Held by Sotonia for the first time at Southampton’s spiritual home of Cyclocross – Southampton Sports Centre after problems with the original Fleming Park location at Eastleigh, the fourth year promotion by the club was hotly anticipated. Heavy rain for the course set-up the day before, left a wet course that cut up easily and windy conditions on race day changed the mud to the thick and deep variety, making riders work hard to keep going.
With the rain holding off for most of the day and over 300 riders taking part, the club’s cross races for the Wessex League were a huge success and one of Sotonia’s biggest and most ambitious promotions ever with pumping tunes, race commentary and a ‘proper’ course full of bankings, barriers and plenty of thick mud to entertain the crowds.
It was great to see so many Sotonia riders taking part, especially pleasing to see eight of our juniors having a go too. Tom Budden was top club finisher in a tough senior field with 8th place – a race that featured ten Sotonia senior riders! In the V40 race, Phil Connell was first Sotonia rider in 22nd place and Simon Fitzjohn leading the club finshers in the V50 race.
Big thanks to everyone who helped make the event happen; setting up the course in the rain, taking it down in the pitch dark and the bakers who cooked up such amazing cakes and snacks for the refreshments stall. Special mention to eight year old Mabel who helped run the refreshments tent all day long and for all the time devoted by organisers Jez Hart and Darren Strickland.
Some of Sotonia’s hardy souls who got to ride (or run) the circuit…
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Provisional Results
Seniors
1. Steven James, Hargroves Cycles 1:00.53
2. Sam Allen, PedalOn at 2.27
3. Alex Forester, Zepnat RT at 3.39
4. Joe Hickerton, Eden Veranda at 3.53
5. Matt Macdonald, Eden Veranda at 5.27
6. Chris Minter, PedalOn at 5.45
7. Karl Norfolk, PedalOn at 6.41
8. Tom Budden, Sotonia CC at 7.34
9. Jamie Norfolk, PedalOn at 8.00
10. Ryan Smith, Team Moore Fitness RT at 8.29
Vet 40+/Juniors
1. Crispin Doyle Hargroves Cycles
2. Dan Guest Performance Cycles at 4sec
3 Tom Sewell Cotswold Veldrijden at 1.25 and 1st Junior
4. Graham Rogerson Cotswold Veldrijden at 1.45
5. Joshua Hooper Primerasport at 1.59 and 2nd Junior
6. Charlie Cooper, Eden Veranda at 3.03
Vet 50+
1. Dave McMullen, Cotswold Veldrijden
2. Tim Costello, GS Vecchi at 34sec
3. Kevin Holloway, VC 10 at 46sec
4. David Wrey, PedalOn at 1.38
5. Phil Boarer, Blazing Saddles at 1.51
Women
1. Sarah Barber North Hampshire RC
2. Helen Pattinson, Solent Pirates
3. Susan Parker, North Hampshire RC
4. Lydia Brooks, GS Henley
5. Natasha Reddy, RP Racing and 1st Junior
Juniors
1 .Natasha Reddy, RP Racing
2. Emma Clarke, RP Racing
3. Kara Perryman, Solent Pirates
Youth Boys
1. Callum Macleod, PPV
2. Archie Scott, Cotswold Veldrijden
3. Erin Baker, Team MK
Youth Girls
1. Abbie Manley, Eden Veranda
2. Katie Scott, Cotswold Veldrijden
3. Alderney Baker, Corley Cycles
Course preview video