Shimano Lazer WMCCL Round 3 – Abbey Stadium, Redditch
A huge field of over 400 riders headed to Abbey Stadium for Round 3 of the Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League, jointly promoted by Warwick Lanterne Rouge and Redditch Road & Path CC, on a course that proved a hit with riders.
The Redditch organisers had tweaked the circuit, with the changes receiving plenty of praise. The high planks provided an invitation for the brave to try their bunny-hopping skills, while the off-camber sections became increasingly slippery, catching out the nervous and occasionally the over-confident.
Corder makes winning return
The headline Open race saw the return of Spencer Corder (Rotor Race Team) and a change at the front after Round 2 winner Noah White (Mid Shropshire Wheelers/Lea Valley) had looked so impressive in Shrewsbury.
White again started quickly and led at the end of the opening lap, but Corder was soon into his stride. He moved ahead during lap two and progressively established himself at the front, eventually completing nine laps in 51:43.6 to take the Round 3 victory.
Behind him came a terrific scrap for second. Sam Morris (Bridgnorth CC) and White reached the finish almost together, Morris taking second overall and the Senior win in 52:13.3, with Junior winner White just six-tenths of a second behind.
Sullivan Berry (Rotor Race Team) took fourth despite a particularly intimate disagreement with a course-marking post which resulted in the loss of the left leg of his shorts. Berry survived to tell the tale – albeit with rather less kit than he had started with.
After starring in the opening rounds and throughout the summer’s Friday Night series, Kirk Vickers (Holohan Coaching Race Team) had a quieter afternoon at Redditch, finishing eighth overall.
The V40 honours went to Chris Pook (Holohan Coaching Race Team). Pook turned the tables on Round 2 winner Nicky Morris, finishing their nine laps in 56:43.1, 20 seconds ahead of Morris, with Ifan Richards third in the category.
New winner in the Women’s race
There was a new face at the top of the Women’s result as Sian Botteley (Brother UK OnForm) produced an excellent ride to take the overall victory.
Botteley completed six laps in 40:20.2, opening a 32-second advantage over Natalie Jenks (Magspeed Racing), who took the V40 category victory. Zoe Parker (Solihull CC) was another 14 seconds back in third overall and first Under-23.
Laura Sheppard and Kelly Higgins completed the overall top five, while the other category victories included Sophie Anthony in the Juniors, Sally Reid in V60 and Sarah Kelman in V50.
Whitley stays on top
The veteran men’s field was once again substantial, with 118 riders in the V50, V60 and V70 categories.
Nick Whitley (Team Mi Racing Townsend Vehicle Hire) continued his excellent start to the season at the head of V50. Whitley covered seven laps in 43:16.5, with James Moore (Welland Valley CC) keeping him honest at 19.1 seconds and Darren Atkins taking third.
Simon Hale (Fenwicks Factory Racing) took the V60 honours ahead of Leon Field and Robin Delve, while Clive Powell (Rhayader Riders Cycling Club) headed the V70s from Peter Mooney and Phil Metcalfe.
White wins again in Youth
Jude White (Mid Shropshire Wheelers) continued his winning form in the Youth race, but there was little room for relaxation.
White completed five laps in 30:59.7, with Harry Donald (Clancy Briggs) chasing all the way to finish only 7.9 seconds behind. Jamie Kerry took third overall, narrowly ahead of Gabriel Channings.
Gregory Latuszynski of Solihull CC headed the Youth B category.
Young riders turn out in force
The younger categories again provided big fields and plenty of competitive racing.
Flynn Higgins (pictured main image) (Wolverhampton Wheelers) headed the Under-12s, completing seven laps in 16:57.0. Lucas Shephard (Stratford CC) was just seven seconds behind, with Ethan Parkes of Halesowen A&CC third. Elsie Brinkman (Welwyn Wheelers) was the leading girl.
In the Under-10s, Harri Phillips (Towy Riders) took victory ahead of Scott Cary and Innes Weir, with Phillips’ Towy Riders team-mate Maddison Davies the first girl.
Another 50 riders lined up for the combined Under-6 and Under-8 race.
Henry Keay (Stratford CC) headed the Under-8s, with Wolverhampton Wheelers’ Noah Pardoe second and Lichfield City’s Xavier Giddings third. Esme Wilson (Wolverhampton Wheelers) was the leading U8 girl.
Redditch also had reason to celebrate in the youngest category, with Niko Lawrence (Redditch Road & Path Cycling Club) taking the Under-6 boys’ honours, while Sienna Donald (LFCC) led the U6 girls.
With 419 classified riders, close finishes throughout the programme and a revised course that earned plenty of approval, the joint Warwick Lanterne Rouge/Redditch R&PCC promotion delivered another strong round of the Shimano Lazer WMCCL.
There were victories, slippery off-cambers, ambitious bunny hops and even a pair of shorts that didn’t quite make it to the finish intact – pretty much a full afternoon of West Midlands cyclo-cross.