As the West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League heads into the second half of the season, the championship battles are beginning to take shape. For some riders, the road to the league title is looking increasingly comfortable, while for others, every point could prove crucial in battles that look destined to go right down to the final round.
With the Round 6 results still to be added to the league standings, several riders have already established commanding advantages.
Lorde Lacon in the Under-6 Girls and Iestyn Rowlands in the Junior Men have built particularly impressive leads and will be feeling increasingly confident about their championship prospects. Gregory Latuszynski in the Under-14 Boys and Clive Powell in the Veteran 70 Men also have useful points cushions over their nearest challengers.
Things are a little less comfortable for Women’s leader Laura Sheppard, Under-16 rider Jude White, Esme Wilson in the Under-8 Girls and Persephone Emuss in the Under-12 Girls. All four have advantages of around ten points, but with plenty of racing remaining, there is still work to be done.
Elsewhere, the championship picture could hardly be tighter, with several categories separated by just one or two points at the top. And, of course, league racing isn’t just about the overall winners. Throughout the standings, riders are enjoying their own season-long battles with familiar rivals, where moving up just one position can mean as much as a race victory.
Princethorpe Provides Another Testing Day
Round 6 took the league to Princethorpe College, where Royal Leamington Spa Cycling Club provided another excellent day’s racing on a course that demanded both strength and technical ability.
Veteran 70 rider Pete Mooney summed things up nicely in his Facebook feedback, describing another great day of racing on a course that made the legs ache while providing a thorough examination of riders’ cornering skills at speed. Thanks for the feedback, Pete!
It was clearly a circuit where carrying speed through the corners was every bit as important as producing the power on the straights, rewarding riders who could combine good bike handling with the ability to recover quickly from repeated accelerations.
And with championship points becoming increasingly valuable, there was no shortage of determination throughout the day’s racing.
Spencer Back on Top as Sam Leads the Seniors
After recent rounds had seen the likes of Noah White, Alex Hart and Sam Morris making the headlines, it was Spencer Corder’s turn to return to the top step of the podium, taking the overall victory at Princethorpe.
The Rotor Race Team rider, who had beaten Noah White at Redditch earlier in the season, completed his seven laps in 49 minutes 32 seconds, finishing 14 seconds ahead of Bridgnorth CC’s Sam MorrMorris continued his impressive run of form, taking the Senior Men’s victory ahead of Kirk Vickers, who took second in the category, with Sullivan Berry completing the senior podium.
It was another strong performance from Morris, who has been a consistent presence at the sharp end of the racing this season, including his senior victory (2nd overall) at Baggeridge following his Three Peaks exploits.
Sam Morris Bridgnorth CC
In the Junior Men, Oliver Larner took the honours ahead of championship leader Iestyn Rowlands, with Ruben Stringfellow third. Rowlands may have a commanding league advantage, but Larner demonstrated that individual race victories are still very much up for grabs.
The Veteran 40 race saw another familiar battle between Nicky Morris and Chris Pook, with Morris taking the victory and Pook second. Andy Wearing completed the podium.
These two have been trading blows throughout the season, with Pook getting the better of Morris at Redditch before Morris responded at Baggeridge. Princethorpe provided another chapter in their entertaining rivalry.
Scarlett Returns to Winning Ways
The Women’s race saw Scarlett Ford return to the top step of the podium, producing an excellent ride to take the overall victory.
Scarlett Ford Liv CC
Ford completed her five laps in 39 minutes 57 seconds, finishing 45 seconds ahead of Under-23 winner Amy Kolbert of Team Empella. Senior Women’s championship leader Laura Sheppard continued her consistent season with third overall and another category victory, ahead of Genny Billington and Sian Reynolds.
It was another valuable result for Sheppard as she looks to strengthen her position at the head of the league standings.
In the Veteran Women’s categories, Celia Doyle took the V40 honours ahead of Ailsa Neely and Claire Davidson. Joanne Acha won the V50 category, while Carolyn Jennings was the leading V60 rider.
