Result: West Midlands CX League (Malvern)

World star Evie Richards, Tom Payton, Mark James and Ben Askey of RST/Cycle Division Racing Team winners at round 8 of the West Midlands CyclCross League at Malvern

Result: West Midlands CX League (Malvern)

by Ben Goddard | Pictures David Perry

Thomas Payton surged clear of his Stourbridge CC team-mate to clinch victory in the men’s event at round eight of the West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League, while Evie Richards (Trek Factory Racing) stormed round her home course to take the women’s honours.

A new course at Leigh Sinton Farm near Malvern was created with the help of Richards and her family along with members of Malvern Cycle Sport. The event also received the support of Richards’ sponsor Red Bull.

The new circuit was a described as a ‘traditional cross course’ by riders and the soft ground made for hard conditions which circled around the venue’s pools and through a wooded section before tackling some technical descents. Mountain bike professional Richards was at home on the terrain taking victory by almost three minutes.

Meanwhile the men’s event was a battle until the very end with Payton going head-to-head with team-mate and round six winner Anthony Neave. Neave set the pace from the outset and was initially joined at the head of the race by Gary Price (Morvelo Basso). Price fell away by the mid-way point and Payton, who recovered from an early crash, pulled back up to his team-mate.

The pair were evenly matched until the final lap when Neave fell after colliding with Payton’s bike change in the pits. Payton waited for his team-mate to remount before the pair went head-to-head in the boggy wooded section. It was Payton who proved the strongest and he rode clear to clinch victory with Neave second and Price third.

Despite starting a minute behind the senior riders leading veteran 40-49 James Thompson (Magspeed Racing) stormed his way through the field for fourth overall and clear category winner. A close battle for second veteran saw Colin Miller (Ride Coventry) edge out Philip Glaze (Fish Face Cycles RT) in a sprint finish.

Meanwhile Josh Field (Halesowen A&CC) was leading junior finishing ahead of Ryan Greaves (Lichfield City CC) in second and Oliver Baker (Wolverhampton Whls) in third.

“It was a brilliant course and a proper cross course as I’d like to call it,” said Payton. “There were some good drop offs and some running as well, planks, you name it, it had it all really. I went off into the second corner (from the start) way too fast and just went out. Luckily, I came out of that crash still within the top ten, but I had a lot of chasing to do.

“I cut my knee a bit so it took a while to get back into it. But it was one of them courses where as long as you keep within a good rhythm and plug away at it you tend to peg people back which I did. Luckily it was in time with two laps to go to fight it out for the win.”

Speaking about the battle with Neave on the final lap, Payton added: “It was my fault and I messed up the pit change a little bit and we clattered a little bit. So I sort of waited for him to be honest as I felt a bit bad for taking him out in the pits. Then we went into the woods fair and square really and he caught a tree on one of the really slippery bits and I put the power down and got enough of a gap to hold it for the rest really”.

“I wasn’t expecting a win at all this year as we had a baby in the summer, little Ted, so it’s good to be just riding to be honest. It’s nice to get a win I wasn’t expecting that.”

Returning after a short break from the sport Richards put on another masterclass in the women’s event to take a fine victory. Richards finished third in the Waterloo Cyclo-Cross World Cup earlier this season and is preparing for her first assault on the Elite Women’s Cyclo-Cross Championships later this cross season.

In the Worcestershire mud close to her home Richards was in emphatic form building up a one-minute lead on the first lap over another local legend and mentor to cross riders Tracy Moseley (T Mo Racing). Veteran rider Moseley was a lone chaser in second overall finishing almost three minutes behind Richards and over two minutes in front of third place finisher Ceris Styler.

Meanwhile, Isla Mason (Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.com) took a convincing win in the junior women’s category ahead of Molly Lewis (Halesowen A&CC) in second. “I just love the cross bike and it’s so nice to be racing in one so close to my house as well, it’s perfect,” said Richards.

“My dad, my coach and two of my friends organised it and Red Bull have done so much for me this year and it’s always a cool event when they come along. I asked if they want to come and they bought the van and stuff so it just feels like all my family are together in one place.

