Mercia Report 27-09-2015

Joshua Waters (Sherwood Pines Cycles SRAM R T) has now won two consecutive Notts & Derby Cyclo Cross races at Junior level. The first one was at Hardwick Hall promoted by Bolsover & District Cycling Club. Joshua quickly caught the Senior Men, having started 2 minutes behind them (which is normal where the Juniors are part of the Senior event). Joshua, after unfortunately coming down on a very slippery slope, still retained his lead. On the penultimate lap he rolled off his front tubular tyre, whilst on the off-camber section and lost several minutes putting it back on to enable him to get back to the pits for a change of bike. By this time he had lost first place in the Juniors, but a great last lap saw him regain the lead to take a good win.

The next race was at Alfreton hosted by Belper Bicycle Club. It was a nice warm day for a well organised event, with a mixture of open parkland and wooded sections. The uphill sections proving to be a strength sapping part of the course. The race was a combination of Seniors, under 23 men, Juniors plus Elite and Senior Women. There was a total of 80 riders, which made for good racing, with each class starting 30 to 60 seconds apart. Joshua played a waiting game for the first half a lap, but then quickly went to the front of the Juniors to gain a commanding lead which he maintained to the end to take another good win. He managed to catch the majority of the Seniors and finished a very creditable 12th overall.

Adrian Waters (Mercia CC Lloyd’s Cycles) grandfather of Joshua rode in the over 50’s finishing 55th out of 59 finishers. Despite his lower finishing position, he was in 3rd place in the over 65’s. With more training he feels he could improve on this. The winner was come back rider Tim Gould (Zepnat Racing Team-GSG Clothing).

A trip up to Hull was worthwhile for Nigel Finch who recorded a personnel best in Team Swift’s 10 mile Time Trial on the popular South Cave course in 22 56. Nigel would have been 16 seconds faster than this if he hadn’t gone down the wrong slip road before a course Marshall called him back. The winning rider was Alistair Rutherford (The Nab Racing) from Tameside in 18 33.

On the same day Peter Rose rode his first open time trial for nearly 4 months due to a cycling accident. With his lack of fitness he finished in 36 51 on the hilly 10 mile Princethorpe Ryton course in Warwickshire. The event was organised by The Coventry Road Club with an entry of 100 riders The winner was Jonathan Wears (Team Jewson – M.I. Racing) in 19 59.