Our 2024 V45-49 winner, Dave Morris of the Grity Race Team, spent the season chasing Andy Wearing in the V40-49 race. He never quite managed to catch him (see below), but he was nearly always second or third, and that was enough for him to finish well clear of Colin Miller (who was second) and Richard Shephard (who was third) the V45-49 category.
“It has been another excellent season of racing cyclocross with all the gang at the West Mids. League. It’s my last year in the V40 category so it is a really nice way to end with a top standing in the league.
Although I didn’t manage to take the win, my highlight race would probably be Worcester Lakeside the day after a National Trophy race in the North East. I didn’t know how my legs would feel after a race the day before and a long drive down but as it happens, not too bad was the answer.
My season long nemesis, Andy Wearing, and I started strong and pulled out a decent gap on the chasing field. I came through to take my turn but somehow distanced Andy on the sections around the field. Feeling a bit giddy about leading a race I must have got too self-confident trying to bunny hop the barriers and ended up clipping one, going over and getting my foot stuck in the drop of my handlebars. After eventually disentangling myself, I set off in chase of Andy only to catch him in the last half lap. Unfortunately, the finish straight wasn’t quite long enough, and Andy edged it by a bike length.
A big thanks to all the organisers, volunteers and marshals that all help to put these races on and make the league the success that it is.”