First Victory for James Moore
One of the performances of the day came in the Veteran 50 race, where James Moore of Welland Valley CC claimed his first victory of the season in the WMCCL.
Moore crossed the line in 45 minutes 3 seconds, just ten seconds ahead of Nick Whitley, with Crispin Doyle taking third.
The V50 category has already provided plenty of entertainment this season. At Baggeridge, Darren Atkins turned the tables on teammate Whitley, but this time it was Moore who emerged victorious.
With Whitley second, Doyle third and Atkins fourth, the category continues to demonstrate just how competitive veteran racing has become.
Grant Johnson took the V60 victory ahead of Kevin Payton and Shaun Campling, while Keith Richards headed the V70 field, with championship leader Clive Powell second and Mike Webb third.
Jude and Gregory Continue Their Impressive Seasons
In the Youth races, Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Jude White continued his excellent form with another Under-16 victory.
White, who has been a regular winner throughout the campaign, finished 33 seconds ahead of Gabriel Channings, with Jacob Lattimer completing the podium.
The result should further strengthen White’s championship challenge when the latest points are added to the league standings.
In the Under-14 Boys, Gregory Latuszynski added another victory to his impressive season, finishing ahead of Joshua Arthur and Danny Davies. Gregory and sister Zosia have been familiar names at the front of the younger age categories in recent seasons, and Zosia’s transition into Under-14 racing is proving very successful.
The Under-16 Girls race went to Jessica Askey ahead of Jorgie Gillett and Francesca Gill, while Mea Moore took the Under-14 Girls honours from Heledd Rowlands and Nancy Oliver.
Youngsters Provide More Close Racing
The younger categories once again produced some excellent racing, with several particularly close finishes.
In the Under-12 Boys, Ethan Parkes took victory for Halesowen A&CC, finishing just eleven seconds ahead of Wolverhampton Wheelers’ Flynn Higgins. Lucas Shephard was another seven seconds back in third.
The Under-12 Girls race went to Elsie Brinkman, with championship leader Persephone Emuss second and Isabelle Dent third.
Quinn Holdstock of Worcester St John’s CC won a particularly close Under-10 Boys race, edging out Harri Phillips by just over three seconds, with Scott Cary completing the podium.
Maddison Davies took the Under-10 Girls victory ahead of Alana Brinkman and Sibylla Sinton.
In the Under-8 Boys, Efan Williams of Towy Riders took the honours ahead of Henry Keay and Xavier Giddings.
Isla Robertshaw won the Under-8 Girls category, with championship leader Esme Wilson second and Reese Goldsby third.
The youngest riders were certainly not forgotten, with Ted Fuller winning the Under-6 Boys race ahead of Charlie-Austin Morris and Brody Raybould.
Phoebe Court took the Under-6 Girls victory, with Amelia Knapska second and championship leader Lorde Lacon third.
For those at the top of the championship standings, every result matters, and even riders enjoying comfortable points advantages will be keeping a close eye on their nearest rivals as the season progresses.
National Trophy Racing Next
Next weekend sees a break from West Midlands League action as riders head to Derby for the opening round of the British Cycling National Cyclo-Cross Trophy Series.
With so many West Midlands riders already demonstrating excellent form in regional competition, there will be plenty of familiar names looking to make their mark on the national stage.
Good luck to all our West Midlands riders heading to Derby in search of national honours!
The West Midlands League returns in two weeks at an old favourite, Top Barn, now known as the University of Birmingham Lakeside Campus, where Worcester St John’s Cycling Club will host the next round.
With the championship battles tightening, some riders defending slender advantages and others looking to close the gaps, there is still plenty to race for.
And as the season moves towards its second half, one thing is certain: while a few riders may already be dreaming of championship celebrations, for many others the real battles are only just beginning.
Thanks to Royal Leamington Spa CC, the officials, marshals and volunteers for another excellent round of West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League racing.
Images with thanks to @galerie_cycling on Insta