“I walked the course with my dad a couple of weeks ago and made some tweaks. It’s such a cool course and to have such a muddy race but to be able to stay on one bike and ride predominately most it, it’s a really good course to practice skills.”

Hereford-based Mark James (Dream Cycling) followed his National Trophy podium place the previous day with a convincing victory in the veteran’s over-50 age category. James won several rounds of the series last year and the West Midlands Regional Championships in the category.

On this occasion he pulled out an advantage of 14 seconds after the opening lap and increased his advantage lap on lap to win by over a minute. Regular series winner Stephen Knight (Team Jewson- MI Racing) was left chasing in second while Leon Field (CC Giro) placed third.

Meanwhile, Chris Watts (Matlock CC) was the quickest veteran over-60. In the youth category Ben Askey (RST/Cycle Division RT) continued his winning run to take the under-16 boys’ victory. Askey, who has been pushed all the way at times this season, put in an emphatic performance to win by almost two minutes at Leigh Sinton.

Host club rider Harry Cockroft (Malvern Cycle Sport) finished second while Sullivan Berry (Redditch Road & Path CC) rounded off the podium in third. After finishing fifth in the Under-14 National Trophy the previous day Oscar Martin (Stratford CC) was a new name on top of this season’s series podium.

Regular winner Spencer Corder (Rotor Race Team) had to settle for second ahead of team-mate Lewis Tinsley. In the girls’ events Daphne Jones (Mid Shropshire Wheelers) continued her domination of the series and finished over a minute clear of her nearest rival.

Once again it was the under-14 riders who chased Jones led by local rider Hannah Cockroft (Malvern Cycle Sport) in second while Mari Porton (Redditch Road & Path CC) took third.

WOMEN
1 Evie Richards Trek Factory Racing Senior
2 Tracy Moseley T Mo Racing V40
3 Ceris Styler Private Member Senior
4 Melissa Baker Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.Com U23
5 Karen Summers Private Member V50
6 Isla Mason Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.Com Junior
7 Jessica Cobbe Rotor Race Team U23
8 Michelle Paget Rugby Velo V40
9 Natalie Brooks Paramount CRT Senior
10 Natalie Jenks Velo Vitesse Senior
11 Claire Murphy Kenilworth Wheelers CC Senior
12 Nina Critchley Rnc Senior
13 Ailsa Neely Solihull CC V40
14 Emma Baldwin Senior
15 Alison Bagnall Rotor Race Team V50
16 Emma Beason Stratford CC V40
17 Jackie Lake Stourbridge Cc V55
18 Molly Lewis Halesowen A & CC Junior
19 Kerry Guest Worcester St Johns CC V40
20 Pam Saunders Stourbridge Cc V55
21 Lynsey Whitley Chester Rc V40
22 Georgina T Senior
23 Amanda Bonjour Senior
24 Jennifer Doyle Kenilworth Wheelers CC V50
25 Laura Castle Private Member Senior
26 Helen Taylor Warwick Lanterne Rouge CC Senior
27 Rosie Hopkins Wyre Forest CRC V40
28 Roxanne Jevons Here Come The Belgians Senior
… continued after advert

