National Masters Crit Champs
Cycling is one of those sports that, putting little stress on joints, you can continue doing for many years. Veterans’ racing tends to be hard fought but very friendly. A high level of bike handling skills and sound race etiquette make it relatively safe as well.
The League of Veteran Racing Cyclists (LVRC) for riders 40+ is extremely well supported and on the continent, the age category system has long been used in all racing, so perhaps it was only a matter of time before British Cycling started to get more involved with the Vets scene. Officially UCI Masters racing starts at 30 years old and is categorised in 5 year intervals.
In the last week British Cycling have put on two great events – the National Masters Road Race Championship and the National Masters Crit Championship. Both are labours of love for their respective organisers, Wayne Thomas and Bill Butterworth, but they show no sign of giving up. The Masters National Road Race Championship weekend is particularly demanding, with seven full scale races organised on the open roads of Buckinghamshire over the two days – no small undertaking.
With an aging British population striving to enjoy more leisure time and keep fitter, you can expect Masters and Veterans racing to continue to boom.
Here’s Dave Reed’s gallery from the National Masters Crit Championships. If you would like to see more photos from the weekend then please visit his website at the link immediately below the gallery.
National Masters Crit Champs
A Cat 30+
1st Dean Shannon, Richardsons-Trek RT
2nd Richard Mardle, Felt-Colbornes-Hargroves RT
3rd Mike Debney, Cadence Cycling Performance
B Cat 35+
Colin Parry BH-Solidor-WAM Youth
Jamie Pine Pedal Heaven Colbornes RT
Anthony Gibb CSE Racing
C Cat 40+
Ian Rees, Dymag-T-1-D
Jason White, Clay Cross Road Team
Matthew Beckett, Cardiff JIF
D Cat 45+
Martin Smith BH-Solidor-WAM Youth
Nick Abraham BC Private Member
Michael Skipsey TMG Horizon Cycling Team
E Cat 50+
Mike Twelves Team Jewson-M.I.Racing-Polypipe
Tim Costello GS Vecchi
Colin Roshier Team Quest – The Bike Shop
F Cat 55+
Jim Moffatt Virgin Active
Costa Pierides Finchley Racing Team
Christopher Davis Giant Cycling Club – Halo Films
Cat G 60+
Alan Forrester Rhyl Cycling Club
Malcolm Freeman High Wycombe Cycling Club
Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC
Cat H 65+
Peter Jones Hillingdon Cycling Club
Roger Jackaman South Western RC – Evans Cycles
Andrew Gibson Andover Whls
Cat I and J 75+
Geoff Wiles Abellio – SFA Racing Team
Barry Jones BC Private Member
