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Based on a similar course to last year the Super cross was held in dry conditions. The course was predominately flat grass field with plenty of taped switchbacks only 1 small climb. As per usual the pace as fast from the off, I managed to get into the lead group of 6 which quickly pulled away from the rest of the field. Dean meanwhile didn’t have the best of starts; he got tangled up in some tape which wrapped in his block. So he had to run half a lap to get to his spare bike and then set off in pursuit of the riders’ head of him.

The lead group I was in split up after 2 riders attacked off the front, I was in a group of 3, on the last lap I was racing for 3^rd spot after the 2 leaders had pulled out an unreachable gap, I managed to snap a spoke in my front wheel on the last lap. In the sprint finish for 3^rd the other to riders got past and I finished 5^th.

Dean meanwhile after his earlier set back continued to ride back up through the field to finish 19^th, he had 18^th place ex-pro Geoff Stanley in his sights but ran out of time to catch him.

Northwich saw the team bus full of riders, with Dean, Myself, Danny McLoughlin and Ste Meyerhoff. The course was made up of grass fields, plenty of taped switch backs, and a couple of steep run up’s or ride ups depending how fast you were.

The start whistle was blown and I found myself in 3^rd position, we raced through the finish area only to be confronted with a dead end, some of the tape had snapped and the leading rider went the wrong way and everyone followed. The event was re-started and I managed to get into 6^th position whilst Danny, Dean and Ste were mid bunch.

The winner Dave Brailsford pulled away from the start and was never to be seen again, after 2 laps I got up to 2^nd position and set off after by myself. Dean had managed to get going and got in a group fighting for 18^th position. Whilst Danny was a further 10 places behind Dean. Ste was another 15 places back and was starting to feel the heat from the fast start.

Halfway through the race Dean punctured this front tub, he had to run ¼ lap to get to his spare bike, around about the same time Ste punctured and made it to the pits to get a quick wheel change losing him a few places.

Coming into the closing laps, I could sense there was something wrong with my bike, but I didn’t want to change as there was a group behind chasing me. With 2 laps to go I swapped bikes, and held on to the finish with 3^rd place rapidly catching me.

Described as a traditional cyclo cross course, they really don’t get much harder than Radcliffe. The course was 1.25 miles and included everything, a cobbled start, a un-ride able muddy bog, steps, steep run ups and sand. Myself, Dean, Ste and another century rider (sorry don’t know his name) were in for a messy time. The start was gridded, so me and Dean got on the front row, whilst Ste wanted to keep himself out of the way at the back of the bunch. Both me and Dean got really good starts, Dean wanted to be 1^st onto the course and attacked straight away and opened up a gap. He held this for the 1^st lap, this attack strung out the whole field. I managed to avoid a crash and moved up to 3^rd and pass Dean who was now suffering due to the earlier effort. Ste had problems of his own after his seat pin started to slip into the frame, he stopped and managed to get a set of Allen keys and tightened it up. I mean while punctured and had to jump on the spare bike, I’m sure it’s made of solid steel, it weighs a tonne!! I got going but dropped down to 6^th, luckily for me the organiser Dave Haygarth saw me puncture and got a spare wheel for my good bike, and I was able to get back onto that.

The course was starting to take it toll on everyone, Dean swapped bikes as his was starting to get weighed down with mud. I made my way up to 4^th, and then took advantage of the 3^rd placed riders deciding to have a gel, no very sporting but as soon as he opened it I attacked and opened up the gap straight away!! I continued onto the finish and was closing in on second place, another lap I may have had him. The winner caught Dean just before the finish so he got to finish whilst Ste rolled in a few minutes after me.

