Round 10, Parentini Wessex CX League, Standlake
22 of our youth riders made the long trip to the Standlake venue near Oxford on Sunday. Host club Oxonian CC had laid out a very twisty and bumpy course that challenged all our riders. The hard course and the chances for bad luck meant there were tears for some at the end. These episodes are all part of the long journey to become a very experienced rider and Emma, Louis, George and Samuel in the U14 race all showed how much they have learned over the years.
The highlights of the day were Eve, Jaya and Tilly giving the U8 Girls podium photo a distinct Sotonia feel, Tom once again racing strongly to get a medal, Marit using the interesting course to stay on task and finish 2nd U10 Girl, Hannah getting her reward for sticking with racing and appearing in the podium photo, Niclas getting stronger every race and being first U12 Sotonia rider, Charlie/Aaron/Tom and Benji giving a strong Sotonia presence in the U12 boys race, Izzy once again having a good race with her rival Lauren Charles, Skye/Ella and Poppy negotiating the extra U12 course difficulties really well, Emma getting a well deserved silver medal and George/Louis/Samuel showing how good a rider everyone can become with years of experience.
U8 Girls
Eve Carline 2nd, Jaya Martingale 4th, Tilly wilks 5th
U8 Boys
Billy Dyer 2nd, Giulio Scarponi 5th, Lorenzo Scarponi 6th
U10 Girls
Marit Davidse 2nd, Hannah Olney 5th
U10 Boys
Tom Wilks 2nd
U12 Girls
Izzy Hall 2nd, Skye Martingale 4th, Ella Ridgment 5th, Poppy Carline 6th
U12 Boys
Niclas Olley 6th, Charlie Shepherd 8th, Aaron Hay-Ibanez 12th, Tom Allen 16th, Benji Pike 20th
U14 Girls
Emma Harrison 2nd
U14 Boys
George Connell 10th, Louis Kirk 15th, Samuel Ridgment 17th
Round 9, Parentini Wessex CX League, Andover
A return to Redenham Park near Andover for round 9 of the Parentini Wessex CX League revealed a course of fast rolling, open grassland contrasting with heavy mud woodland and big gloopy mud puddles ready to trap an unsuspecting riders wheels. Plenty of great results again for our team with nine podium finishes!
Special mention this week goes to Max Darnton who, after racing in the U16s, worked hard cleaning muddy bikes in the pits for dad, Ben... then for the v50s (not to mention finding a replacement size 9 shoe for Jez's one broken in his race) and as if that wasn't enough, putting in another shift in the pits for the team in the senior men's race. An amazing piece of teamwork made all the more impressive by the fact that he does this every week!! Chapeau Max. 👏
U8 Boys
William Dyer 3rd, Giulio Scarponi 5th, Lorenzo Scarponi 7th, Harry Banks 8th.
U8 Girls
Tilly Wilks 2nd, Eve Carline 3rd.
U10 Girls
Sophie Jacobs 4th, Marit Davidse 6th, Eva Mar-Molinero DNF.
U10 Boys
Tom Wilks 3rd, Ben Allen 16th.
U12 Girls
Izzy Hall 1st, Skye Martingale 6th, Ella Ridgment 7th, Poppy Carline 12th.
U12 Boys
Monty Flavell 4th, Stanley Phillips 7th, Niclas Olley 8th, Charlie Shepherd 12th, Tom Allen 19th, George White 20th.
U14 Girls
Lucy Phillips 2nd, Emma Harrison 8th, Ruby Flavell 11th.
U14 Boys
Louis Kirk 12th, George Connell 13th, Sam Ridgment 19th, Jonathan Lowe 22nd.
U16 Boys
Max Darnton 9th.
Great riding everyone!
Round 8, Parentini Wessex CX League, Swindon
Moredon Recreation ground, Swindon was the Parentini Wessex league round 8 venue for part two of a busy weekend of cross racing after the National Trophy at Ardingly that meant a slightly lower club turnout with older riders opting to take on the challenge at Ardingly on Saturday. Either way, the mud was ‘tractor pull’ thick! There was a double Wessex win for the Hall family with dad Jon taking the v50 victory and Izzy winning the U12 girls!
