Report: Round 3 Wessex Cyclocross League, Reading
After last week's very wet race in Basingstoke those that made the trip to Reading were rewarded with a beautiful autumn day in Prospect park. The 19 Sotonia youth riders that lined up at the start were well fed by the excellent cakes from Natalie Harrison. The commissaires in the U10 race got their number of laps slightly wrong and as a result some of our U10 riders had 15 minutes or even more to enjoy one of the best courses on the calendar.
As always the racing provided many stories either generated by the course or by little battles between riders. All our riders should be proud to be part of all these stories as they make for a great day out for everyone. Example stories are Tes getting a medal round her neck, Skye having to get used to a new bike, Monty and Charlie having an exciting battle in the U12 and everyone having to learn to push on the downhills as well! The U16/U14 race was won by the British U16 girls Champion and the coaches - well me - were in awe with the way she was gliding round the course.
At the end of all this the "cold" facts of placings are:
U10 race - 56 in race
U8 girls: Tes Bignell 2nd (42), Jaya Martingale 5th (51)
U10 girls: Ella Ridgment 9th (31), Skye Martingale 10th (32), Marit Davidse 12th (38), Alisha Kirk 13th (49)
U10 Boys: Joseph Bignell 8th (11), Finlay Banks 13th (17),
U12 race - 49 in race
U12 girls: Izzy Hall 4th (18), Olivia Allman 6th (23), Emma Harrison 11th (37), Ruby Flavell 13th (41)
U12 boys: George Connell 4th (4), Samuel Ridgment 9th (10), Monty Flavell 16th (21), Charlie Shepherd 17th (22), George White 26th (35)
U14/U16 race - 68 in race
U14 Boys: Louis Kirk 17th (42) , Max Darnton 18th (44)
Report: Round 2 Wessex Cyclocross league, Basingstoke
A total of 16 Sotonia youth riders braved the wet and windy conditions and rode up the M3 to Basingstoke. Whilst their school friends avoided the early autumn storms in front of the television or on tablets our riders tanked up on grit, determination, guts and perseverance.
If any riders are disappointed about their position then do not forget that the horrible rain and wind meant there were no tourists in the race. Only the regular and skilled Wessex CX riders turned up. A special mention here to Tes and Jo Bignell who showed even greater toughness by racing in summer short and top. Tes chased her friends Ella and Marit all the way and her reward was a 1st place in the U8 girls. George Connell showed everyone what he can do without a mechanical issue and just missed out on the podium in the U12 boys. In the U12 girls race it looks like Olivia and Izzy will be having a good battle all season. Emma and Charlie are finding their place in the U12 field where racing gets a bit more serious.
The placings of all Sotonia riders were:
U10 race 46 riders
U8 girls: Tes Bignell 1st (37), Tilly Wilks 2nd (40), Jaya Martingale 4th (42)
U10 girls: Skye Martingale 7th (30), Ella Ridgment 9th (33), Marit Davidse 10th (34)
U10 boys: Thomas Wilks 8th (12), Joseph Bignell 10th (14), Finlay Banks 17th (26), Samuel White 19th (32)
U12 race 37 riders
U12 girls: Olivia Allman 3rd (15), Izzy Hall 4th (16), Emma Harrison 8th (32)
U12 boys: George Connell 4th (4), Samuel Ridgment 10th (10), Charlie Shepherd 14th (18)
New cyclocross season off and running at Newbury
The Wessex Cyclocross got underway at a new venue - Newbury Race course last weekend and was a great introduction to the 2018/2019 season. Sunny skies, not too far up the A34 and an "easy" grassland course to stretch the legs. The organisers forgot to mow the grass before the race so our riders had to keep pushing those pedals as there was no coasting! Two short hurdles provided a good skill test and the Sotonia coaches kept an eagle eyed watch on the dismounting and mountain technique used. A number of highlights were a podium for Tilly in the U8, Alisha making a return to racing, Izzy pushing the older U12s hard, Samuel giving his all and collapsing at the finish of the U12, George C charging through the U12 field after a dropped chain. Louis pushed Max in the U14 as they worked together to get away from rivals before the coaches and parents got their chance to race each other!
A total of 18 Sotonia riders made their way to the new venue and their placings were:
U8 Girls
Tilly Wilks 2nd (41), Jaya Martingale 4th (50)
U10 Girls
Skye Martingale 4th (22), Ella Ridgment 7th (29), Marit Davidse 10th (34), Alisha Kirk 13th (44)
U10 Boys
Finlay Banks 13th (17), Tom Wilks 14th (18), Sam White 15th (19)
U12 Girls
Olivia Allman 5th (24), Izzy Hall 6th (26), Emma Harrison 12th (45)
U12 Boys
Samuel Ridgment 10th (10), George Connell 15th (16), Charlie Shepherd 22nd (28), George White 31st (41)
U14 Boys
Max Darnton 20th (38), Louis Kirk 21st (39)
Great riding everyone!
