, Matlock CC duo Chris Metcalfe and Lee Shunburne were battling for the final spot on the podium, and it was Metcalfe who prevailed, crossing the line 32 seconds behind Fletcher and 39 seconds ahead of his team-mate.
Steve Davies (Team Jewson) was top veteran, crossing the line around a minute and a half clear of the second-placed vet, while Ashfield Road Club’s Lewis Tarai Wilson was best under-23, just 17 seconds ahead of the next best rider.
The promoting club’s James Shaw won the youth race by 20 seconds from Derby Mercury rival Tom Weeds.
Results:
Seniors:
1 David Fletcher (Boardman Elite) 51:00
2 Adam Biggs (Buzz Cycles) @ 9sec
3 Chris Metcalfe (Matlock CC) @ 32sec
4 Lee Shunburne (Matlock CC) @ 1:11
5 Gareth Hewitt (RST Racing Team) @ 1:27
6 Steve Davies (Team Jewson) @ same time
7 Andrew Stuart (TFN Tri Club) @ 1:53
8 Andrew Naylor (Ashfield RC) @ 2:17
9 Mark Davies (South Fork Racing) @ 2:27
10 James Furniss (Zepnat RT) @ 2:48
Veterans: Steve Davies. Under-23s: Lewis Tarai Wilson (Ashfield RC). Women: Paula Hodgkinson (Matlock CC). Juniors: Alastair Parker (Heanor Clarion).
Youth:
1 James Shaw (Heanor Clarion) 23:25
2 Tom Weeds (Derby Mercury RC) @ 20sec
3 Oliver Maywell (Velo Club) @ 1:53
4 William Gascoyne (Heanor Clarion) @ 2:37
5 Callum McBrearty (Nottingham Clarion) @ 2:46
6 Alex Thorn (Melton Olympic) @ 2:50
Under-14s: William Gascoyne. Girls: Jess Willett (Heanor Clarion).
Under-12s:
1 James Swadling (Nottingham Clarion) 14:14
2 George Swindells (Matlock CC) @ 10sec
3 Oliver Price (Derby Mercury) @ 20sec
Girls: Ffyona Booker (Matlock CC).
Under-9s: Matthew Loscombe (Derby Mercury RC). Under-9 girls: Elizabeth Webster (Matlock CC).
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.
