on 12th November 2012
The big Cyclo-Cross at the weekend was the Inter Regional Championships held at Milton Keynes,
In the Veteran Championships, 3 of the Teams riders were selected to represent the Midland region. And their combined effort brought them home in 2nd place in the Team Championship, But the ride of the day, was that of Kenilworth’s Darren Atkins, fresh from his first defeat of the season last weekend, Atkins trashed the U.K’s best with a masterly display of skill and fitness, on the very tricky and slippery course, to take yet another major victory in what is turning out to be his best ever season. Team mate Steve Knight finished in 11th place after a very slow start and he was followed by Phil Blacker in 12th place. In the senior race Jewson rider Mark James represented Wales.
Blacker had just a few hours earlier won the L.V.R.C. promotion at Baggeridge Park, Nr Wolverhampton, winning by over 1 ½ minutes on a very tough and muddy course, and clearly showing that he is back to almost his best, after several weeks troubled by a heavy cold, it was a good day for the team in some ways, with Wellesbourne’s Tim Stowe also troubled by persistent colds, finishing in 4th place, it would have been third had he not punctured with 1 ½ lap to go. Tim won the 55+ age cat as well, and just behind was team mate Peter Busby (Coventry) in 6th place, and 2nd 50 + rider, in 16th place was Barrie Mitchell (Marton). Not so good for Jewson rider Lorenzo Burratti, he crashed very heavily at ¾ distance on a very fast, greasy descent,, went off the track and hit a tree, breaking his collar bone and suffering facial damage which may well put him out for the rest of the year, such are the hazards of Cyclo-Cross racing. Wellesbournes Tim Stowe, travelled to Crowthorne, Berkshire the following day, to switch to Mountain Bike racing, and finished 2nd Veteran. In the “Gorrick Autum Classic” promotion.
The Teams Rugby member and leading over 50 rider in the U.K. Phil Roach, also bounced back from last weeks defeat, when he won the Huntingdon Cyclo Cross at Grafton Water, beating the rider who beat him last week in the National Trophy series, former British Champion,Steve Davies. They continue their battles next weekend in Rd 3 of the National series at Southampton.
In Yorkshire Matt Denby, still recovering from 2 broken Ribs finished an excellent 3rd in the Otley C.C. Cyclo Crosshis first race back since his accident,
The Teams all round racer Greg Ashley has just returned from Lanzarote where he competed in the International Triathlon race., very tough conditions, strong winds and very hot, Greg completed the 1.9km Swim in 36 mins (a P.B.) and onto the 92km Bike ride which had 2,000met of climbing in and temp of low 30 deg., he completed the ride in 3hrs 16 mins and then it was onto the ½ Marathon, again very windy and hot which he completed in 1 hr 44 mins for an overall time of 5 hrs 48 mins for 150th place overall out of 900 starters and more important 19th fastest Veteran an excellent way to end his 2012 season
Another excellent weekends racing from the Coventry based squad, 4 Victories, and several other Podium placings, at venues all across U.K.
Team Jewson M.I.Racing hold their Team Dinner and Awards Evening next Friday Evening (16th Nov) at the Dunchurch Park Hotel, Dunchurch, Nr Rugby, Chief Guest is Mr Alan RushtonMan Director of Sport for Television.one of the Teams Patrons.