Well done also to Hannah Olney on her first podium finish!
U8 Boys
William Dyer 4th, Giulio Scarponi 6th, Lorenzo Scarponi 8th, Samuel Comben 9th, Thomas Comben 11th.
U8 Girls
Jaya Martingale 4rd, Isabelle Mar-Molinero 4th.
U10 Girls
Hannah Olney 3rd.
U12 Boys
Charlie Shepherd 12th, Niclas Olley 13th.
U12 Girls
Izzy Hall 1st, Skye Martingale 7th.
U14 Girls
Emma Harrison 6th.
Round 7, Parentini Wessex CX League, Sparsholt
Sparsholt college near Winchester was this weeks venue for round 7 of the Parentini Wessex CX league and the mud was back after storms on Saturday with the mostly flat course that featured some very tricky corners in the slippy conditions.
Special mentions to Lucy Phillips who didn't race but has been wearing the series leader jersey in the U14 girls, Tom Wilks on his first win in the U10s, George Connell - reaching third on the podium as a first year U14 and the Gilbert triplets giving racing a go for the first time... "They absolutely loved it and had a great time, so definitely the right call to push them a bit to give it a go."
The parents racing also had some great results including coach and Dad, Ben Darnton getting the v40 men's series leader jersey.
U8 Boys
William Dyer 3rd, Leo Darnton 5th, Giulio Scarponi 7th, Lorenzo Scarponi 8th, Samuel Comben 10th, Harry Banks 11th, Thomas Comben 12th.
U8 Girls
Tilly Wilks 2nd, Eve Carline 3rd, Jaya Martingale 4th, Isabelle Mar-Molinero 6th.
U10 Boys
Tom Wilks 1st, Evan Gilbert 13th, Morgan Gilbert 14th, Aneurin Gilbert 15th.
U10 Girls
Eva Mar-Molinero 3rd, Marit Davidse 5th.
U12 Boys
Monty Flavell 4th, Charlie Shepherd 8th, Aaron Hay-Ibanez 16th, Tom Allen 20th, Benji Pike 23rd.
U12 Girls
Izzy Hall 2nd, Skye Martingale 5th, Ella Ridgment 8th.
U14 Boys
George Connell 3rd, Louis Kirk 11th, Sam Ridgment 16th.
U14 Girls
Emma Harrison 7th, Ruby Flavell 11th.
U16 Boys
Max Darnton 7th.
Round 6, Parentini Wessex CX League, Southampton
Round 6 of the Parentini Wessex Cyclocross League on Sunday and home race for us at Southampton Sports Centre. After a wet and wild course set up on Saturday, we were surprised how the course held up. Just the right mix of sun and mud and one of the trickiest off camber banks around on the course designed by our coaches for our U14 and 16 riders, literally kept riders on their toes.
An incredible 64 Sotonia riders took part including 40 youths!
Special mention to George Connell on his best result as first year U14, clearly loving the local hills and putting a big smile on head coach and dad, Phil's face - hope you heal up soon Phil!
U8 Boys
William Dyer 2nd, Leo Darnton 4th, Lorenzo Scarponi 5th, Giulio Scarponi 7th, Leon Spall 12th.
U8 Girls
Eve Carline 1st, Tilly Wilks 3rd, Jaya Martingale 5th, Isabelle Mar-Molinero 6th.
U10 Boys
Tom Wilks 2nd, Cordon Eccleston 17th, Lucas Mills 20th.
U10 Girls
Eva Mar-Molinero 2nd, Marit Davidse 5th, Sophie Jacobs 6th, Tess Bignell 8th, Hannah Olney 10th, Alisha Kirk 12th, Eleanor Spall 13th.
U12 Boys
Monty Flavell 4th, Stanley Phillips 5th, Charlie Shepherd 7th, Niclas Olley 9th, Joseph Bignell 14th, James Blankley 17th, Benji Pike 18th, Harry Lawrence 19th, Tom Allen 20th.
U12 Girls
Izzy Hall 1st, Skye Martingale 6th, Ella Ridgment 8th, Poppy Carline 9th, Sophie Eccleston 11th.
