It's Miller time as Nathan holds off Aldous bid for victory at Farm
Last updated: 16/09/2009 10:09:00
The cyclo-cross season got under way with a new category system, a record entry and a fast, exciting course at Brickwall Farm, Sible Hedingham.
The new system means that elite category veteran (over 40) riders race with the seniors and juniors.
In another event, women non-elite veterans and youths are on the circuit together, but in separate races.
It proved popular, with over 60 riders in each race as well as a further 20 Under 12s in their own event, making the biggest total entry the region has seen in cyclo-cross.
In the top race Nathan Miller (Lotto Interbike) proved just too strong for Shaun Aldous from City College Norwich's Extreme Sports Therapy team.
Norwich rider David Fraser won the veteran's race by 25 seconds from Paul Moss (Stowmarket & District). Fraser has been racing successfully in the MTB Summer Series, moving up from 18th to 13th in the last two rounds.
Local riders showing well on the dry, fast and hilly circuit were junior winner Matt Cook from Barnham, Ian Newby, eighth in the senior/elite vets, and Sophie Holmes from Diss and Matthew Baker from Norwich, eighth and ninth respectively in the Under 12s.
Mark Solley won the Norwich Amateur BC's ten-mile time-trial on the Wortwell to Bungay and back course in the Waveney Valley in 21:02.
"It was hard work to the turn" was Solley's verdict on a day when a headwind on the longer outward leg made fast times few and far between
Nevertheless Norwich veteran Alan Hale put in a storming 23:19 to win the Veteran-on-Standard prize, and 18-year-old Tim Finch from the promoting club put himself in the top ten with 22:57.
Tom Fitzpatrick (Diss High School) was the fastest East District rider in the Under 16 national championship, the GHS 10. Fitzpatrick finished in 24:23, just one second faster than West Suffolk Wheeler Alan Trolove, with CC Breckland's Adam Cross from Watton, four places further back in 24:37. The race winner was Ryan Mulen (Rhos-on-Sea Whs, 21.37).
David Staff's 15-year-old record for the Aylmerton Hill Climb was beaten at the weekend when Will Dorsett of the North Norfolk Wheelers took 2.3 seconds off to record 1.45 for the 900 yard ascent near West Runton.
Staff is still riding strongly - as he showed when he took fifth place in the CC Sudbury 10 on the Lavenham- Sudbury course in 23:31, 52 seconds down on winner Andrew Leggett and but seven seconds up on local rival Bobby De'ath (CC Breckland)
There is still time to book for the 'End of Season Lunch' in Bungay on Sunday, September 27.
This fits in neatly with the East Anglian CC 25 earlier that morning.
Cost is £7.50 per head and the organiser is Geoff Banham, 12 Roland Drive, Hempnall, NR15 2RB, telephone 01508 499860.
Results
Norwich ABC 10 Wortwell
1 Mark Solley (Mildenhall CC) 21:02, 2 B Phillips (East Grinstead CC) 21:50, 3 A Leggett (Stowmarket & District) 21:59, 4 D Murphy (Cambridge CC) 22:47, 5 G Taylor (API) 22:17 6 S Lyons (VC Norwich) 7= B De'ath (CC Breckland) & A Jardine (Ipswich BC) 22:42, 9 T Finch (Norwich ABC) 22:57, C Nudds (CC Breckland)23:09.
Women: Laura Gambling (CCB) 25:54. Vet on Std: Alan Hale (Anglia Velo) +8:26 (actual 23:19).