Spalding Cycling Club were well represented as they enjoyed the prestige of hosting the opening round of the 2017/2018 Lincolnshire Cyclo Cross League season.
Event organiser Shane Norton and his team put together an excellent selection of testing courses on Crowland’s historic Snowden Field. With the Abbey as a backdrop and bright sunny weather, the event attracted a total of 186 competitors split across seven categories, as well as many spectators.
Despite the need for more event staff to manage the event, several club members were also in the races with some very creditable performances.
Velvet Bowser was the only one on the podium after finishing second in the under-12 girls’ category.
Three fourth places went to Tom Wright (under-16 boys), Jack Bowser (under-12 boys) and Jake Norton who, despite a lack of miles in his legs, made a successful return to competition in the junior race.
Another top ten finisher, Ben Moore, fresh from winning the Club Hill Climb Championship, made his mark on this season with eighth in the seniors’ category.
Within the under-12s section Spalding were well represented by a number of riders, who have come up through Go Ride to take on their first cyclo cross event.
Nathan Hyden, who took part in the club grass track event, clearly found this race to his liking, finishing 18th overall. Tristan Gerrans and Gharry Shersby worked well together too, finishing 28th and 29th respectively, while Jack Gerrans took 44th place.
There was another good ride for Scarlett Ward, who finished 37th.
Carrying his good form from grass track and time trials enabled Ed Gurney to post an impressive 14th overall in the under-16 boys’ category. There was an equally impressive result for Gary Hignett, who was 35th in the senior race.
Simon Wright (39th) and Chris Bettinson (42nd) also placed well in the 74-strong Vets race, representing a promising start to their seasons.
Meanwhile, second claim member Matt Ellis (SPPH Raleigh) repeated his 2016 win in the junior category.
- A week earlier the club’s annual “Dash Down the Delph” series of sprint time trials event took place at Pode Hole.
Spalding welcomed several new people to this event too – a couple of our Go-Riders in Nathan and Ciaran Hyden, and Ryan and Keith Seaton, who are regular Saturday Club run members. All rode the events very well, especially Ryan who finished in 9th place overall.
Keeping things in the family appears to be the theme in this event. A look at the 2016 results showed no change in 2017 in the men’s category, with Simon Wright, Andy Bowser and Andrew Gurney finishing in that order.
The ladies’ event in 2016 was headed by a Bowser – and this year it was a Bowser who once again was fastest.
But, instead of Susie, it was Velvet ahead of Katie Wright and Mimi Gurney.
Wright and Gurney are the names that filled the podium places for the youths race too, with Tom Wright at the top, Will Gurney second and Ed Gurney third.
