Report: The Cumberland Cobbler Crits

Sunshine, cobbles and youth were the order of the day at Carlisle Cycling Association’s new event The Cumberland Cobbler on Sunday where the big winners Lucy Glover and Ben Wiggins

Report: The Cumberland Cobbler Crits

Men’s Winner Ben Wiggins. (Photo credit Andrew Field Photography)

Sunshine, cobbles and youth were the order of the day at Carlisle Cycling Association’s new event The Cumberland Cobbler on Sunday. The races were held on the largely cobbled streets of Silloth, a traditional Victorian seaside town in Cumbria and were part of the wider Solway Coast Festival of Cycling organised by Cumberland Council.

The weather was nigh on perfect with a week of sunny weather in the run up to the event leaving both The Green, the large grassy space on which the Festival was held, and the roads completely dry. A light northerly breeze gave a welcome respite from the sun at times.

The circuit of just over 1km with a number of tight turns was tested out first by the Youth riders. A couple of the Youth A boys came off early in the race but both got back on their bikes to complete the race which was won in some style by Cillian Lewis of Manilla Cycling. Luke Davison of Beacon Wheelers took the Youth B boys trophy home and ESV Manchester’s Olivia Smallshaw was victorious in B girls.

The first race of the afternoon was the Regional B with a decent sized field of Cat 3 and 4 riders both local and visitors competing. The younger riders showed impressive stamina out on the cobbles in the afternoon sun with two juniors, Ted Birkbeck of Kendal and Scot Robert Smart coming home second and third. But it was Cillian Lewis riding up with a dispensation and on Youth A gearing who went home to the North East with another first prize.

Photos: Women’s winner Lucy Glover, (Photo credit Andrew Field Photography)

National B races for both men and women completed the day. In the women’s race a break of three went away, consisting of Lucy Glover, Amy Gornall and local favourite Daisy Barnes with first year Junior Lucy making the decisive final sprint.

That left the men’s race the last chance for the senior riders to take a win. But it was not to be! Ben Wiggins of MAS Design -Fensham Howes dominated the race and though a quality chasing group of Chris Sheriffs, Cameron Jeffers and Hugo Lutz Atkinson tried to bring him back for much of the race they were unable to catch the Junior who rode away to a convincing solo victory.

Amy Gornall was judged most combative rider and Cameron Jeffers rode the fastest lap of the course in just over 1 minute 27 seconds but by the looks of things the biggest winner of the day was the local ice cream shop which had queues down the road til closing time! CCA would like to thank Cumberland Council, British Cycling North West and all their sponsors for supporting this new event.

RESULTS AFTER ADVERT…

The Women’s Cobbler
1 Lucy Glover Shibden Hope Tech Apex
2 Amy Gornall Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – …
3 Daisy Barnes Alba Development Road Team
4 Rachel Hardman Forth Velo
5 Harriet Graham Brother UK-Orientation Marketi…
6 Heather Shanks North Argyll Cycle Club
7 Rachel Brown Brother UK-Orientation Marketi…
8 Grace Norman Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon
9 Katie Hadnum RFDA
10 Yolanda Solans Bara Torvelo Racing

The Men’s Cobbler
1 Ben Wiggins MAS Design – Fensham Howes
2 Cameron Jeffers Ribble Collective
3 John Bardsley Innovation Racing
4 Chris Sherriffs Shibden Cycling Club
5 Sam Barbour Ribble rechrg Race Team
6 Hugo Lutz-Atkinson Ribble rechrg Race Team
7 Matthew Webster trainSharp Elite
8 William Dykes Spokes Racing Team
9 Oliver Walker The Cycling Academy
10 Colin McGourty Spokes Racing Team
11 Neil Withington Beacon Wheelers
12 Matthew Atkinson Beacon Wheelers
13 James Parkin Beacon Wheelers
14 Jude Davison Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club

The Youth Cobbler – A boys
1 Cillian Lewis Manilla Cycling
2 Matthew Bell Kirklees Cycling Academy
3 Alex Hodgson Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club
4 Ewan McGrath Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club
5 Zach Barbour SteppingStanes Youth Cycling C…

The Youth Cobbler – B girls
1 Olivia Smallshaw ESV Manchester
2 Izzy Barbour SteppingStanes Youth Cycling C…

The Regional Cobbler
1 Cillian Lewis Manilla Cycling
2 Ted Birkbeck Giant Kendal-Sidas Uk
3 Robert Smart Spokes Racing Team
4 Alasdair Watt Veloclub Edinburgh
5 Matthew Loughlin Kendal Cycle Club
6 Alexander Foster
7 Blain Ewing Beacon Wheelers
8 Zachary Smith Kendal Cycle Club
9 Bruce Wallace Scottish Borders Race Team
10 Christopher Stothard
11 Daniel Braund Derwent Valley CC
12 Archie Honeysett Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club
13 Dale Lee Kendal Cycle Club
14 Ross Burgess Torvelo Racing
15 Craig Scott
16 Mark Studholme Velo Club Cumbria
17 Calum Murray Hawick CC
18 Ian Hanratty
19 Ian Wrightson Border City Wheelers CC
20 Simon Farrell Derwent Valley CC
21 Kestutis Patinskas
22 Jonny Squire
23 Dougie Pratt Rock to Roll CC
24 Peter Hopley Beacon Wheelers
25 Elliot Pollard
26 Laura Patinskaite