SENIOR/VET 40
1 Thomas Payton Stourbridge Cc Senior
2 Anthony Neave Stourbridge Cc Senior
3 Gary Price Morvelo Basso Senior
4 James Thompson Magspeed Racing V40
5 Chris Roberts Hafren CC Senior
6 Nick Morris Clee Cycles Senior
7 Robert Burns Private Member Senior
8 Clarke James Abergavenny RC U23
9 Colin Miller Ride Coventry V40
10 Phillip Glaze FISHFACE CYCLES RT V40
11 Alex McNicol Velo Runner Senior
12 Dale Taylor R M Cycling (RMCC) Senior
13 Ed Moseley Malvern Cycle Sport V40
14 Nicholas Whitley Chester Rc V40
15 Dave Saunders Mid Shropshire Wheelers Senior
16 Sebastian Bacon Wolverhampton Whls U23
17 Nicholas Popham Rotor Race Team V45
18 George Richardson Private Member V40
19 Simon Stretton 2 Wheels Only V45
20 Josh Field Halesowen A & CC Junior
21 Jason McNulty Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC) V40
22 Andrew Wearing Mike Vaughan Cycles Senior
23 Stephen Wallis Rugby Velo Senior
24 Josh Williams Clee Cycles Senior
25 Ryan Greaves Lichfield City CC Junior
26 Andy Collis CC Giro V45
27 Robert Grimes Wyre Forest CRC V40
28 Gary Howard CC Giro V45
29 John Darroch Private Member V45
30 Christian Morgan Ride Coventry V45
31 Graeme Davidson Kenilworth Wheelers CC V45
32 Andy Jones Clee Cycles V45
33 John McAllister Private Member Senior
34 Oliver Baker Wolverhampton Whls Junior
35 Jonathan Williams Fred Williams Cycles Senior
36 Mark Shepherd Sportstest RT V45
37 David Pugh stafford road club Senior
38 Nicholas Richards Senior
39 Ian Jones FISHFACE CYCLES RT V45
40 Ian Critchley C2 Racing Senior
41 Darryl Thomas Dynamic Rides CC V45
42 Martyn Vickers Lichfield City CC V40
43 Thomas Yeatman Oxonian CC Senior
44 Richard Dorney Dynamic Rides V40
45 Steven White Wolverhampton Whls V45
46 Stuart Jones Black Country Racing Club Senior
47 William Farmer Wolverhampton Whls Junior
48 Andrew Owen Kenilworth Wheelers CC V45
49 Andrej Holubek Private Member Senior
50 Dean Callister Nova Raiders Cycling Club Senior
51 Brett Betts 8 Point 8 Senior
52 Nicholas Hill Private Member V45
53 Thomas Smith Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC) Senior
54 Spencer Tapia Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC) Senior
55 Nathan Smith V40
56 Terry Richardson Redditch Road & Path CC V45
57 Ashley Wright Solihull CC Senior
58 Darren Shaw Stourbridge velo V45
59 Michael Brownsword Solihull CC V40
60 Gerard Scott Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC) V45
61 Steven Douglas Private Member V45
62 Mike Greaves Gannet CC V40
63 Aran Martin Team Corley Cycles Junior
64 Ian Warr Redditch Road & Path CC V40
65 Philip Jevons Here Come The Belgians Senior
66 Matthew Boazman Wyre Forest CRC Senior
67 Chris Reed V40
68 Martin Cooper Wyre Forest CRC V45
69 Alec Bond Mid Shropshire Wheelers Senior
70 Paul Tomkinson Gannet CC V40
71 Ville Tiitola Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC) V40
72 Stewart Phipps Redditch Road & Path CC V40
73 Ewan Grey Private Member V40
74 Andrew Taylor Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC) V45
75 Julian Holt West Midlands Police CC V45
76 Matthew Lowe Redditch Road & Path CC Junior
77 Emerson Graham Ride Coventry V45
78 Kevin Lister Kenilworth Wheelers CC V40
79 Rob Haynes Cheltenham & Cc Senior
80 Thomas Green Solihull CC U23
81 Paul Guest Worcester St Johns CC V45
82 Anthony De-Leon Private Member V40
83 Neil Pellowe Beacon Roads CC Senior
84 Steve Groves Stratford CC V45
85 Dan Smith Senior
86 Tim Mason Redditch Road & Path CC V45
87 Karl Ward Private Member Senior
88 Jonathan Perks CC Giro V45
89 Phil Roberts V40
90 David Cartwright Redditch Road & Path CC V45
91 Andy Peter Private Member V45
92 Russell Spriggs V40
93 Ben Wilkin Senior
94 James Hargreaves Senior
95 James Strain Redditch Road & Path CC V40
96 Thmas Cox Senior
97 Daniel Butlin EvoVelo Karbona Senior
98 Daniel Brooks Senior

