Yorkshire Summer Cross Round Up

Malsis School, Keighley

My thoughts on the opening round at Malsis School can be seen here.

Wharfe Meadows, Otley

It's a good little course at Otley.  It's essentially around a split level playing field - providing some short but steep little climbs/descents - with a small wooded section to one end.  A dry and warm period of weather ensured the track was hard and fast.  However, a little shower towards the end of the race turned the grass to glass, and spills and thrills ensued.  There was a great Team Here Come the Belgians presence and the evening was was great fun.  Another massive field (127 finishers!) meant no points for John Boy again!  But it's the taking part at the end of the day that counts isn't it?

Still smiling post race.  With Ali, Carl, Rich, John (me), Nick and Adam.  

Brigshaw School, Kippax

Photo courtesy of Neil Hendry

I've raced at Brigshaw a good few times now over my 3yr cyclocross racing career, but always in the clockwise guise.  The latest summer cross round was run - wait for it - anticlockwise!  I can sense the  anticipation and general edge of seat sitting....

To cut a long story short, it was great - just as great as normal.  The additional stair climb was a nice touch, and the sand pit - which is normally approached on the flat - was at the bottom of a slight decent, so was hit with a little more pace!  Squirmy squrimy.

Warm and dry again - yes it has been a lovely summer hasn't it - equals fast, hard cornering and being on the ragged edge for much of the race.  Also, the more modest field of 100 finishers produced some points.  8 in fact!  And, as it turns out, my only points of the season.  A bit of a poor do, but at least I made it on the leader board - I was getting worried.

Killing Hall Moor, Harrogate

The final round of my Yorkshire Summer Cross campaign was fought at Harrogate.

Similar warm, dry, hard and fast racing conditions presented themselves at Harrogate, as per many of the rounds this years Summer Cross.

Harrogate is a fairly flat and open course, with a longish lap.  A couple of techy sections are added but nothing too heavy.  As such, it's another quickie.  I thought I felt pretty good and was fairly motoring along, and tussling with the usual crowd, but finished pretty low down in other bumper field of entrants, so was out of the points!

However, the biggest talking point of the race, perhaps, was the testing of the new electronic timing system, which is to be used, for the first time I understand, during the Winter Points Series starting in September.  A little transponder attached to the ankle gives a little bleep on crossing the timing mat - and that was it - full individual lap times etc.  Pretty groovy, but it did highlight my short comings even more, and showed I was lapped, about four times I think it was, by the winners!

Onwards and upwards I guess....

Summer Cross Rounds 7, 9 and 10

I assume Summer Cross to be a dim and distant memory for most people by now, for whom prep’ing for the ‘cross season proper, and 3PCX etc. are probably main foci. However, for the sake of closure, please allow me the indulgence of posting brief résumés of the final three rounds I competed in.

Round 7 – Brooksbank School, Elland

On arrival to site, Belgians Rich and Nick were already in the throes of warming up, but, before even saying hello, the first thing that struck me was the ruddy great hill in the corner! I could see the tiger tape snaking its way across the hillside, suggesting a succession of gruellingly tightly packed ups and downs. The athletic duo assured me that once on the slope, the climbs were not too bad. I hoped they were right, and nodded anxiously in acknowledgement of their recently acquired practice lap knowledge. Although fully trusting their judgment, I felt sure that their experiences of powering a ‘full figured’ gentleman, such as me, around a cyclocross course, maybe somewhat limited?

Anyway, it’s not supposed to be easy, and I soon came to terms with the fact I was going to get a little out of breath on this one?? The course comprised grass playing fields, with the only respite from this surface covering being the thin white lines around the athletics track. Here the lime had scorched the grass and hardened the topsoil, allowing some speed to be achieved, and breath to be caught. Oh how I long for a bit of mud…..

Another massive field of competitors soon filled the course, with the open nature of the lap allowing plenty of room for everyone to go about their business unhindered. I rolled in 91^st place – last on the course, due to the cruel trick of the bell, but with a big smile on my face.

Round 9 – Killinghall Moor Country Park, Harrogate

An excellent evening of pedalling about was on the cards. The sun came out, the venue was

picturesque, and the usual friendly crowd of likeminded individuals were amassed ready for some action.

“My kind of course” was my initial thought, after a quick scoot around prior to the start. The course was long, flattish, pretty easy going on the grass, and with some twisty rooty single track between trees to boot. “My forte – I’ll do well here” I muttered to myself on the start line!

However, for ‘my kind of course’ read ‘everybody’s kind of course’, and boy did I seem to suffer! The whistle went, and everyone buggered off! My usual duelling partners were nowhere to be

seen and, although I set to, attempting to reel them in, my lungs and legs were having none of it.

Round 10 – Newsome High School, Huddersfield

A metaphorical level playing field, amongst Belgians at least, was the story of the final round of the Summer Series at Newsome High School….. Oh and a small splattering of rarely seen mud too to boot!!

Belgians Nick and I - John P - lined up on a windswept and rain battered hillside in ‘CleckHuddersFax’, which resembled, in appearance at least, a mid-winter meet rather than mid-August!! ‘Blowing a hooley’ I believe is the correct meteorological term.

Unlucky Nick punctured on the first lap!! And I understand this resulted in him begging spectators for track pumps on ever other lap – to his credit he persevered and finished.

So, ultimately, Nick, with a slow puncture, and having to stop three times in the race vs a fully fit John P, is a fairly closely matched race pairing…. Poxer still beat me though!!

Roll on the Winter……