Result: West Midlands CX League 11

Tracy Moseley, Sam Morris, Darren Atkins and Nicholas Popham of the Rotor Race Team race & category winners at round 11 of the West Midlands Cyclocross League at Aldersley

Result: West Midlands CX League 11

Pictures by David Perry | Words Ben Goddard

Sam Morris returned to his old stomping ground to take a fine solo victory in the 11th and final round of the Lazer Shimano West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League, while veteran Tracey Moseley clinched the women’s honours.

Aldersley Stadium, in Wolverhampton, played host to the series and once again riders faced a battle against muddy conditions and soft ground on the course which included a mixture of wooded and grassy terrain.

Morris, from Bridgnorth, used to be a regular challenger in the West Midlands league before moving to Loughborough University. On his first appearance this season he showed his form by riding away from his challengers. The Loughborough Students Triathlon Club rider eventually pulled out a winning margin of one minute and 17 seconds over the chasers.

Behind Thomas Payton (Stourbridge CC) was locked in an early battle with Jonathan Brain (Mid Shropshire Whls) before riding clear in the latter stages to take second with Brain in third.

“It was very muddy in places and there were two sections where you had to run for a minute,” said Morris. The mud was ankle deep at points at least. I had a good start which was surprising and took the lead in the opening half-a-lap.”

“I got to focus on riding my own race and not fighting with people which helped. I didn’t feel like I had a big lead and was always a bit worried towards the end that I couldn’t afford to mess up. It was my first West Midlands race of the year as I’ve been on a university placement in Loughborough so I’ve been riding the Leicestershire League.”

In the veteran’s 40-49 age category Nicholas Popham (Rotor Race Team) took his second victory of the season, after also winning at round nine at Baggeridge Country Park. Popham was pushed throughout the race by visiting rider Nick Whitley (Chester RC) in second while Colin Miller (Ride Coventry) took third.

Oliver Baker (Wolverhampton Whls) took a home victory for the organising club in the junior boys’ category ahead of Ryan Greaves (Lichfield City CC) in second and Matthew Lowe (Redditch Road & Path) finished third.

WOMENS

Veteran rider Tracy Moseley (T-MO Racing) proved her strength in the muddy conditions to take her first senior win of the season in the women’s event. The former Downhill Mountain Bike World Champion showed her skills to build up an unassailable advantage over the opening two laps before hanging on for victory.

Under-23 rider Melissa Baker (Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.com) continued her impressive season with a fine second place finish while veteran Verity Appleyard (Brotherton Cycles) took third. Quickest female junior rider was once again Isla Mason (Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.com) who finished ahead of Molly Lewis (Halesowen A&CC).

“It was brutal actually as the ground was so saturated and there was no hard ground or fast riding,” said Moseley. “I enjoy it more when it’s technically harder and more slippery although there was a bit more running than I would have liked.”

“Having that confidence to let the bike slide and not being daunted by the ups and downs mean I definitely enjoy the conditions more. The cross has been a bit of fun after having a baby 18 months ago and the courses are all local and there is lots of racing in this area”.

“As the National Championships are so close at Shrewsbury I’ve decided to have a go and see how it goes.”

The veteran’s 50+ category race was a war of attrition with West Midlands Champion Darren Atkins (Zannata Ride Coventry XGear) winning his sixth league round of the series. He was once again chased by Hereford’s Mark James (Dream Cycling) in second while Philip Roach (Team Jewson MI Racing) rounded off the podium.

A closer battle was in the 60+ age category where Mick Davies (Pedal Power Loughborough) finished just 14 seconds ahead of Peter Turner (Derby Mercury). The youth boys’ race was once again an exciting battle with a new face at the head of proceedings.

After taking three podiums already this season William Ryan (Solihull CC) showed his form to clinch his first win of the season. Ryan opened up a 15 seconds gap on the opening lap and held on to his advantage to see off the challenge of Oliver Halliday (Hetton Hawks) while Joe Brookes (Halesowen A&CC) finished third.

Visiting rider Joseph Cosgrove (PH-MAS/Paul Milnes Cycles) was rewarded for the trip south with a victory in the under-14 boys’ category. Lewis Tinsley (Rotor Race Team) settled for second while Joe Watkins finished third. In the youth girls’ category Daphne Jones (Mid Shropshire Whls) sealed the under-16 overall title with another convincing victory. Jones who has been in dominant form this season was unchallenged in her age category.

