Fossa Racing organised and ran the final round of the Notts and Derby CX season this weekend at Chilwell Barracks. For some riders who have already topped their category, this round would act as more of a lap of honour than anything however there were still plenty of points on offer for everyone else. The big news was the big sand pit, a new feature that made an already feature-filled course even more distinctive.
After the brief haze of rain for the younger races, the course was beginning to get cut up and a clear line was forming around some of the technical areas. As usual the Youth races were off first and apart from one crash in the U14 boys start, the race was fairly controlled. As expected, Ben Chilton of Derby Mercury CC rode away from his team mates Joseph Kinimonth and Flynn Gregory to take another win and wrap up the series. Impressive riding from the Derby Mercury team filling the podium positions. The U14 race once again saw the familiar face of Chris Hilbert taking the win after his recent team switch from Sherwood Pines Cycles to VC Lincoln. Sullivan Berry from Redditch Road and Path CC was stuck in no mans land behind Chris but ahead of third placed Jude Chamberlain of The MI Racing Academy. The MI Racing Academy did have a winner in the U16 girls race, Amelie Wayte managed to hold off Ellie Dilks from Cycle Derby CC and Lotta Mansfield (MI Racing Academy) to take a convincing win. Lucy Buckley (Cycle Derby) also had a very strong start but an unlucky mechanical dropped her back to 4th. The hotly contested U14 ladies race continued to be exciting as it has been all season. Libby Bell of Leicester Forest CC tried to stay with the U16 winner, Amo Wayte, but coundn’t quite manage it. She did however get an extra lap in over her nearest rivals. Harriet Limb from Matlock CC and Evie Steed of Bolsover and District CC were fighting it out for second place with Harriet eventually pulling away and taking second.
The next race up was the Veterans. The course this year at Chilwell included the now infamous sand pit that had never previously been used. The guys setting up the course the day before had mentioned it was deeper than any other sand pits. Let’s hope nobody sinks! After a few riders had been over it there was a clear line of solid sand that most people stuck to.
The hotly contested Vets race was missing a familiar face in the way of Lee Shunburne who was helping out his Fossa team mates in running the event having already wrapped up the series. Step up Neil Halliday of RAM CC who led from the gun and took a convincing win in the V40 category. Fossa’s own Matthew Crouch came in second with a fight for third place going on behind him. Ace racing team’s Brian Stanley beat Matthew Hall of Zepnat by 20 seconds to secure third place in the V40 race. Zepnat’s Pete Middleton is on form at the minute, with a national champs title to his name and a series of national wins there wasn’t going to be much competition for him. He blew away the rest of the V50 field and made his was through most of the V40 race to finish second overall and first in his category. Roy Chamberlin of Team Chorley Cycles came in second place whilst Team Jewsons Phillip Roach fought hard to get a well earned third place.
Next up, the Juniors. Beth Stevens (Cycle Derby CC had some stiff competition this week with Matlock CC’s Ffyona Booker racing. Fyona took a convincing win putting a lap into Beth. The Junior mens race is very competitive this season. Early on, leading the race seemed cursed as Orr, Finn Mansfield and Swadling all crashed whilst leading. SF racing’s Rueben Orr took the race by the hoods this week and rode away with the win, also putting him 4th place in the overall mens race. Great riding from him. Filling the podium positions were Matlock CC’s Alex Raynard is second and James Swadling from Nottingham Clarion CC in third place.
The women were in for a tough race today, with the course being bumpy and the long grass being a slog to ride through for all, but mainly because they knew Kate Eedy (Team Empella) would set a blistering pace from the off, and that she did. Kate got a minute over her nearest rival withing the first lap and continued to extend her lead as the race went on. Dominance from Kate. The real head-to-head race was going on behind her though for the rest of the podium spots. Helen Dussek of Nottingham Clarion CC and Kate’s team mate Tiffany Fletcher were separated by less than a minute in the end. Great racing from the women today. Kieran Brown (Argi 8point8 Winter Green) was looking to take the win today at Chilwell but Joe Williams of Paul Milnes Cycles had different ideas. Joe took the lead from the start at kept on pulling further and further away from Kieran eventually getting a 2 minute lead and, due to the fast conditions, lapping several riders who are not used to the experience. Jonathan Brain also took a convincing third place, impressive stuff from the privateer.
Great racing all season by everyone involded. Thank you to all clubs involved, and the NDCXL committee for keeping everything running smoothly. And thanks to Mick Bown and other photographers for providing pictures for the reports.
A league table will be posted soon with final league standings.