The West Suffolk Wheelers created a new course at West Stow for the sixth round of the Eastern Cyclocross League on Saturday, with a number of technical features including hurdles, steps and large sections of sand. A record number of 12 Ely riders went to the event to try and conquer the challenging course.
As usual, the Youth riders were racing first, with Lucas Bowman and Harvey Woodroffe in the U14 category and Kieran Vanhoutte and Tom Lewis in the U16 section. Lucas Bowman put in a dogged performance over the difficult course to finish 16th in the U14 category while Harvey Woodroffe and Kieran Vanhoutte battled together through the first half of the race before Vanhoutte pulled clear in the second half, leaving Woodroffe in 11th place in the U14 race and Vanhoutte 14th in the U16 category. Two of the fastest U16 racers in the country had turned up to West Stow, but Tom Lewis was still hoping for a podium finish. Lewis was in 3rd position for much of the race, but allowed his rival Oliver Beale of Welwyn Wheelers to take the inside line on a corner at the end of the final lap and so finished fourth, only 5 seconds off third position.
There were four Ely riders in the V40 category, but the race started badly for Simon Butteriss who crashed during the first lap after hitting a log. Butteriss lost his chain and damaged his rear wheel in the crash and, while he was able to get his bike working again and remount, he was unable to make up lost ground and finished in 47th place, one place behind fellow Ely rider Martin Lewis. Rory Havis and Ferenc Vanhoutte were again racing in close proximity, with Havis eventually coming out on top in 33rd place with Vanhoutte in 36th position.
In the V50+ race Neil Bowman put in another strong ride, finishing 15th overall and 12th in the V50-59 category. John McAndrew, in only his second cyclocross event of the season, rode well from the back of the field to finish in 22nd position overall and 18th out of the V50-59 riders.
The last race of the day was, as usual, the Senior/Junior category. Isaac Barton had his best result of the season so far, finishing 10th in the Junior race, while Joshua Woodroffe took 37th place in the Senior event.
The next round of the Eastern Cyclocross League is the Diss CC Suffolk Supercross event at the Norfolk Tank Museum on 12th November.
Ely & District Cycling Club - B&T Motor Repairs Press Release 8th November 2022
Photographs:
Isaac Barton in the Junior race. Credit Davey Jones.
Ference Vanhoutte leaping a log. Credit Davey Jones.
Harvey Woodroffe jumps the hurdles. Credit Davey Jones.
Joshua Woodroffe leaping a log. Credit Davey Jones.
Kieran Vanhoutte in the Youth race. Credit Davey Jones.
Lucas Bowman on the hurdles. Credit Davey Jones.
Martin Lewis in the V40 event. Credit Davey Jones.
John McAndrew leaping a log. Credit Davey Jones.
Neil Bowman on the hurdles. Credit Davey Jones.
Rory Havis taking no chances on the hurdles. Credit Davey Jones.
Tom Lewis in the Youth race. Credit Davey Jones.
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