News: Star Studded Field for Midland ‘Cross Champs

Roger Hammond, Lucy Garner, Liam Killeen, Isla Rowntree, Louise Robinson, Hannah Payton and up and coming Luke Grivell-Mellor all star cast!

Quality line up for the Midland Cyclo Cross Championships Sunday December 4th
There is quantity and undoubted quality guaranteed for the British Cycling Midland Cyclo Cross Championships to be held at Shrewsbury Sports Village on Sunday December 4th with over 450 riders entered. Highlights of the day for local cycling fans and autograph hunters will be the appearance of World Junior Road Race Champion Lucy Garner in the Women’s Championship and the battle between ex World Cyclo Cross Champion and Garmin-Cervelo professional Roger Hammond, Giant Bicycles Olympic Mountain Biker, Liam Killeen and local teenager and promoting club rider Luke Grivell-Mellor.

Roger Hammond leads Luke Grivell-Mellor in the National Trophy last Sunday.

Hammond who now lives in the Midlands, is one of the Worlds top road riders, a multi National Champion on road and cyclo cross and with podium places in classics like Paris-Roubaix. Other challengers in the senior race are likely to come from Hope Factory Racings Dave Collins, Cult Racings Dan Booth and Cycle Shacks, Lee Westwood.

Lucy Garner the MotorPoint Junior will be challenged in the Women’s Championship by a trio of Stourbridge riders, current National Champion Hannah Payton, ex World Champion, Olympian and winner of the latest National Series round, Louise Robinson and multi National Champion Isla Rowntree.

The Junior race should be a forgone conclusion for CycleShacks Alex Welburn. Welburn who is in contention for the National Series overall has been competing in Belgium recently but expect a challenge from Hargroves Team, Joe Kirkham. National Series leader Jack Ravenscroft from Solihull is unable to mount a challenge in the Youth race due to a school commitment which could open the door for team mates Danny Fox and Ethan Lee to take top spot on the podium. But do not rule out a challenge from Heanors James Shaw and Lichfields Chris Welburn.

World Champion! Lucy Garner enjoys cross during the winter.

In the under 14 boys it looks like a straight fight between Will Gascoyne from Heanor, promoting club rider Ewan Grivell-Mellor and Lichfields Harry Yates but form and fitness go up and down like a yo yo in this young category so don’t rule out a surprise from the promoting clubs hoard of riders.

In the Youth Girls it looks as though Grace Garner should take the under 16s with under 14 Charlotte Broughton the under 14s with exciting scraps to fill the rest of the podium positions.

Finally the Veterans 40+ have in form Darren Atkins hoping to defend his 2010 title and after winning the last two rounds of the National Series this race looks to be sewn up. In the Vets 50+ CycleShacks Ian Wright, Pearce Cycles, Pete Harris, Lichfields Mike Davies and Stourbridges Kevin Payton look a likely group to challenge for the podium slots. In the Vets 60+ can Jewsons Mick Ives add another title to the many many that he has already?

Racing starts at 10.15 with the under 10′s and culminates in the Senior race at 2pm.

Entry for spectators is free.

Food and Hot Drinks will be served all day at the Shrewsbury Sports Village Severn Restaurant.

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