Another visiting rider to the league Lucy Alsop (Welwyn Wheelers) finished second overall and first under-14 girl, ahead of Zoe Parker (Solihull CC) who rounded off the podium.

WOMEN
1 Tracy Moseley Malvern Cycle Sport V40
2 Melissa Baker Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.Com U23
3 Verity Appleyard Brotherton Cycles V40
4 Karen Summers Private Member V50
5 Natalie Brooks Paramount CRT Senior
6 Ailsa Neely Solihull CC V40
7 Alison Bagnall Rotor Race Team V50
8 Isla Mason Team Empella Cyclo-Cross.Com Junior
9 Jackie Lake Stourbridge Cc V55
10 Lyndsey Whitley Chester Rc V40
11 Pam Saunders Stourbridge Cc V55
12 Molly Lewis Halesowen A & CC Junior
13 Amanda Bonjour Wlrcc Senior
14 Claire Hughes Velo Karbona V40
15 Hannah Dayan Stourbridge Cc V45

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SENIOR/VET 40
1 Sam Morris Loughborough Students Triathlon Club U23
2 Thomas Payton Stourbridge Cc Senior
3 Jonathan Brain Mid Shropshire Wheelers Senior
4 Gary Price Morvelo Basso Senior
5 Anthony Neave Stourbridge Cc Senior
6 Nicholas Popham Rotor Race Team V45
7 Nick Whitley Chester Rc V40
8 Colin Miller Ride Coventry V40
9 Dave Saunders Mid Shropshire Wheelers Senior
10 Jason McNulty Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC) V40
11 Matt Crouch Fossa Racing V40
12 Simon Stretton 2 Wheels Only V45
13 Oliver Baker Wolverhampton Whls Junior
14 Andrew Wearing Mike Vaughan Cycles Senior
15 Daniel Butlin EvoVelo Karbona Senior
16 Martin Brown EvoVelo Karbona Senior
17 Ryan Greaves Lichfield City CC Junior
18 John McAllister Private Member Senior
19 John Darroch Private Member V45
20 Darryl Thomas Dynamic Rides CC V45
21 Peter Goode Private Member V40
22 James Griffiths Clee Cycles V45
23 Steven White Wolverhampton Whls V45
24 Graeme Davidson Kenilworth Wheelers CC V45
25 Ian Jones FISHFACE CYCLES RT V45
26 Robert Neely Solihull CC V40
27 Nicholas Hill Private Member V45
28 Spencer Parker Private Member V45
29 Thomas Smith Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC) Senior
30 Kevin Lister Kenilworth Wheelers CC V40
31 Kyle Houston Private Member Senior
32 Paul Daniels Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC) V40
33 Warren Drew Rapha Cycling Club V45
34 Thomas Green Solihull CC U23
35 Andrew Owen Kenilworth Wheelers CC V45
36 Richard Lowe Redditch Road & Path CC V45
37 Matthew Mannings Halesowen A & CC V45
38 Terry Richardson Redditch Road & Path CC V45
39 James Strain Redditch Road & Path CC V40
40 Matthew Boazman Wyre Forest CRC Senior
41 Russell McAusland Private Member V40
42 Spencer Tapia Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC) Senior
43 Ed Matysiak Hereford Wheelers Senior
44 Gerard Scott Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC) V45
45 Donatas Askoldavicius Private Member Senior
46 Andrew Taylor Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC) V45
47 Denis Zaborowsky RLSCC Senior
48 Martin Cooper Wyre Forest CRC V45
49 David Ball Senior
50 Stephen George Lazenby Beacon Roads CC V45
51 Emerson Graham Ride Coventry V45
52 Tom Hibberd Senior
53 Julian Holt West Midlands Police CC V45
54 Matthew Lowe Redditch Road & Path CC Junior
55 Jack Hibberd Senior
56 Paul Berry Redditch Road & Path CC V40
57 Andy Peter Private Member V45
58 Jack Reynolds V50

