Notts & Derby Cyclo-Cross Round 4 - Thornbridge 27.09.08
The circuit was 2 miles long and the riders found that there was no where it was possible to "ease up" and take a deep breath. In the well used woods, there were fast descents, two of which were reached by a steep climb and the other by a long flight of steps where it was necessary to run and carry the bike. The flat sections here and there were on well trimmed grass areas which were either energy sapping "drags", climbs or gentle fast descending with hairpins to negotiate. The spectators gathered near the refreshments could see most of the action and what they couldn't see; they were kept appraised by the commentator.
THE MAIN EVENT
Lee's Disappointment:
Matlock's Lee Shunburne, although having an outstanding ride to finish fourth, was a little disappointed not to follow the lead of the Matlock Club's younger riders, who had, in their respective races all managed to place a rider in the top three in each of their races!
Over one hundred riders lined up for the start and it was quickly plain that the race was to be a special one. Four riders in particular, David Fletcher (Mansfield), Scott Thwaites (Bradford), Geoff Giddings (Ilkeston) and Lee Shunburne, formed a group at the head of the race and set the pace for all the others, three of them taking it in turns to head the field whilst Scott Thwaites made himself unpopular by never assisting in the pace making. They stayed closely packed together until almost the end, and then Thwaites, who had been "resting" sprinted away from the other three. All three chased him down but only David Fletcher got past him to win by 5 seconds, Veteran Geoff Giddings was third at 12 seconds whilst Lee was fourth three more seconds further back.
Zepnat were rewarded by being the best team with Matt Denby 5th, John Shaw 9th and Steve Barnes 11th - all veterans!
Matlock CC's placings
10th Chris Green
39th Alan Prince
40th Peter Sharkey
49th Alan Gascoigne
51st Terry Taylor
54th Steve Robertson
60th Dominic Wibberley
80th Steve Strange
92nd Tim Kniveton
101st Matt Bradley
107th Harry Gould
YOUTH RACE
Matlock's John Lomas excelled himself to stay in contention with Derby's Sam Lowe throughout the whole race. Sam Lowe is a formidable rider who has sights firmly set on Regional and National Championships. Last season he could normally beat John by a minute or more in each race. But not last Saturday! Sam can definitely ride at a faster pace than John, but his bike handling lets him down! On the faster sections Sam would create a short lead but when it came to cornering, he either went round them slower than John or worst still, on more than one occasion, actually fell off! Unfortunately for John, a fast section preceded the finish line and Sam had a three second lead at the finish with both of them over a minute ahead of third place.
Matlock girls, in the Under 14 years category, were second with Frances Porter and third with Winona Evans.
ANOTHER WIN FOR ARTHUR GREEN IN THE UNDER 12 YEARS RACE
It is starting to get repetitive that Arthur wins his category this season. Last year, he was normally second most races. On Saturday, he showed that he is learning to "read" races. From the start, he was closely shadowed by Jake Poole (Lincoln), Will Gascoigne (Heanor) and Chris Barnes (Leeds). They tended to follow him and if a spurt was made by one of them, Arthur countered it and then waited to see what they might do next. This was the pattern until half way when Arthur put in an effort of his own which was too much for his challengers and they let him go for him to win by 28seonds from Jake Poole.
Meanwhile, Sarah Lomas was doing her best to beat Leicester's Grace Garner but had to settle for second.
Matlock CC placings
13th Oliver Edwards
14th Toby Bumby
19th Holly Gould
MORE MATLOCK RIDERS IN THE TOP THREE IN THE UNDER 10 YEARS RACE
With 48 riders on the start line, the race referee decided in the interests of safety, to allow the older children to be at the front at the start with youngsters at the back. The children did not seem to mind this decision, but some parents took exception and thought it unfair. But the Referee's word is final!
Louis Gray-Blest, a BMX rider from Bulwell actually won the race but by only one second from Scott Hookway with Matlock's John Webster in third, unable to make up eleven seconds.
To keep up the record of a Matlock rider in the top three, Ellie Smith gained her first ever placing as third girl.
Matlock CC placings
9th Tim Elsmore
12th Harry Morley
17th Thomas Webster
23rd Toby Dawson
24th Ben Dawson
32nd Esme Bumby
36th Sara Gould
39th Elizabeth Webster
43rd Anica Taylor
46th Sam Gould
47th Nathan Gould
48th Heidi Taylor
This coming weekend, the SRAM-NDCX League takes a break until the following weekend.