West Suffolk Wheelers and Triathlon Club were again well represented at the Eastern League Cyclo Cross meeting last weekend, with Mike Bowen earning an excellent win in the Vets race (45+) in muddy conditions at Davy Down, Thurrock. On a short and technical course Mike stayed with the leading group and made his effort on the one slight hill in the woods with a lap and a half to go and opened up a 20 second lead that he easily held on to. This strengthens his position at the top of the league standings in the Vets category. Barry Denny and Adi Grimwood were having the own battle further down the field, finishing 42^nd and 45^th respectively ~ but there were still several behind us!

The youngsters coped very well for their first taste of slippery conditions. Fraser Elsworth was contesting 5th place, but slipped back to a creditable 7^th on the final lap, with Sam Asker recovering from a poor start to come home 9^th in the U12s, with Matt Whitwell and Oliver Griggs 6^th and 8^th respectively in the U10s. These lads are really enjoying the racing and improving week by week. Overall winner of the race was Aaron Freeman form Chelmsford.

Former Juvenile Champion Alan Trolove took a week off from his winter endurance training for a return to the ‘muck and bullets’ that is Cyclo Cross and remembered how hard it is, but was content with a good workout and an overall midfield placing (3^rd Junior), in a fast, furious and extremely muddy main event of the day for Senior riders, won by Ross Tricker of Elmy Cycles.

Thanks to some great individual performances, West Suffolk Wheelers finished 3^rd (out of 17) in the Club Classification behind Lee Valley Youth and XRT-Elmy Cycles.

Next Sunday we will be out on the demanding woodland course at Mistley and the following week everyone gets the chance to see the big boys in action when the European Championship event comes to Chantry Park, Ipswich on Saturday November 3^rd followed by a round of the National Series at the same event on the Sunday. This will be racing of the highest standard and a spectacle not to be missed.

~ barrydenny@btinternet.com