U14 Boys
George Connell 6th, Louis Kirk 15th, Sam Ridgment 18th, Jonathan Lowe 26th.
U14 Girls
Lucy Phillips 1st (series leader), Emma Harrison 6th.
U16 Boys
Max Darnton 8th.
Big thank you to our sponsor GA Cycles and all the absolute legends in our club who helped made the event possible.
Round 4, Parentini Wessex CX League, Droxford
Round 4 of the Parentini Wessex CX league moved closer to home with a return to Droxford near Bishops Waltham and a super impressive 34 Sotonia youth racers (part of a 52 strong club line up and a new record number) were treated to a second moto-x venue in as many weeks. Overnight rain again added mud, especially for the fearsome "Hecklers Hill" which the U14s and U16s had to contend with. Elsewhere we had low barriers which many of our young racers managed to ride over - special mention to Leo Darnton who rode them in his first U8 race and without any prior experience!
U8 Girls
Tilly Wilks 3rd, Isabelle Mar-Molinero 4th, Jaya Martingale 6th, Eve Carline 7th.
U8 Boys
William Dyer 4th, Leo Darnton 5th, Lorenzo Scarponi 7th, Guilio Scarponi 10th, Harry Banks 11th.
U10 Girls
Marit Davidse 6th, Hannah Olney 7th.
U10 Boys
Tom Wilks 2nd, Cordon Eccleston 13th.
U12 Girls
Izzy Hall 2nd, Skye Martingale 6th, Ella Ridgment 7th, Poppy Carline 8th.
U12 Boys
Stanley Phillips 4th, Niclas Olley 10th, Tom Allen 16th, Benji Pike 20th, George White 21st, Harry Lawrence 24th, Finley Banks 25th, Hugh Treble 26th.
U14 Girls
Olivia Allman 6th, Emma Harrison 7th.
U14 Boys
George Connell 13th, Sam Ridgment 22nd, Jonathan Lowe 23rd, Louis Kirk 24th.
U16 Boys
Max Darnton 7th.
Great riding everyone!
Round 3, Parentini Wessex CX League, Swindon
Round 3 of the Parentini Wessex CX league gave us a new course on the Foxhill motocross circuit at Swindon, hosted by ASE Racing and Hargroves Cycles and our 24 youth racers knew they could expect one thing - hills. Overnight rain also added the extra potential for mud which was plentiful in the youth races.
It didn't slow the kids though – Tilly Wilks was first U8 girl, William Dyer 3rd U8 boy, Eva Mar-Molinero 2nd U10 girl, Tom Wilks 5th u10 boy, Sky Martingale 5th U12 girl, Monty Flavell motoring through the field after a couple of slips to take 3rd, with Stanley Phillips 4th in the U12 boys. Max Darnton 5th U16 and a win for Lucy Phillips in the U14 girls - taking the Parentini series leader jersey too!
Special mention to Louis Kirk who had to complete his race in the hardest gear after a mechanical - no mean feat with all those hills!
U8 Girls
Tilly Wilks 1st, Isabella Mar-Molinero 5th.
U8 Boys
William Dyer 3rd, Guilio Scarponi 6th, Lorenzo Scarponi 10th, Harry Banks 19th.
U10 Girls
Eva Mar-Molinero 2nd, Hannah Olney 7th
U10 Boys
Tom Wilks 5th.
U12 Girls
Skye Martingale 5th, Izzy Hall DNF.
U12 Boys
Monty Flavell 3rd, Stanley Phillips 4th, Charlie Shepherd 10th, Niclas Olney 14th, Tom Allen 18th, Benji Pike 19th.
U14 Girls
Lucy Phillips 1st.
U14 Boys
George Connell 13th, Louis Kirk 20th, Sam Ridgment 21st.
U16 Boys
Max Darnton 5th.
Great riding everyone!
Round 2, Parentini Wessex CX League, Reading
Did they say it’s usually dry for September cyclocross races these days? Well scratch that… the ground at Prospect Park in Reading went from baked like concrete to mudfest in a couple of hours on Sunday for round 2 of the Parentini Wessex Cyclo-Cross league. However, before the downpour, the kids were lucky to get some exciting racing at one of our favourite (if unforgiving) courses. 45 Sotonia riders made the trip including 27 Sotonia youths which was great to see.