VET 50
VET 50
1 Mark James Dream Cycling V50
2 Stephen Knight Team Jewson-M.I.Racing V50
3 Leon Field CC Giro V50
4 Neil Taylor Coalville Wheelers CC V55
5 Mark Mullender CC Giro V55
6 Carl Bullingham CC Giro V50
7 Nigel Smith 8 Point 8 V50
8 Richard Lewis Kenilworth Wheelers CC V50
9 Kyle Martin Private Member V50
10 Peter Bromwich Private Member V55
11 Kevin Hayward FISHFACE CYCLES RT V50
12 Nigel Jones Rotor Race Team V55
13 Chris Watts Matlock CC V60
14 John Buchan Lichfield City CC V50
15 Paul Douglas Lovelo Cycle Works V50
16 Jonathon Bister CC Giro V50
17 Stephen Broatch Dynamic Rides CC V55
18 Keith Weavin Halesowen A & CC V60
19 Brian Tear V50
20 Philip Bromwich Stratford CC V50
21 Brian Handley Private Member V50
22 Simon Jones Fred Williams Cycles V50
23 Jonathan Todd Rugby Velo V50
24 Carl Max Taylor Rotor Race Team V50
25 Stephen Croggon Beacon Roads CC V55
26 Andy Jones Wolverhampton Whls V65
27 John Byatt Private Member V55
28 Gary Rowing-Parker Solihull CC V60
29 Garry Bolton Wolverhampton Whls V50
30 Kevin Plant Stourbridge Cc V50
31 Dave Mellor Mid Shropshire Wheelers V55
32 Robert Burns Islabikes V55
33 Robin Corder Rotor Race Team V55
34 Andy Webb Kenilworth Wheelers CC V55
35 Philip Stokes Team Jewson-M.I.Racing V65
36 Mark Deakin Private Member V50
37 Joseph Rowe Bush Healthcare CRT V65
38 David Green Solihull CC V50
39 Gary Corden Solihull CC V50
40 Philip Hitchmough Solihull CC V50
41 Michael Webb Lichfield City CC V70
42 Charles Brown Kenilworth Wheelers CC V55
43 David Simmons Private Member V50
44 Michael Harrison Solihull CC V50
45 Adrian Ravenscroft Beacon Roads CC V50
46 Iain Chamberlain Private Member V50
47 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders Cycling Club V55
48 Paul Hancher Wolverhampton Whls V50
49 Stephen Price Private Member V55
50 Stephen Masters Private Member V50
51 John Homer Redditch Road & Path CC V50
52 Stephen Elcocks Revolutions Racing V50
53 Keith Jones Solihull CC V50
54 John Potts Redditch Road & Path CC V50
55 Crad Lowe Brecon Wheelers V50
56 Peter Ward Solihull CC V65
57 Robin Worman Private Member V55
58 Pat Boulton Winchcombe V50
59 Martin Tinsley Bromsgrove Olympique CC V60
60 Tim Gordon Solihull CC V50
61 Mark Ritson V50
62 David Moore Wrekinsport CC V55
63 Derek Hill Stourbridge Cc V65
64 Ian Forrester Kenilworth Wheelers CC V65
65 Nicholas Francks` Halesowen A & CC V50
66 Pete Marshall Stourbridge Cc V60
67 Paul Green Stourbridge Cc V65
68 Ian Cadwallader Stourbridge Cc V55
69 Nicholas Selibas Velo Karbona V70
70 Andrew Kerr Pontypool C C V60
71 Paul Sobczyk Worcester St Johns V50
72 Phil Berry Redditch Road & Path CC V70
73 Kevin Bodley Fred Williams Cycles V55

