 |
| Year 5 boys race about to start |
The day started in sunshine then Storm Abigail blew in just as racing was about to start - 110 riders plus supporters all dashed for cover as the organisers stood in the rain keeping an eye on the bikes. To be fair we had already had a drenching setting up the course so a top up made no difference. the sun came back out followed by the riders enquiring if the races were off. No way - conditions were perfect for a MTB/ cyclocross race and we all couldn't wait to get started.
 |
| Parkwood pin their numbers on |
 |
| Parkwood team after the rain |
 |
| The year 5 boys grinding up |
The year 5 girls raced first and showed the spectators that the course was now pretty slippy and the importance of getting round the first corner in leading position. The top ten places were closely contested between the riders from Jubilee, Gayhurst, Tyssen and Grazebrook but Anna Ventris from Jubilee had gotten to that all important first corner in the lead and never gave it up - a worthy winner.
Next up were the year 5 boys. The starting grid with 35 riders massed on it looked worthy of the upcoming Regional Championships - I wonder if they'll have the same amount of starters for an under 10 race? By now the course has started to cut up and a coming together saw a lot of riders hit the dirt on the 1st corner and many other turns on the course. A leading duo of Anthony Sulal -Kingsmead and Rueben Mooney - Jubilee began to eke a lead out swapping positions with one another. Meanwhile Robin Steer - Millfields had started to claw his way back up through the field following the crash at the start. In the end Rueben took the win closely followed by Anthony then Robin headed in the rest.
 |
| Where did they go? |
 |
| The crowd cheering on a rider |
Next up were the year 6 girls - a slightly smaller field produced some pretty close racing but the winner - Anoushka Minale raced away from the rest right from the off and never looked like being caught. Alba Gibbs - Gayhurst took 2nd in battle with Esther Ramsay - Jubilee.
 |
| Anoushka negotiates the final turns |
The last race of the day had a large field of 31 year six boys with the riders from Millfields respondent in their new kit battling it out with Gayhurst . First lap through and Oliver Hunt - Millfields had a narrow lead over Kamil Suleyman - Gayhurst , with Jeffery Marrot - Southwold bringing up the rest. Another pile up near the start had seen some pre race favourites drop down the order but Conrad Couzins - Millfields and Robbie de Monchaux-Irons - Gayhurst started clawing their way back into contention. Oliver had stretched his lead over Jeffrey to take 1st place and 2nd with Robbie's late charge giving him 3rd - sadly Conrad came down again but battled on for a top ten finish.
 |
| The smiling riders undeterred by rain and mud |
There were great efforts by all the riders and welcome to Saint Scholasticas who came and took part for the first time. The full results are below followed by the league standings.
 |
| Year 5 girls podium l-r Molly 3rd, Anna 1st, Heide -2nd |
 |
| Year 5 boys podium - l-r Robin 3rd(not pictured), Rueben 1st, Anthony 2nd |
 |
| Year 6 girls podium l-r Anoushka 1st, Alba 2nd, Esther 3rd |
 |
| Year 6 boys podium - Oliver 1st, Robbie 3rd, Jeffrey not pictured - 2nd. |
 |
| Year 5 girls results |
 |
| Year 5 boys results |
 |
| Year 6 girls results |
 |
| Year 6 boys results |
 |
| The league standings after two events. |
As you can see its very tight at the top between last years winners and runners up Jubilee and Millfields but I'm pretty sure more of the other schools will improve and start taking points off the top two whilst Gayhurst seem to be getting their mojo back too. There's plenty points yet so anything could happen after round three at the Forest centre.