Me, Dean and Ste headed up to Hornby near Kirby Lonsdale for the 2^nd event of the weekend. Based around the grounds of Hornby high school, the course was only small but it was very technical. There were 3 runs up, 6 planks and a lot of twisty switched tape backs which became very slippy during the race. Again the start was gridded, I got a good start and was in 4^th position, and I held this a couple of laps and then started to slow a bit. I was caught by the two riders behind me, they could tell I was suffering and started to attack me. Dean mean while was getting a lot of attention because he was bunny hopping the wooden planks whilst everyone else was jumping off and stepping over them. Ste meanwhile was battling with the same riders as the day before. I managed to hang on to the two riders until one of them crashed on a slippy bend, I could sense the other rider was tiring so I attacked and opened up a gap straight away. With one and half laps to go I lapped Dean, he was in a battle again with ex-pro Geoff Stanley. I passed Dean just before the final set of planks, he bunny hopped them and got on to my wheel, and I put my head down and went for it. Dean hung on to my back wheel for the next half a lap until he nearly crashed and I pulled away. This did the damage to Geoff Stanley and Dean rode away from him.

Congratulations to Rob Pugh on a very successful Cyclo-Cross season. Finishing 2^nd overall in the North West series he was also 1^st in the U-23 category. Rob collected a shield and gold medal, well done Rob

Myself and Dean Smith ventured to Pignut Hill in Northwich to take part in the 1st cross race of the northwest series.

With the sun out and the ground rock hard the race was fast for the 60 starters.

The race was 12 laps over a demanding course which was made of grass sections with taped turns, a section of testing woodland and a steep short hill which required you to jump off and shoulder the bike.

Myself and Dean both got a decent start and rode hard all race, we never dropped below 15th place.

Halfway through the race, me and dean ended up getting together and set off in pursuit of the group in front.

With 3 laps to go dean crashed whilst sprinting through a hairpin corner. I kept going and on the last lap managed to catch a rider in front and finish in 8th place.

Overall it was a good race to start the season with, and i guess that will be the only cross race we will do in the sun this season!!

1st October saw myself, Dean and Jon McEvoy travel to Leverhulme Park in Bolton to take part in the 1st round of the National 'Scott' Cyclo Cross Series.

92 riders signed on to face a fast but challenging course. The course had a mix of descents, short steep climbs, steps and plenty of corners. The rain during the week left the course muddy on some of the tough sections.

The race was fast from the gun, Jon McEvoy and the top riders where gone within a lap.

The rest of the field was split all over the course in small groups. Neither myself or Dean got the best of starts but we started to make our way back through the bunch after a few laps.

I managed to get upto 16th place before I clipped my rear mech on something and it bent into my wheel. I stopped and managed to bend it back out and then tried to catch the riders who passed me.

Jon did a superb ride and finished 4th beating some of the country's top cross riders.

I managed to catch a few of the riders who passed me and finished 18th position.

Cyclo cross Report 3

Round 3 of the northwest cross series was held at Outwood Park in Radcliffe. This was a new course for this season; the course was a mixture of fast hard sections, muddy climbs and muddy descents.

59 riders took to the start, century members present where myself, Dean and Jonny riding for Kinesis UK.

As usual this season the racing was fast from the gun, Dean got a brilliant start and was placed 3rd into the first corner, whilst me and Jonny where stuck midway down the field and had some work to do.

Whilst trying to get back to the front on some single track, 2 riders in front of me got tangled up and went down. The only place for me to go was straight into the back of them; luckily the ground was muddy so I ended up just sliding along on my knees for a few metres.

Back to the front of the race Jonny had got up to second and was chasing the leader, whilst Dean was just outside the top 10.

I started to make my way through the field and eventually caught and passed Dean. With about 4 laps to go Jonny was in 2nd position, I had made it up to 4th and Dean was in 13th.

Coming into the last few laps I was caught and passed by a rider and ended up finishing 5th. Jonny held on for 2nd and Dean finished in 13th.

Jonny and myself both finished 1st in our age categories.

The race was sponsored by Wheelbase and they provided a generous prize list. I left with a £56 set of racing tyres and Dean picked up a £36 set of cross tubs.

After the 3 events so far the overall league standing are looking like:

2nd Rob

6th Dean

8th Jonny

The next race is @ Clayton Vale on 21/10/06

Rob

Cross Report 4

21/10/06 - Clayton Vale, Manchester

The usual suspects myself and Dean made the short trip down the M62 to Clayton Vale near the velodrome for round 4 of the North West cross series.

The course was made up of fast tarmac sections, 3 short steep hills and plenty of muddy grass sections.