Plenty of great rides too...
U8 girls
Eve Carline, Jaya Martingale, Tilly Wilks and Isabelle Mar-Molinero 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th.
U8 boys
William Dyer 2nd, Giulio Scarponi 6th, Harry Banks 8th, Lorenzo Scarponi 9th.
U10 girls
Eva Mar-Molinero 4th, Marit Davidse 6th, Tess Bignell 10th.
U10 boys
Tom Wilks 7th.
U12 girls
Izzy Hall 2nd, Skye Martingale 6th, Ella Ridgment 7th, Poppy Carline 9th.
U12 boys
Charlie and Douglas Forrester (racing for Zepnat) took 1-2, Stanley Phillips 5th, Charlie Shepherd 7th, Tom Allen 21st, George White 23rd, Benji Pike 25th, Finlay Banks 27th.
U14 girls
Lucy Phillips 2nd, Emma Harrison 9th, Olivia Allman 12th.
U14 boys
It was a busy weekend for George Connell after some good experience in his debut at the National Trophy in Derby on Saturday, he finished 17th at Reading, Sam Ridgment 26th.
U16 boys
Max Darnton impressed again with 5th place in his first year in the fast and furious U16 category.
Great racing everyone!
Round 1, Parentini Wessex CX League, Newbury
The Parentini Wessex Cyclo-Cross league got off to a flying start at Newbury race course on Sunday 15th in super hot and dusty conditions that are becoming more common in September these days. Round 1, held for the second year on the flat racecourse infield of long, draggy grass and gravel tracks saw a sea of orange take to the start line with 26 Sotonia youths part of our team of 43 riders!
There were podiums in the U8s for Tilly Wilks (1st), U12s with Izzy Hall and Charlie Shepherd 1st and 3rd in their races, Lucy Phillips 3rd U14.
Great racing everyone!
Sotonia Summer Criterium, June 2019
It may have started wet but that didn’t put the riders off for what turned out to be a great day’s racing in our Summer Criterium at Winchester Park & Ride circuit last Sunday.
The youth turnout was dominated by Sotonia riders, who made up 25 of the 72 youngsters - the total being a 22% increase from last year and proof that while senior race numbers may be stagnating in recent times, the future is bright with so many kids getting involved.
In the U8s all our riders rode confidently in the wet conditions, Fred finishing 3rd boy and Tilly winning the girls race with Tess 2nd and Eve 3rd.
The U10 race was nearly at full capacity with 22 riders with our top finishers Tom in 6th boy and Skye 2nd placed girl.
There were 16 riders in a closely fought and tactical U12 race where working as a team really helped in the strong headwind on the uphill finish straight. Charlie and George pairing up to attack and break free with Sam and Iz sharing the work together just behind. George won his sprint battle with Charlie in a reversal of last weeks city centre crit.
The U14s featured two of our riders - Ethan and Louis who both gave it their all.
The placings of our youth riders were:
U8 Girls
Tilly 1st, Tess 2nd, Eve 3rd, Jaya 4th, Isabelle 5th
U8 Boys
Fred 3rd, William 5th, Lorenzo 6th, Guilio 7th
U10 Girls
Skye 2nd, Ella 3rd, Eva 4th, Poppy 5th
U10 Boys
Tom W 6th, Tom A 9th, James 10th, Lucas 11th, Benji 13th, Sam 14th
U12 Girls
Izzy 2nd
U12 Boys
George 3rd, Charlie 4th, Sam 6th
U14 Boys
Ethan 8th, Louis 9th
In the senior races Gemma Wilks finished 6th, with Ryan Durrant 8th, Joseph Wynne 9th and Jamie Doel 11th in the 4th cats.
In the 3rd cat race, new Sotonia member, Kouros Driscoll was looking to make moves when a minor spill on the sharp bottom corner put him out of contention. In the end, it was another new club member, Andrew Gardiner who took the sprint win after strong work on the front by chairman, Phil Wilks and a breakaway move that nearly stuck, initiated by Patrick Stumpf.
Big thanks to everyone who raced, supported or helped out.