Wessex CycloCross League 11 2013/14

Graham Robins

Wessex CycloCross League 11

The VC Venta Cross was the 11th round of the Wessex CycloCross League held on December 15.

Michael Cotty (Wheelbase Cannondale) mastered the poor conditions to win the latest round by over two minutes. The event was held at the Sparsholt Agriculture College just to the west of Winchester. It was a very windy and the rain was relentless throughout the day. The course was a mixture of grass land and technical woods.

Cotty started quick and soon had a small lead along with Matt Macdonald (Hargroves Cycles) and in turn they had a large lead over third place Chris Minter (PedalOn). Other riders making the most of the poor conditions was James Cotty (I-ride.co.uk), James Brett (LCM Systems Wightlink) and Richard Lewis (CC Basingstoke) although he had a puncture and was having to run half a lap to get a spare bike, however he did manage to make up time later in the race.

On the second of five laps Michael had a lead of 16secs over Macdonald with the chasers already over 1min 35 back and all loosing time. Richard Lewis was now back on a working bike and beginning to pick off riders as he climbed back up the leader board.

Laps three and four saw Michael Cotty extend his lead despite a trip into the course tape but was still over a minute up on Macdonald and nearly two minutes up on third place Minter. On a clean bike Cotty started the last lap and further extended his lead to nearly 1min 30secs. As the weather worsened and the light began to fall away Cotty was clear but was not slowing down until the line. Matt Macdonald was a clear second and Chris Minter third.

Sean Williams (Wightlink Offshore) also found the conditions to his liking and once the first lap was done he pulled away was Tim Hyde (GS Henley) and Pete Scott (Cotswold Veldrijden). Joseph Andrews (Fareham Wheelers) was also very strong and the junior rider was fourth and he had Andy Roberts (Cotswold Veldrijden) for company. Tim Costello (Southdown Velo) was also in the mix and he soon managed to get past Joe and Pete to be in third.

On the third lap Williams was already over a minute up on Tim Hyde with Costello a further 25secs back. Andrews was still the leading junior and Tracey Cornell was the leading women. At the bell the order remained the same with Scott and Roberts closing out the top six.

Elliott Lassiter (Cotswold Veldrijden) took a commanding lead of the youth race with Tom Sewell (Cotswold Veldrijden) and Charlie Cooper (Chapel Tri-Stars) the leading three. These three had the race virtually sewn up but for Tom how had to run half a lap with a puncture only to then have to run another half lap to this finish when his spare bike developed a mechanical. Charlie Cooper took full advantage of his rival’s problems and took second place all be it 21secs adrift with Sewell coming in 58secs down.

Seniors
1st Michael Cotty Wheelbase Cannondale 58mins 50secs
2nd Matt Macdonald Hargroves Cycles @ 2mins 28secs
3rd Chris Minter PedalOn @3mins 10secs
4th James Cotty I-ride.co.uk
5th Richard Lewis CC Basingstoke
6th James Brett LCM Systems Wightlink
7th Jorge Millan Wight Mountain
8th Stuart Waite
9th Oscar Hutchings VC Venta
10th Alex Forrester Hargroves Cycles

Vets Junior Women
1st Sean Williams Wightlink 49mins 10secs
2nd Tim Hyde GS Henley @1min 47secs
3rd Tim Costello Southdown Velo @2min 56secs
4th Joe Andrews Fareham Wheelers and 1st Junior @3mins 09secs
5th Pete Scott Cotswold Veldrijden @3mins 10secs
6th Andy Roberts Cotswold Veldrijden @3mins 20secs
7th Gary Barlow Reading CC @3mins 30secs
8th Martyn Dymond Wight Mountain
9th Nigel Brown Westbury Wheelers
10th Pete Hutchinson Cotswold Veldrijden

Tracey Cornell NHRC 1ST Women

Youth
1st Elliott Lassiter Cotswold Veldrijden
2nd Charlie Cooper Chapel Tri-Stars
3rd Tom Sewell Cotswold Veldrijden
4th Angus Hawkins PPV
5th Erin Baker Southdown Velo

Youth Girls
1st Alderney Baker Southdown Velo
2nd Abbie Manley Chapel Tri-Stars
3rd Rebecca Hurst Poole Wheelers