Eastern Cyclocross League 13 - Sun 29th Dec 2013

The penultimate round of the Eastern Cyclocross League was held at a horse welfare centre in Snetterton.   Organised by cross specialists Iceni Velo, a ‘racy’ course was laid out.  Mostly open in nature with what natural obstacles available where well utilised, along with an indoor section in a horse training centre.  Half a dozen long, grassed straights, provided a chance of getting some power down.   Ground conditions where sketchy at best with heavy rain all week and the morning thawing of a hard frost leading to some skittish cornering.

Joe Kiely competing in the Under 12s continued his fine CX season with a third place finish for yet another podium

John McDowall, Dave Kiely and a returning from injury Steve James made up the North Road Vets trio with Hanna Ormesher again the sole entry in the Women's event that starts just after the men.  Matt Crees and Bryan Holland raced the Senior event.

Steve’s target was to get round and test out his knee after an unfortunate commuting  bike crash had wiped out most of his CX season.   Missing his grid call up meant a start at the back but a safely completed race was goal achieved with no reaction from his damaged knee.  Dave had some early race ‘shenanigans’ where doors where shut on rivals in the hurly burley of the starting stampeded.   An enthusiastic commitment to  Christmas   had left Dave a little shy of race fitness, something that the exposed straights ruthlessly exposed.  John  rode a steady race concentrating on staying upright.  Tubular pressures had been lowered to the low 20 psi, as low as he dare go without risking puncture or rolling a tub, and that gave just the right amount of grip but needed careful handling on  a few bits of bumpy ground.   A competitive race mainly spent battling with a group of five riders went mostly John’s way except for pulling a foot out of a pedal in the finishing sprint that may have cost him a place.

John finished in 15th place at +4.26 down on the winner.  Dave was next home in 32nd at +8.31.  Steve was 49th at +1 lap and 2.57.   A total of 61 riders competed in what was an entertaining course and venue.

Hannah raced in the Women's event that starts just after the Vet men.  She started well and was leading for the first lap before one of her close rivals caught and passed her.  Indeed, in what what must have been a competitive race only 16 seconds separated the top four women.  Hannah was second in 44.09 out of 13 women and was a very creditable 38th in the combined Women’s/Vets result out of 74 competitors.

Bryan Holland and Matt ‘van der’ Crees where last off in the hour long Senior event.  By then the course was, shall we say ‘well used’  Neither have yet got the luxury of racing on tubular wheels so higher pressures are required and that must have made the race even more tricky.  Bryan came 46th at +1lap and 5.08 down on the winner.  Matt was 63rd at +2 laps 6.08.