on 29th October 2012
Amazing performance by Kenilworth’s Darren Atkins, Team Jewson’s leading Cyclo Cross Rider seems to have found the best form of his racing career, this winter with 7 victories already under his belt. They say “Like father like son” well Darrens father, John Atkins is considered the finest Cyclo Cross rider the U.K. has ever produced, and now there seems no way in stopping Darren. Already the leader of the National Trophy series, he gave a brilliant demonstration of his form this weekend. Dashing from working in his Cycle Shop in Coventry on Saturday morning, he competed in the Rapha event at Misterton Hall, Nr Lutterworth, on Saturday afternoon, taking on the countries top senior and veteran riders, and coming away with a well earned victory, before dashing back to work. Then on Sunday afternoon he was back again at Misterton Hall to compete in the Midland series Senior and Veteran under 50 race.
Giving the Seniors 1 minute start Darren was half way through the field by the completion of the first lap, using a larger and faster course than on the Saturday race, and looked certain to repeat last weeks performance where he caught all of the seniors well before the end of the event. This time he happened to puncture a rear wheel, whilst hopping over the 2 hurdles, and having just past the official pits area, was forced to ride on a flat tyre for ¾ of a lap, before getting to his spare cycle, and having to work his way through the field once again, briefly being overtaken by team mate Steve Knight. Once aboard his new bike, Atkins set off in pursuit, and soon regained the lead in the Veteran race, but ran out of time to catch all of the seniors. Never the less, it was a terrific display of bike riding and bike control, over the very greasy surfaces especially on a flat rear tyre, Steve Knight finished safely in 2nd place.
In the Veterans race for riders 50 and over held in the morning Phil Roach (Rugby) gave Team Jewson their 3rd victory, with a brilliant display of technical riding, with Tim Stowe (Wellesbourne) in 8th place, and Peter Busby (Coventry) 12th. Lady Veteran team mate Louise Day won the Veterans Ladies race.
At Hereford Team Jewson’s Mark James finished 2nd, his first defeat in Veteran Cyclo-Cross races this season, due to a jammed chain, which took several minutes to repair.
Next weekend Atkins and Roach travel to Ipswich to compete in Rd 2 of the National series. Atkins leads the 40 plus Championship and Roach leads the 50+ Championship, both are expected to do well.
Entries for the LVRC National Cyclo Cross Championships on Saturday 24th November at Moreton Hall, Nr Wellesbourne are to be sent to Mick Ives, entries close 1 week before the race.the event is sponsored by Jewson and organised by Team M.I.Racing/Coventry Olympic C C .