Matt Macdonald (Hargroves Cycles) made it a double of victories at the latest round of the Wessex Cyclo Cross League held at the YMCA Family Park just outside Southampton having won the earlier race at the start of the season. The 28 year old rider from Totton near Southampton took the lead on the second lap as others struggled to come to terms with the muddy conditions and extended his lead to win by 44secs over Dan Guest (Performance Cycles).

The race was promoted by Fareham Wheelers with support coming from Solent Cycles, an even Santa had time in his busy schedule to help out with the prize giving for the under 12’s. The course was laid out in the park and included a large wooded section. The morning started cold and frosty followed throughout the day by a couple of showers of rain which helped in cutting up the course as parts became boggy.

In the early part of the first lap saw Sam Allan (UC Nantes Atlantique) lead the riders away from the start area and on towards the bridge over the stream and into the woods for the first time. Along with Allan, Guest and Macdonald was Joe Hickerton (Charlotteville CC), and it was these four riders who began to set the pace at the front.

With not too much between them the leaders began to ease away from a trio of PedalOn riders Jamie Norfolk, Nick Onslow and Chris Minter and the remainder of the riders were strung out around the course. It took the next two laps to see a pattern appear where upon Macdonald got past Guest and then Allan to lead and soon had a gap of16secs.

The remainder of the race saw Macdonald extend his led to nearly a minute over Guest who in turn had a comfortable lead over third place Allan of 15secs which on this course was a challenge to close down.

Earlier in the day Tom Sewell (Cotswold Veldrijden) a junior rider just beat team mate Graham Rogerson right on the line to win the vet/junior/women race with Sean Williams also from Cotswold Veldrijden making it all three positions on the podium. Sewell and Rogerson were locked together swapping places lap on lap which saw them take the race right to the chequered flag. The vet 50+ race was won by Malcolm Cross (Hargroves Cycles) who for most of the race was lying behind Tim Costello (GS Vecchi) but troubles towards the end of the race saw the Sussex rider slip away. Martin Dymond made it a very successful race for Cotswold Veldrijden team as he closed out the podium in third. Sarah Barber (North Hants RC) won the women’s race ahead of team mate Susan Parker with Lydia Gould (TORQ Performance)

Erin Baker (Team MK) was the winner of the youth race with Charlie Cooper (Eden Veranda) in second despite a puncture while challenging for the lead.

Report by Graham Robins

Photo gallery by Graham Robins   click HERE

Provisional Results  below

Full results now online via the Chip Timing company Black Sheep HERE

below:  Santa makes an appearance at the start of the Under 12s race

below:  The Youth race gets under way

 

Seniors

1^st Matt Macdonald Hargroves Cycles 55mins 27secs

2^nd Dan Guest Performance Cycles @44secs

3^rd Sam Allan UC Nantes Atlantique @56secs

4^th Chris Minter PedalOn @2mins 47secs

5^th Joe Hickerton Charlotteville CC @3mins 27secs

6^th Jamie Norfolk PedalOn

7^th Graham Rogerson Cotswold Veldrijden

8^th Nick Onslow PedalOn

9^th Doug Wollett May Bush CC

10^th Phil Bowley Alton CC

Vet 40

1^st Tom Sewell Cotswold Veldrijden 40mins 27secs and 1^st Junior

2^nd Graham Rogerson Cotswold Veldrijden @st

3^rd Sean Williams Cotswold Veldrijden @34secs

Vet50+

1^st Malcolm Cross Hargroves Cycles

2^nd Tim Costello GS Vecchi

3^rd Martyn Dymond Cotswold Veldrijden

Women

1^st Sarah Barber North Hants RC

2^nd Susan Parker North Hants RC

3^rd Lydia Gould TORQ Performance