The start was different to the previous events, the organiser decided to grid the riders. As me and Dean were both high up in the overall standings, we managed to get on the 2nd row.

We both got a good start and settled into the early fast pace just behind the leaders.

After a couple laps at a lung bursting pace, the field had split into small groups around the course.

I spent most of the race in 9th place, whilst Dean dropped a few places back in the field.

I managed to catch the rider in front of me whilst Dean got his second breath and started to catch riders ahead of him.

Coming into the finish I held onto 8th place and Dean had managed to pull back a few riders and finished 31st.

Cross Report 5

28/10/06 - Otterspool Park

The East Liverpool Wheelers organised the event on our local course, the course being a mixture of technical wooded sections, a cobbled climb and a steep climb which you had to run up.

I got a good start and was one of the first into the wooded sections while Dean was stuck mid bunch after his chain came off.

Dean soon made his way into the top 20 by being one of the fastest through the technical sections.

I spent most of the race with two other riders battling for 5th position at about 1 minute behind the leader, and Dean was in another group about a minute behind us.

In the last few laps I managed to get up to 4th but I was soon back to 5th after making a few mistakes.

I finished 5th after dropping the other riders on the last lap and Dean sprinted home for 16th place.

The next event at South Park, Macclesfield

Cyclo Cross Reports

Cross Report 6

South Park Macclesfield 5/11/06

This week the century’s top cross riders headed to South Park home of the ‘Super Cross’. A mild week led to a dry and super fast course, the course was a mixture of flat fields, off camber descents, 3 short steep climbs and 2 wooden planks placed at the top of two of the hills.

As usual for this cross the start was fast with the top riders opening a gap within half a lap of starting. I managed to get a good start and passed a few riders of the first climb of the circuit; Dean unfortunately pulled his foot out at the start and had to do some chasing.

After a lap a leading group of 4 riders had pulled out a gap over me and Roy Hunt. Knowing that Roy is a top rider I sat on his wheel hoping he would take me across to the break. Roy was suffering from the fast start so I set off in pursuit by myself.

Mean while Dean was making progress and moving back through the field after the tough course was taking in toll on all the riders.

I managed to close the gap on 4th place, but coming into the closing laps I started to fade and finished 5th. Dean carried on catching riders and finished 28th.

Cross Report 7

Otterspool Park, Liverpool 11/11/06

This was the club’s annual Cyclo-cross promotion held on our local course. With most of the local riders familiar with the course, it was decided to mix it up a bit and run the race in the opposite direction. The course included a short ramp, off camber descents, cobbled path descent, a log which you had to jump over then a steep descent, and plenty of riding through the trees.

Both myself and Dean got a good start and where in the top 10 until half the field decided to take a short cut and we ended up in about 20th place. I started to make my way back up the field and got to 8th place. Dean enjoying the technical sections made up lots of ground and got up to 24th.

The conditions and technical sections where proving to be difficult with nearly all riders crashing once, well apart from Dean. On the last lap I attacked the rider in front of me to gain 7th place, taking risks on some of the corners I managed to open up a gap and hold it to the finish whilst Dean stormed round the technical sections and finished in 19th place.

Cross Report 8

Stadt Moers Country Park, Whiston 19/11/06

The Century Cross Team made the short trip to Whiston for round 8 of the cross series. The course was designed for a roadman as there was no where on the course were you needed to dismount.

The Century nearly fielded a team of 3 but after promising to ride his local event all year Danny McLouchlin wimped out at the last minute. The course at Whiston was made up of mainly paths, 6 muddy climbs, and 2 off-camber descents, all the course was ride-able for the stronger riders.

With a good start for both me and Dean, we headed on to the single section together in about 8th place. As we turned onto the course 2 riders in front of us and came down I managed to take a wider turn whilst Dean missed one of them by a couple of inches! After a couple of laps I managed to get up to 4th place and Dean got to 14th after being delayed by the crash.

With the course starting to get chewed up, the speed of the race slowed as everyone had a hard slog up the muddy climbs and had to be cautious on the off-camber descents. With three laps to go I dropped back to 5th whilst Dean had moved up into 12th.

