DAY OF CELEBRATION FOR TEAM ENABLE-MI RACING-TOWNSEND VEHICLE HIRE

It was a day of celebration for Rugby based rider Rob O’Conner at the 2024 British Cycling Awards held in Manchester recently. The Team Enable-MI Racing-Townsend Vehicle Hire rider won the 65-69 age category championship road race which was held in Devon earlier this year. At the awards, O’Connor rubbed shoulders with the best from British Cycling and was presented his award by Paralympic medallist Matthew Robinson. Although O’Connor has had plenty of success in the past, he said he was particularly proud of this achievement.

Rob O’Connor receives his award from Matthew Robinson

(photographer unknown)

Rob O’Connor – Team Enable-MI Racing-Townsend Vehicle Hire

The teams top cyclocross riders are continuing their preparation for the 2024 UCI Masters Cyclocross World Championships that are taking place in Hamburg at the end of this month. The strong squad of riders race almost every weekend round the UK throughout the autumn months.

In Round 2 of the British National Trophy Series held in South Shields, it was once again, Wrexham based rider Nick Whitley that was the best of the team’s veteran 50-60 riders, finishing in an excellent 3rd place. Coventry based teammate Darren Atkins wasn’t far behind in 6th place. Layla Bradbrook finished in 15th place in the women’s under 23 race. The next round of the series will be held in Paignton on the 17th November.

Up in the Northwest on the 20th October and racing in round 5 of the North West Cyclocross League in Burnley, Mold based sisters Layla and Holly Bradbrook produced some excellent results by finishing 1st and 2nd respectively in the women’s under 23 race.

Layla and Holly Bradbrook on the podium (photographer unknown)

In the Midlands on the 20th October, some horrendous early afternoon weather made for some very difficult racing conditions. In round 6 of the West Midlands League and racing in the Steve Knight memorial race for veteran riders aged between 50 to 60, Nick Whitley finished in 2nd place, Darren Atkins in 3rd place, Nick Popham in 7th place and Andy Jackson in 52nd place. A hailstorm and gusting winds part way through the race turned the course at the Heart of England Conference Centre into a quagmire. At the same event Mark Garrett finished 10th in the 60+ age category race, Jefferson Tear-Verweij finished 5th in the junior race, Thomas Bradley 17th in the senior race and Colin Miller 4th in the 40-49 race.

Darren Atkins, Nick Whitley and Nick Popham line up at the start at the Heart of England Conference Centre (photographer unknown)

Jefferson Tear-Verweij and Colin Miller battle with the mud at the Heart of England Conference centre (photographs courtesy of Andy Jackson)

On the same day and in very similar conditions Richard Perham and Ray Cochrane raced in round 5 the Eastern Cyclocross League in Essex. Richard Perham finished in 18th place in the veteran 50 race and Ray Cochrane finished in 10th place in the veteran 60 race.

In the last two rounds of the Nottingham and Derby League Lindsay Newman has shown excellent form, twice finishing 2nd in the woman’s veteran 50-59 races.

In rounds 7 and 8 of the West Midlands League, the battle for the podium places has continued to be hard fought. Round 7 held in dry and sunny conditions at the University of Worcester Lakeside Campus, Holt, saw Lynsey Whitley finish in an excellent 5th place in the women’s 40-49 category race. In the men’s senior race Thomas Bradley finished in 18th place. In the men’s 50-59 race Nick Whitley finished 2nd, Darren Atkins 3rd, Nick Popham 7th and Andy Jackson 39th. In the men’s 60+ race Pete Busby finished an excellent 3rd and Mark Garrett 8th.

Lynsey Whitley enjoying sunny conditions at round 7 of the West Midlands CX league (photo courtesy of Andy Jackson)

Round 8 was held at the National Sports Centre in Lilleshall. Lynsey Whitley finished in 6th place in the women’s 40-49 race. Colin Miller came 5th in the 40-49 race. In the 50-59 category race Darren Atkins finished 2nd, Nick Whitley 3th and the improving Nick Popham in 4th. In the veteran 60+ race Pete Busby finished 8th with Mark Garrett close behind in 13th.

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