Worcester St John’s CC | University of Worcester, Lakeside Campus
Mud tyres or fast tyres? That was the question as the West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League headed to the University of Worcester’s Lakeside Campus for Round 7, promoted by Worcester St John’s CC.
Better known to generations of riders as Top Barn, this old favourite looked set to deliver the first proper mud race of the season. A wet build-up, coupled with an athletics cross-country event on the grassland beforehand, had plenty of riders expecting slippery conditions.
But Top Barn had other ideas!
Once again, the course proved surprisingly dry and fast, with the familiar grass banks, sweeping turns and open grassland rewarding those who could combine power with good bike handling.
And while some familiar names continued their winning ways, there were important changes at the sharp end of the results.
Morris Makes His Mark
Sam Morris (Bridgnorth CC) has been knocking on the door of outright victory throughout the season, and at Top Barn he finally got the result his performances have been threatening.
Having finished just 25 seconds behind Alex Hart at Baggeridge and only 14 seconds behind Spencer Corder at Princethorpe, Morris produced another excellent ride to take the Senior Men’s victory over ten laps in 52:15.
Anthony Neave (Stourbridge CC) chased hard to finish second, 49 seconds behind, with Krzysztof Chrostek (CTW Racing) completing the podium.
Kirk Vickers (Holohan Coaching Race Team), so often at the sharp end of WMCCL racing, had to settle for fourth, ahead of Robert Burns (Malvern Cycle Sport).
In the other categories, Aidan Walters (Grity Race Team) took the Under-23 honours, while Iestyn Rowlands (Hafren CC) continued his impressive Junior season with another victory.
Ed Moseley (Malvern Cycle Sport) headed the Veteran 40 category, ahead of Nicky Morris.
Moore Edges Atkins in a Top Barn Thriller
If there was a finish of the day, the Veteran 50 race certainly had a strong claim!
James Moore (Welland Valley CC), already a winner at Princethorpe, was pushed all the way by Darren Atkins (Team Mi Racing Townsend Vehicle Hire).
After more than 42 minutes of racing, Moore took victory by just 0.7 seconds, stopping the clock at 42:50.1, with Atkins at 42:50.8.
And the excitement didn’t end there. Atkins’ team-mate Nick Whitley crossed the line only another 7.8 seconds behind.
Three riders separated by less than nine seconds after eight laps — now that’s cyclo-cross racing!
Crispin Doyle (Magspeed Racing) and Darryl Thomas (Dynamic Rides CC) completed the top five.
Grant Johnson took the Veteran 60 honours, while Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Keith Richards returned to the top step in the Veteran 70 category.
Channings Turns the Tables on White
One of the standout performances of Round 7 came in the Youth A Boys’ race, where Gabriel Channings (Gannets CC, Hereford) claimed an excellent victory over Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Jude White.
Channings has been getting closer as the season has progressed. Fourth at Round 4, runner-up to White at Princethorpe, and now a victory at Top Barn.
It was another demonstration of how quickly fortunes can change in youth racing.
Channings completed the five laps in 25:09.6, with White 34 seconds behind. Harry Bull (Cheltenham Town Wheelers) completed the podium, ahead of Jacob Lattimer (Solihull CC).
For White, who has enjoyed an excellent season and entered the second half of the campaign with a useful points advantage, the result is a reminder that nothing can be taken for granted.
In the Youth B Boys, Gregory Latuszynski (Solihull CC) continued his impressive campaign with another category victory, finishing fifth overall among the boys despite racing in the younger age group.
Joshua Arthur and Isaac Weir completed the Youth B podium.
Among the girls, Shauna Hamilton (Rotor Race Team) won Youth A, while Mea Moore (Welland Valley CC) took the Youth B honours.
Scarlett Leads the Women Home
Scarlett Ford continued her strong run of form, following her return to the top step at Princethorpe with another impressive performance at Top Barn.
Scarlett Ford crests a Top Barn Bank
The Junior rider was fastest overall in the Women’s race, completing seven laps in 39:51.9, finishing 18.7 seconds ahead of Veteran 40 winner Natalie Jenks (Magspeed Racing).
Isla Rowntree (Stourbridge CC) was third overall and first Veteran 50, while Genny Billington took the Senior Women’s victory.
Laura Sheppard (Royal Air Force CA) finished second Senior Woman, with Tracy Moseley runner-up in the Veteran 40 category.
Sally Reid (Pedal Power Loughborough) claimed the Veteran 60 Women’s honours.
Youngsters Serve Up More Close Racing
The younger age groups once again provided plenty of excitement, with some remarkably close finishes.
In the Under-12 Boys, Lucas Shephard (Stratford CC) edged out Ethan Parkes (Halesowen A&CC) by just 1.8 seconds after five laps, with Flynn Higgins (Wolverhampton Wheelers) completing the podium.
Elsie Brinkman (Welwyn Wheelers) was the leading Under-12 Girl.
The Under-10 Boys saw a home-club victory for Quinn Holdstock (Worcester St John’s CC), ahead of Alffi Sion (Maindy Flyers CC) and Jacob Pardoe (Wolverhampton Wheelers).
Maddison Davies (Towy Riders) took the Under-10 Girls’ honours.
In the Under-8 Boys, Efan Williams (Towy Riders) claimed victory ahead of Henry Keay (Stratford CC) and Xavier Giddings (Lichfield City CC), while Isla Robertshaw (Wyre Forest CRC) won the Girls’ category.
And among the youngest competitors, Worcester St John’s celebrated another home victory through Ted Fuller in the Under-6 Boys, with Amelia Knapska (Stratford CC) taking the Under-6 Girls’ honours.
The Championship Battles Continue
With seven rounds completed, the league is entering an important phase of the season.
Some riders have established commanding advantages, but elsewhere the battles remain wide open, with every point potentially making a difference.
Gabriel Channings’ progression from fourth to second and now first is a perfect example of how the picture can change. Sam Morris continues to demonstrate his strength among the Senior Men, while the extraordinary Veteran 50 finish shows just how little separates some of the league’s most experienced competitors.
Top Barn once again delivered a fast, competitive and thoroughly entertaining day of cyclo-cross.
A big thank you to Worcester St John’s CC, their volunteers, marshals and everyone involved in organising another successful round at this much-loved venue.
And as for those mud tyres gathering dust in the garage?
Their day will surely come!
Images courtesy of Gary Hibbert – https://garyhibbertcyclingphotography.myportfolio.com/
Full results and updated league standings are available on the WMCCL website.