With 2 ½ laps to go I nearly wiped myself out on a muddy corner, looking down I had punctured and my spares where half a lap away. I shouldered the bike and started running the rest of lap, by the time I got my spare wheel in I was down to 7th place. Dean attacked the rider he was with and moved into 11th, he held the other rider off to the finish with some fast riding on the off-camber descents. I managed to catch the rider in front of me and finish 6th.

Cross Report 9

Otterspool Park, Liverpool 25/11/06

With a week of rain before the event, it was bound to be a mud bath at Otterspool for the final event there this season. The course was similar to the first race this season but was going to be much harder with the amount of mud on the course. Whilst warming up most of the course was ride-able, after a few laps of racing the course was chewed up and some parts where far from ride-able.

After a sprint down the field it was straight onto the course and up the cobbled climb, the top 4 riders managed to get a gap straight away leaving me in a group of 3 chasing in 5th. Dean was in top half of the bunch and was making his way back towards the front.

With a couple of laps to go I dropped back to 7th whilst Dean had climbed to 21st. On the last lap I was caught by a rider behind me and crossed the line in 8th whilst Dean held off his opposition for 21st.

The overall standings after this event are:

2nd Rob

6th Dean

Cross Report 10

Myrte Park, Bingley, Yorkshire 26/11/06

With still some energy left from Otterspool the day before, me and Dean headed over to Yorkshire to check out the opposition for the following weekends North of England champs.

On the drive there, Dean warned me that the Yorkshire riders like running and they design their courses to suit this. We got signed on and went to check out the course, as Dean expected there were 3 running sections, then 2 off-camber descents, 2 tough climbs and a twisty section through the trees.

With not knowing the other riders, me and Dean decided just to ride our own race. With a fast start, we then turned onto the course and onto the first running section, I managed to get up to 14th and Dean got to 30th after the fast start.

We both slowly started making our way through the field by overtaking riders on the tough parts of the course. After an hours racing I had managed to get up to 9th and finish with the 8th placed rider in my sights. Dean had managed to catch a few riders and finished 25th after a sprint finish with another rider.

The next race is the North of England champs @ Bishop Burton, East Yorkshire.

Thanks to Rob Pugh for this report

Kirkby is now up and running but short of riders, the success of the track league will affect any future cycling development in knowsley so please support it.

With an uninterrupted season set to run through until 23rd August, racing commences at 7.15pm each Wednesday. Riders can register on the night or in advance by contacting the organizer, Doreen Mallinson, on 01772 423174 (email: jandda@tiscali.co.uk). Guest riders are also welcome.

Any one want information about track racing please contact me by email aklinford@blueyonder.co.uk or phone 07734052596 its best to phone my mobile as I’m hardly home these days.

Please send me your results so I can tell the rest of the club of your achievements other wise I can only use the results I find on the internet.

Kirkby Track Century wins the senior club competition and collected the Brookland trophy.

First I would like to congratulate Gary Rosbotham-Williamson setting new National Record at the European Paralympic Championships for the 4000 meter Pursuit of 5.02.65 well done. As you might be aware Gary is a member of the British Paralympic team and has been travailing a lot representing Great Britain and doing very well. He has entered National Track also on 7th Oct and will be riding omnium flying 200 kilo 3km pursuit. See T.T. report also about Gary.

Also Mark McNally Won a Bronze medal At the Youth National Champs in the 2000 meter Pursuit well done Mark.

Good news from Kirkby track league the club won the team prize for the seconded year running. Mark McNally finshised seconded the rest of the placing will be confirmed at a later date.

Kirkby Track League has now finished for the year, but will be back next year as long as the winter is kind to the track. Winter track league at Manchester starts up again in October after the National track Championships, Details can be obtained from British cycling website or hand book, or from me.

Manchester Velodrome will also be running training course through the winter for some of them you will need to be accreted, for advice on which courses would be suitable for you contact me.

Send mail with questions or comments about this web site on feedback page. Last modified: 09/23/08 Club Secretary George Darlington 0151 526 1963

Send mail with questions or comments about this web site on feedback page.
Last modified: 09/23/08 Club Secretary George Darlington 0151 526 1963