VET 50 MEN
1 Darren Atkins Zannata Ride Coventry XGear V50
2 Mark James Dream Cycling V50
3 Phillip Roach Jewson V50
4 Stephen Knight Team Jewson-M.I.Racing V50
5 Leon Field CC Giro V50
6 Glen Coltman Pedal Power Loughborough V50
7 Kyle Martin Private Member V50
8 Gareth Highley CC Giro V50
9 Mick Davies Pedal Power Loughborough V60
10 Stephen Whitehouse Stourbridge Cc V50
11 Peter Turner Derby Mercury V60
12 Kevin Payton Stourbridge Cc V55
13 Neil Taylor Coalville Wheelers CC V55
14 Peter Bromwich Private Member V55
15 Andy Collins Mid Shropshire Wheelers V50
16 Kirby Bennett Team Jewson-M.I.Racing V60
17 Mark Mullender CC Giro V55
18 Jan Kardasz V50
19 Peter Busby Team Jewson-M.I.Racing V55
20 Simon Jones Fred Williams Cycles V50
21 Chris Watts Matlock CC V60
22 John Byatt Private Member V55
23 Gary Brooks Kenilworth Wheelers V50
24 Kevin Bodley Fred Williams Cycles V55
25 Stephen Broatch Dynamic Rides CC V55
26 John Buchan Lichfield City CC V50
27 Gary Rowing-Parker Solihull CC V60
28 Joseph Rowe Bush Healthcare CRT V65
29 Philip Stokes Team Jewson-M.I.Racing V65
30 Garry Bolton Wolverhampton Whls V50
31 Philip Bromwich Stratford CC V50
32 Jonathon Bister CC Giro V50
33 David Green Solihull CC V50
34 David Simmons Private Member V50
35 Dave Mellor Mid Shropshire Wheelers V55
36 Julian Ward V60
37 Iain Chamberlain Private Member V50
38 Stephen Masters Private Member V50
39 Michael Webb Lichfield City CC V70
40 Robert Burns Islabikes V55
41 Gary Corden Solihull CC V50
42 Mark Busby V50
43 Michael Harrison Solihull CC V50
44 Peter Carman Lyme RC V60
45 Stephen Price Private Member V55
46 Peter Ward Solihull CC V65
47 Alistair McAdam Macclesfield Wheelers V55
48 Tim Gordon Solihull CC V50
49 David Moore Wrekinsport CC V55
50 Robin Worman Private Member V55
51 Nik Bettam Solihull CC V60
52 Paul Wright Brotherton Cycles V50
53 Ian Forrester Kenilworth Wheelers CC V65
54 Nicholas Francks` Halesowen A & CC V50
55 John Claydon Private Member V65
56 Paul Green Stourbridge Cc V65
57 Steve Chapman Nova Raiders Cycling Club V55
58 Michael Haddon Wyre Forest CRC V55
59 Pete Marshall Stourbridge Cc V60
60 Phil Berry Redditch Road & Path CC V70
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YOUTH
1 William Ryan Solihull CC U16
2 Oliver Halliday Hetton Hawks U16
3 Joe Brookes Halesowen A & CC U16
4 Fred Meredith Hafren CC U16
5 Sullivan Berry Redditch Road & Path CC U16
6 Jim Vernon Welland Valley U16
7 Joe Cosgrove Paul Milnes – Bradford Olympic RC U14
8 Lewis Tinsley Rotor Race Team U14
9 Joe Watkins U14
10 Matthew Jordan Stratford CC U16
11 Alex Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers U14
12 Akhil Kolnaty Solihull CC U16
13 Joe Homer Redditch Road & Path CC U16
14 Daphne Jones Mid Shropshire Wheelers U16
15 Seth Jackson U14
16 Tom Jackson Newport Shropshire CC U14
17 Ryan Oldfield Redditch Road & Path CC U14
18 Luke Mannings Halesowen A & CC U14
19 Max Saunders Solihull CC U14
20 Joshua Darlow Stratford CC U14
21 Jesse Bradley Lichfield City CC U14
22 William Simons Halesowen A & CC U16
23 Ben Woodhouse Solihull CC U14
24 Lucy Alsop Welwyn Wheelers U14
25 Samuel Stoker Hafren CC U16
26 Alex Dalton Redditch Road & Path CC U16
27 Ethan Campbell Newport Shropshire CC U14
28 Tom Hyde Newport Shropshire CC U14
29 Samuel Greenwell Solihull CC U14
30 Zoe Parker Solihull CC U14
31 Samuel Brownsword Solihull CC U14
32 Rebecca Woodvine Mid Shropshire Wheelers U14
33 Harriette Taylor Newport Shropshire CC U14
34 Gabby Scott North Cheshire Clarion U14
35 Jack Alexander Solihull CC U16
36 Mari Porton Redditch Road & Path CC U14
37 Patrick Neely Solihull CC U14
38 Charlie Cooper Wyre Forest CRC U14
39 Thomas Cartwright Redditch Road & Path CC U16
40 David Poole U14
41 Samuel Murcott Newark Castle CC U14
42 Sophie Jackson Newport Shropshire CC U14
43 Eva Griffith Hafren CC U14