Skills sessions return for Autumn
Thanks to everyone who joined us this weekend for a great turnout of 40 riders marking the return of our off-road youth skills coaching sessions at Southampton Sports Centre for Autumn/Winter 2018.
Want to get involved?
Limited places are still available for the sessions run from 9.30am-11am every Saturday at Southampton Sports Centre on the grass area above the astroturf football pitches and are open to 6-16 year olds, with riders grouped by ability. All riders will need is a well-maintained bike of any variety, and a helmet. Off road tyres are preferable especially during the winter months.
Find out more: https://sotonia.co.uk/youth/about/
Banjo Summer CX Roundup
Round 5 of the Banjo Cyclocross race series at Newbury was a night to forget for Max. Tired and not feeling well wasn't a great way to start but kudos to him for grinding it out. He needed five results for the league so it had to be done.
Round 6 was different. Riding hard from the start, Max lead his rivals up to the last lap when there was only one left. The effort of the previous laps on the front meant that he wasn't able to kick with Lewis and finished 8th. Time to focus on tactics when you've got a rider on your wheel lap after lap...!
Max finished the series in 6th with only 6 points between 4th and 6th. Some really strong riding and valuable experience at U14. Dad, Ben finished 5th overall in a highly competitive vets category so well done to the Darntons!
June youth race news
Winchester City Criterium
The Winchester criterium is a great circular circuit course through the streets of Winchester with large crowds on many parts of the course cheering on the riders. A small number of determined Sotonia riders braved the pressure of this more intense race.
The highlight of the U10 race was Izzy standing on the podium of the U10 girls race as the 3rd placed rider. Charlie (7th U10) and Lucas (8th U8) also had great rides in the U10 boys race as did Skye (9th) in the U10 girls race. Charlie and Douglas Forrester used the lessons learned in their first P&R coaching session to ride to a 6th and 9th place in the U10 boys race.
The u12 race was a high speed race where cornering and positioning skills were very important. The Winchester criterium attracts riders from further away which makes this a competitive and well fought race. George C and Sam R are still young for the U12 category but they held their own in the fast field and rode to a 19th and 23rd place. Olivia and Evelyn represented the U12 girls from our coaching group and rode to a 8th and 11th place in the U12 girls race.
Southern XC MTB, Crowhill, round 2
Ben Darnton reports: "Southern XC came to Crow Hill in the New Forest for round two on the Sunday of the hot Bank Holiday weekend. Having arrived and signed on Max and I went for a practice lap.
The lap at Checkendon for round one took about 20 minutes to complete, this lap took nearly 40 minutes at sighting lap pace. We ended up rushing to make it back to the start with only 2 mins to spare. Quite a warm up! The course was much, much more technical than round one with repeated short sharp and steep climbs.
Max got away fine at the start and when he came through the feed zone for the first time he didn't look like he was enjoying himself, not many did though - this was a major step up! He kept at it and completed 2 laps in 1hr 12 mins, that's double the time of his normal cross races! Youth MTB racing is hardcore!"
Newbury Summer CX, Round 4
After missing last week because of holiday, Max was surprised by a good 2nd row grid position. We'd talked in the car about riding with urgency and going hard from the start, like after he dropped his chain in round 2 and that's what he did. He got away clean at the start which resulted in him being just in front of a small crash early in the first lap. This created a gap and Max pressed the advantage.
Riding hard for the whole race, Max kept good speed throughout the longer course and was consistently making up time in the later laps on the 3rd place U14 boy, finishing 4th. Max looked strong this week, finished with a smile on his face and rode the race exactly to plan.
Banjo Cycles Summer CX Round 2, Newbury
Torrential rain and standing water in Newbury challenged the Summer Cross title. Max Darnton got away well the at the start of the U14/16 race but suffered a dropped chain the first time down the bumpy main decent. He was passed by five riders whilst getting it on but the set back flicked a switch and Max rode his socks off. He caught up all of those who had gone by him and he just kept going.
His strongest ride of the season so far finishing 7th overall and 4th U14. Finished up absolutely covered in mud and grass with a huge smile on his face. Now to figure out how to flick that switch without a mechanical!
#summer(proper)cross