Spencer Corder took an emphatic victory in the Steve Knight Memorial race as the Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League moved to the Heart of England Centre for Dynamic Rides, Round 4.
There was added significance to the afternoon’s Senior race, held in memory of Steve Knight, with Steve’s partner Karen on hand afterwards to present the memorial trophy to Corder.
Corder takes the Steve Knight Memorial
Kirk Vickers hit the front early, apparently deciding that third place in the Burway Hill Climb in South Shropshire that morning represented an entirely reasonable warm-up for an hour of cyclo-cross later in the day.
But Rotor Race Team pair Spencer Corder and Sullivan Berry were soon into their stride.
Sully Berry on his way to second in the Steve Knight Memorial.
Corder and Berry were virtually together at the end of the opening lap before Corder began steadily turning the screw. His advantage grew lap by lap and after seven laps he crossed the line in 54:24, taking the Steve Knight Memorial by 1 minute 41 seconds.
Berry secured second overall and the Senior category victory, while Vickers completed an impressive day’s racing by holding third, 1:05 behind Berry.
Anthony Neave was fourth and third Senior, with Aidan Walters fifth overall and second Under-23. Iestyn Rowlands was the leading Junior in sixth, ahead of fellow Junior Harry Hughes.
Karen presented the Steve Knight Memorial trophy to Corder after the race, bringing an appropriate conclusion to the day’s headline event.
The continuing Veteran 40 contest between Nicky Morris and Chris Pook provided another close race. Morris came out on top this time, the pair separated by just 18 seconds after seven laps. Dean Callister took third in the category.
Scarlett takes the women’s honours
There was a new name at the top of the women’s result as Junior rider Scarlett Ford produced a superb ride to win the race outright.
Scarlett Ford leads Genny Billington on her way to her first overall women’s victory.
Ford completed her four laps in 36:45, finishing just under a minute clear of Senior winner Laura Sheppard. Genny Billington was only another 15 seconds behind Sheppard to take third overall and second Senior, with Isla Rowntree fourth overall and the leading Veteran 50.
Kelly Higgins completed the Senior podium, while Celia Doyle took the Veteran 40 victory ahead of Laura Rogers and Ailsa Neely.
Ford’s performance also gave her a comfortable Junior victory, with Jaime Downing second and Claudia Craig third.
In the older categories Isla Rowntree headed Sarah Kelman and Alison Bagnall in Veteran 50, while Frances Williams was the first Veteran 60+ finisher.
Whitley keeps winning
Nick Whitley’s grip on the Veteran 50 category shows little sign of loosening.
Whitley again led the way at Heart of England, completing five laps in 42:18 and finishing 26 seconds clear of Darren Atkins. Crispin Doyle completed the top three.
Nick Whitley, Nick Popham and Darren Atkins three abreast at the start.
Simon Hale was the leading Veteran 60, with Leon Field second and Shaun Campling third.
And in Veteran 70 there was a successful return to racing for Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Keith Richards, fresh from what might generously be described as an altitude training camp – with wine tasting – in Portugal’s Douro Valley.
Whatever the preparation involved, it clearly worked. Richards took the Veteran 70 victory ahead of Clive Powell and Mike Webb.
Vickery holds off White
Isaac Vickery and Jude White continued the Youth A action with Vickery coming out on top at Heart of England.
Vickery completed four laps in 32:50 to beat White by 53 seconds, with Lucas McCann third. Gabriel Channings and Harry Bull completed the first five.
The Youth B boys’ race went to Gregory Latuszynski, ahead of Isaac Weir and Nathan Edmunds, with Danny Davies fourth.
Teleri Rowlands took a deserved victory in the Youth B girls, leading home Zoe Scott and Zosia Latuszynska.
Teleri Rowlands on her way to a deserved victory in the Youth B girls.
Jorgie Gillett was the first Youth A girl, with Shauna Hamilton second and Jessica Askey third.
Parkes ends Higgins’ winning run
After occupying the top spot in previous weeks, Flynn Higgins found two riders ahead of him this time in the Under-12 boys’ race.
Ethan Parkes took the victory for Halesowen A&CC, with Rupert Brooke second and Higgins third.
Megan Smith headed the Under-12 girls, with Elsie Brinkman second and Persephone Emuss third.
Younger riders
Quinn Holdstock won the Under-10 boys’ race ahead of Scott Cary and Harri Phillips, while Sibylla Sinton was first Under-10 girl from Alana Brinkman and Maddison Davies.
Henry Keay headed Noah Pardoe and Xavier Giddings in the Under-8 boys, with Reese Goldsby winning the girls’ race ahead of Esme Wilson and Fearne Holdstock.
The youngest riders again provided plenty of action, with Niko Lawrence winning the Under-6 boys ahead of Ted Fuller and Brody Raybould. Pheobe Court was first Under-6 girl, followed by Lorde Lacon and Bea Stringfellow.
Another full day’s racing completed, the Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League now moves on to Round 5 at Baggeridge Country Park on Sunday 4 October.