Under 12
1 George Cooper Sherwood Pines Cycles Forme U12
2 Jefferson Tear-Verweij Stratford CC U12
3 Fraser Cummings U12
4 Rocco Schumacher Schumacher Cycling Team U12
5 Noah Killeen Mid Shropshire Wheelers U12
6 Xander Brandon-Higgs Hafren CC U12
7 Teddy Taylor Newport Shropshire CC U12
8 Daniel Ward Mercia CC – Lloyds Cycles U12
9 Noah White Mid Shropshire Wheelers U12
10 Murphy Hamilton Lichfield City CC U12
11 Daniel Charton Solihull CC U12
12 Elliot Turner Hafren CC U12
13 Ashley Watton Newport Shropshire CC U12
14 Rose Lewis Halesowen A & CC U12
15 Callum Moss Stratford CC U12
16 Ben Allen stafford road club U12
17 Dylan Phipps Redditch Road & Path CC U12
18 Corin Bradley Lichfield City CC U12
19 William Hyde Newport Shropshire CC U12
20 Samuel Thomas Solihull CC U12
21 Holly Saunders Solihull CC U12
22 Joshua Vickers Newport Shropshire CC U12
23 Toby Stokes Redditch Road & Path CC U12
24 Aoife Lynch Newport Shropshire CC U12
25 Noah Dearing Hafren CC U12
26 Thomas Davey Redditch Road & Path CC U12
27 Ronan Finlinson Redditch Road & Path CC U12
28 Shona Park Hafren CC U12
29 James Saunders Wyre Forest CRC U12
30 Malakhi Bailey Halesowen U12

Under 10
1 Isaac Vickery Mid Shropshire Wheelers U10
2 Arly Berry Redditch Road & Path CC U10
3 Jude White Mid Shropshire Wheelers U10
4 Sennen Brown Mid Shropshire Wheelers U10
5 Victor Meredith Hafren CC U10
6 Ben Bramford-Hale Newport Shropshire CC U10
7 James Trippier Newport Shropshire CC U10
8 Lucas McCann Newport Shropshire CC U10
9 Alex Gilmour Redditch Road & Path CC U10
10 James Caine Solihull CC U10
11 Micah Johnson Hayward Wolverhampton Whls U10
12 Tamsin Moss Stratford CC U10
13 Shauna Hamilton Lichfield City CC U10
14 Benjamin Whitehouse Wolverhampton Whls U10
15 Roxanne Schumacher Schumacher Cycling Team U10
16 Tom Oxley Mid Shropshire Wheelers U10
17 George Gregory Wyre Forest CRC U10
18 Philippa Godfrey Newport Shropshire CC U10
19 Joshua Wood Wolverhampton Whls U10
20 Rose Neely Solihull CC U10
21 Oliver Howard Halesowen A & CC U10
22 Jacob Sheridan Newport Shropshire CC U10
23 Isobel Park Hafren CC U10
24 Leo Griffith Hafren CC U10
25 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 Finlay Bell Newport Shropshire CC U8
5 Benjamin Gilmour Redditch Road & Path CC U8
6 Leo Postance Wolverhampton Whls U8
7 Reuben Fowler Redditch Road & Path CC U8
8 Jacob Lattimer Solihull CC U8
9 Eleanor Killeen Mid Shropshire Wheelers U8
10 Charlie Parkes Newport Shropshire CC U8
11 Jessica Askey Private Member U8
12 Annie Oxley Mid Shropshire Wheelers U8
13 Samuel Boazman Wyre Forest CRC U8

Under 6
1 Rory Godfrey Newport Shropshire CC U6
2 Ricardo Schumacher Schumacher Cycling Team U6
3 Rhys McGuire Newport Shropshire CC U6
4 Calum Mcausland U6
5 Miles Court U6