Sussex Cyclo Cross League Rd 1 and racing round-up

The Challenge Tyres London & South East Cyclo Cross League kicked off on Sunday 4th September with a race at a new venue.  The event, promoted by VC Jubilee, and incorporating the first of three proposed rounds of the Sussex League was held on the steep grassy slopes of Coombes Farm, south of Steyning in warm and breezy conditions.

Stephen Burgess by Dan Street

There were two Lewes Wanderers In the late morning race for men over 50 - Darren Haynes in the Vet50 category and Stephen Burgess in the over 60s.  Darren was gridded 27th of the 62 men in his category, but had dropped to 32nd by the time the bunch crossed the finish line for the first of five laps.  He made up a place on Lap 3 and another the next time around, but finished 30th of 54 a lap down on the victor.

Stephen began 5th of the 15 men in his class, but he too lost places on the opening circuit.  From 7th after Lap 1, he lost a further position the next time around.  He made that back up on the following tour, but slipped back to 8th of 14 finishers at the chequered flag.

In the early afternoon female-only race Mugs Gohl (Nice Brew Racing) was gridded 4th among the seven women in their 40s.  She made a place on the opening lap of four and held third place to the finish line.

Dan Street was among 65 men in the final race of the day for men under 50.  From 21st of 53 men over 40 on the grid he gained three places on the opening lap, another couple the next time around and remained in 16th place at the end of half-a-dozen hard-fought circuits.

Back on Saturday 27th August Sally Turner (racing for trianSharp) competed in the National 10-mile Time-Trial Championship which this year was held on Yorkshire roads west of Hull.  Her superb time of 22 minutes and 21 seconds made her National over-40s Champion ahead of 19 other competitors and 6th female overall from an entry of 34.

The following day Peter Baker took part in a similar test over the same distance run by Southdown Velo on roads west of Arundel.  His time of 23 minutes and 38 seconds placed him 26th out from 48 finishers.