on 14th January 2013
Team Jewson M. I. Racing Thule Elite cycle race team, became the British Veteran Cyclo Cross Team Champions once again.
In one of the toughest disciplines of Cycle Racing the Coventry based Team, are without doubt the number 1 Veteran squad in the UK. Cyclo Cross is the Winter form of Cross Country racing and Coventry has produced more National Champions than any other region of the UK,
With World, Champions and British Champions at Professional Amateur Junior and Schoolboy levels, along with countless Team Championships, and this weekend was no different.
Kenilworth’s Darren Atkins, led the Team to victory, with his 2nd place, overall and with Steve Knight, and Matt Denby, both in the top 10, Team victory was assured. Mark James was just outside the top 10, such is the strength of the squad.
For Atkins, it was a case of missing out on the Individual Championship once again, this time cominuteg up against a Professional rider, on top of his form in the shape of Nick Craig, a multi British Champion, and Olympic rider, who led the race from the early stages, and it was clear that Atkins, was not at his best may be just 1 race too many, in a very long season, where he had ridden 17 races and won 15 of them, or, may be it was a case of nerves, we may never know, but the British LVRC National Champion, and National Trophy series winner, never gave up the chase, and had to dig really deep in the closing stages to secure the Silver medal, attacking his rivals in the final ½ mile of the race.
Team mates Steve Knight finished in Bronze medal position in the 45+ Championship with Matt Denby 4th, Craig went on to finish 5th in the Pro /Senior race 24 hrs later, underlining his class and fitness.
There was further success for the Team, in the 50 + Championship, the first race of the weekend, unable to defend their Team Championship in the event with their star rider Phil Roach (Rugby) sidelined following major surgery on his leg, Wellesbourne’s Tim Stowe was the best of the Team followed a few places behind by Pete Smith, had Roach been able to compete, the Team Championship, should have remained with the Team, so its it was left to the older riders to get in the medals Marton’s Barrie Mitchell finished 3rd in the 65+ Championship, behind winner and current World Champion Vic Barnett, and the oldest rider in the Championships Bagintons, Mick Ives, a former 5 times World Masters Champion, finished 3rd in the 70+ event, behind current World Champion, John Ginley
For most of the Team, the season is now over, and they can look back to some fantastic performances, winning over 30 Open Events inc 3 National Championship, 1 National Team Championship, 1 National Series Championship Midland Championship Inter Regional Championship. Etc
Some will continue into the Road Racing season which starts in March, others will have a long earned rest.