The Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League returned to an old favourite for Round 5, with Baggeridge once again providing the setting – although, unusually, without the rain and deep mud that have so often been part of the venue’s character.
The former brickworks venue saw a new face at the helm, with former Great Britain international Beth Crumpton taking on the organiser’s role for promoting club Halesowen A&CC. Crumpton continues to put plenty back into the sport after her racing career, both through organising at Baggeridge and her work on the WMCCL committee.
And with dry conditions underfoot, riders were treated to a rather different Baggeridge from the one many will remember.
Hart back on top
There was plenty of quality at the sharp end of the Senior and Under-23 race, with Alex Hart returning to local cyclo-cross after a spell of gravel and mountain bike commitments.
Hart wasted little time reminding everyone of his speed, taking the overall victory for Gritty Race Team in 52:15.
Behind him, Sam Morris produced another impressive performance just seven days after tackling the Three Peaks Cyclo-Cross. If there were any tired legs from the previous weekend, they weren’t particularly obvious as the Bridgnorth CC rider finished just 25 seconds behind Hart to take the Senior victory.
Simon Wyllie was third overall and second Senior, with Rotor Race Team’s Sullivan Berry fourth overall and third Senior. Kirk Vickers completed the overall top five.
Junior honours went to Zac Crozier of Malvern Cycle Sport.
Woodvine returns from Europe
The Women’s race also welcomed back a familiar face, with Rebecca Woodvine returning to West Midlands racing after spending recent weeks competing in Europe in search of valuable UCI ranking points.
The Fossa Racing Under-23 rider was a clear winner at Baggeridge, completing six laps in 44:02 to take the overall Women’s victory.
Sian Botteley of Brother UK-OnForm was second overall and first Senior, while Junior winner Scarlett Ford of Liv Cycling Club – Halo Films took third.
Eilish Gilbert was second Senior, with Laura Sheppard third.
In the veteran categories, Laura Rogers took the V40 victory while Joanne Acha of Stourbridge CC headed the V50 field.
Atkins turns the tables
There was another change at the front of the V50 contest.
After Nick Whitley’s victory at Heart of England, this time it was his Team MI Racing Townsend Vehicle Hire team-mate Darren Atkins who came out on top.
It was close, too. Atkins won in 48:56, with Phillip John Glaze of Stourbridge CC just ten seconds behind and Nick Whitley only another second further back in third.
Simon Hale of Fenwicks Factory Racing took the V60 victory, while Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Keith Richards was the V70 winner.
Morris holds off Moseley
The V40 race produced another close contest, with Nicky Morris coming under sustained pressure from Malvern Cycle Sport’s Ed Moseley.
Just eight seconds separated the pair at the finish, Morris taking the win in 56:44 from Moseley in 56:52.
Andy Wearing of Mike Vaughan Cycles took third, with Chris Pook fourth this week after featuring prominently at the front of the category in the opening rounds.
Latuszynski double in the Youths
There was a particularly notable family double in the Youth races.
After dominating the younger age groups over the past couple of seasons, Solihull CC siblings Gregory Latuszynski and Zosia Latuszynska have carried that form with them into Youth racing.
Gregory took the Youth B boys’ victory, finishing fourth overall in the Youth race, while Zosia claimed the Youth B girls’ win.
At the front of the race, Rotor Race Team’s Isaac Vickery won Youth A from Mid Shropshire Wheelers’ Jude White and Chase Racing’s Lucas McCann.
Jessica Askey of Stafford Road Club took the Youth A girls’ victory.
Big fields and close racing from the youngest riders
The younger categories continue to be one of the real strengths of the West Midlands League, with excellent numbers and some fantastic, friendly but fiercely competitive racing.
In the Under-12s, Halesowen A&CC had a home winner as Ethan Parkes held off Stratford CC’s Arthur Keay, with Wolverhampton Wheelers’ Flynn Higgins third.
Chloe Coton of Stafford Road Club was the first Under-12 girl.
The Under-10 race went to Worcester St John’s CC rider Quinn Holdstock, just six seconds ahead of Towy Riders’ Harri Phillips, with Scott Cary of Cycle Stars third.
Towy Riders’ Maddison Davies took the Under-10 girls’ victory.
The youngest riders provided one of the closest finishes of the day. Xavier Giddings edged Henry Keay by just one tenth of a second in the Under-8 boys, with Noah Pardoe only two seconds further back. Esme Wilson won the Under-8 girls, while the Under-6 honours went to Niko Lawrence and Lorde Lacon. With strong fields and close, enthusiastic racing, the youngest categories continue to be one of the highlights of West Midlands League Sundays.
On to Princethorpe
After five rounds the Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League now heads to Princethorpe College for Round 6, before attention turns to Derby for the opening round of the National Cyclo-Cross Trophy Series.
With West Midlands riders already producing some excellent racing at home – and several of the region’s leading riders returning from national and international competition – there should be plenty of league jerseys to look out for when the National Trophy gets underway.
And after a surprisingly dry Baggeridge, perhaps the biggest question is whether the mud will finally catch up with everyone at Princethorpe.