YOUTH
1 Ben Askey RST/Cycle Division Racing Team U16
2 Harry Cockroft Malvern Cycle Sport U16
3 Sullivan Berry Redditch Road & Path CC U16
4 Fred Meredith Hafren CC U16
5 Oliver Tandy Solihull CC U16
6 Oscar Martin Stratford CC U14
7 Joe Brookes Halesowen A & CC U16
8 Tomos Pattinson Halesowen A & CC U16
9 Spencer Corder Rotor Race Team U14
10 Lewis Tinsley Rotor Race Team U14
11 Ethan Pratten Cardiff Jif U16
12 Kieron Heuberger Gower Riders U16
13 Thomas Porton Redditch Road & Path CC U16
14 Akhil Kolnaty Solihull CC U16
15 Matthew Jordan Stratford CC U16
16 Max Bufton Hafren CC U14
17 Joe Homer Redditch Road & Path CC U16
18 Ryan Oldfield Redditch Road & Path CC U14
19 Max Saunders Solihull CC U14
20 Tom Brookes Halesowen A & CC U14
21 Luke Mannings Halesowen A & CC U14
22 Daphne Jones Mid Shropshire Wheelers U16
23 Tom Jackson Newport Shropshire CC U14
24 Samuel Greenwell Solihull CC U14
25 Jesse Bradley Lichfield City CC U14
26 Hannah Cockroft Malvern Cycle Sport U14
27 William Simons Halesowen A & CC U16
28 Elliot Roberts Malvern Cycle Sport U16
29 Dan Hutchinson Halesowen A & CC U16
30 Jude Du Toit Newark Castle CC U14
31 Luke Brennan Stratford CC U16
32 Alex Dalton Redditch Road & Path CC U16
33 Ben Woodhouse Solihull CC U14
34 Tom Hyde Newport Shropshire CC U14
35 Mari Porton Redditch Road & Path CC U14
36 Billy Laight Halesowen A & CC U16
37 Joshua Darlow Stratford CC U14
38 Ben Lucas Wolverhampton Whls U16
39 Thomas Cartwright Redditch Road & Path CC U16
40 Cerys Greaves Lichfield City CC U14
41 Ethan Campbell Newport Shropshire CC U14
42 Ella Tandy Solihull CC U14
43 George Lewis Halesowen A & CC U14
44 Will Lewis Halesowen A & CC U16
45 Harriette Taylor Newport Shropshire CC U14
46 Edward Berry Malvern Cycle Sport U14
47 Alexander Burden Stratford CC U14
48 Charlie Cooper Wyre Forest CRC U14
49 Jack Alexander Solihull CC U16
50 Patrick Neely Solihull CC U14
51 Emily Moseley Malvern Cycle Sport U14
52 Sophie Jackson Newport Shropshire CC U14
53 Kim Greening Wyre Forest CRC U16
54 Samuel Murcott Newark Castle CC U14
55 David Poole U14
56 Briony Roberts Hafren CC U14
57 Eva Griffith Hafren CC U14
58 Samuel Brownsword Solihull CC U14
59 Borys Lenczyk Malvern Cycle Sport U14

Under 12
1 George Cooper Sherwood Pines Cycles Forme U12
2 Daniel Ward Mercia CC – Lloyds Cycles U12
3 Aelwen Davies Towy Riders U12
4 Tomos Davies Gower Riders U12
5 Jefferson Tear-Verweij Stratford CC U12
6 Noah White Mid Shropshire Wheelers U12
7 Murphy Hamilton Lichfield City CC U12
8 Rocco Schumacher Schumacher Cycling Team U12
9 Noah Killeen Mid Shropshire Wheelers U12
10 Teddy Taylor Newport Shropshire CC U12
11 Mazie Harper stafford road club U12
12 Ruben Stringfellow Stratford CC U12
13 William Moseley Private Member U12
14 Ashley Watton Newport Shropshire CC U12
15 Joe Greening Wyre Forest CRC U12
16 Daniel Charton Solihull CC U12
17 Corin Bradley Lichfield City CC U12
18 Ben Allen stafford road club U12
19 Rose Lewis Halesowen A & CC U12
20 Harry Parkes Newport Shropshire CC U12
21 Holly Saunders Solihull CC U12
22 Lauren Oldfield Redditch Road & Path CC U12
23 Lottie Styler Private Member U12
24 Dylan Phipps Redditch Road & Path CC U12
25 Noah Dearing Hafren CC U12
26 William Hyde Newport Shropshire CC U12
27 Matthew Hitchmough Solihull CC U12
28 Tom Bristow Malvern Cycle Sport U12
29 Teddy Wright Sollihull Cc U12
30 Toby Stokes Redditch Road & Path CC U12
31 Samuel Thomas Solihull CC U12
32 Rosie Roberts U12
33 Jessica Bufton Hafren CC U12
34 Harrison Stewart Newport Shropshire CC U12
35 Ronan Finlinson Redditch Road & Path CC U12
36 Joshua Vickers Newport Shropshire CC U12
37 Aoife Lynch Newport Shropshire CC U12
38 Marijke Tear-Verweij Stratford CC U12
39 Shona Park Hafren CC U12
40 Daniel Brownsword Solihull CC U12
41 Thomas Davey Redditch Road & Path CC U12
42 Ozzy Beswick Wyre Forest CRC U12
43 Joshua Pattinson Halesowen A & CC U12
44 Millie Miles Redditch Road & Path CC U12
… continued after advert

Under 10
1 Jet Du Toit Newark Castle CC U10
2 Isaac Vickery Mid Shropshire Wheelers U10
3 Arly Berry Redditch Road & Path CC U10
4 Kellan Heuberger Gower Riders U10
5 Jude White Mid Shropshire Wheelers U10
6 Lucas McCann Newport Shropshire CC U10
7 Sennen Brown Mid Shropshire Wheelers U10
8 James Trippier Newport Shropshire CC U10
9 Ben Bramford-Hale Newport Shropshire CC U10
10 Victor Meredith Hafren CC U10
11 Micah Johnson Hayward Wolverhampton Whls U10
12 James Caine Solihull CC U10
13 Laurence Denney Maindy Flyers U10
14 Roxanne Schumacher Schumacher Cycling Team U10
15 Jayden Cook Wyre Forest CRC U10
16 Alex Gilmour Redditch Road & Path CC U10
17 William Stokes Redditch Road & Path CC U10
18 Philippa Godfrey Newport Shropshire CC U10
19 Benjamin Whitehouse Wolverhampton Whls U10
20 William Garner Solihull CC U10
21 Ambrose Mapp Redditch Road & Path CC U10
22 Rose Neely Solihull CC U10
23 Lockie Roberts Malvern Cycle Sport U10
24 Stephanie Hopkins Halesowen A & CC U10
25 Lucas Guest Worcester St Johns CC U10
26 Katie Groves Stratford CC U10
27 Isobel Park Hafren CC U10
28 Tom Oxley Mid Shropshire Wheelers U10
29 Leo Griffith Hafren CC U10
30 Eddy Porton Redditch Road & Path CC U10
31 Charlie James Malvern Cycle Sport U10
32 Eleanor McGuire Newport Shropshire CC U10
33 Jacob Sheridan Newport Shropshire CC U10
34 Toby Thornber Malvern Cycle Sport U10
35 Evie May Stones Mid Shropshire Wheelers U10

Under 8
1 Freddie Roberts Hafren CC U8
2 Ben Turner Hafren CC U8
3 Finn McCann Newport Shropshire CC U8
4 Benjamin Gilmour Redditch Road & Path CC U8
5 Finlay Bell Newport Shropshire CC U8
6 Molly Kostka Stratford CC U8
7 Reuben Fowler Redditch Road & Path CC U8
8 Jacob Lattimer Solihull CC U8
9 George Berry Malvern Cycle Sport U8
10 Sam Styler Private Member U8
11 Emmie Styler Private Member U8
12 Charlie Parkes Newport Shropshire CC U8
13 Jessica Askey Private Member U8
14 Ruben Garner Solihull CC U8
15 Eleanor Killeen Mid Shropshire Wheelers U8
16 Samuel Boazman Wyre Forest CRC U8
17 Elise Storey Stratford CC U8
18 Rosie Leaver Malvern Cycle Sport U8
19 Annie Oxley Mid Shropshire Wheelers U8
20 Oscar Bamford Malvern Cycle Sport U8

Under 6
1 Rory Godfrey Newport Shropshire CC U6
2 James Bamford Malvern Cycle Sport U6
3 Brody Dickson Redditch U6
4 Rhys McGuire Newport Shropshire CC U6
5 Ricardo Schumacher Schumacher Cycling Team U6
6 Owen Baird Private Member U6
7 Mollie Cook Wyre Forest CRC U6
8 Miles Court Crc U6
9 Fifi Kostka Stratford CC U6
10 Thomas Boazman Wyre Forest CRC U6