Eastern Cyclocross League 7 - Davy Down. Sun October 21st 2012

Round seven of the Eastern Cross League was held at Davy Downs, a small park adjacent to the Lakeside shopping centre.  A week of heavy overnight rain, and a low-lying marshy course, ensured the first half decent muddy race for several seasons.  A relatively flat circuit containing one tough climb, but with a notoriously treacherous wooden bridge crossing, and two sets of steps to run up.  It can be a fast course but  with the bookies giving the going as ‘heavy.'’  A tough ride ahead looked on the cards as the ground cut up  during the race to leave a tenacious strength sucking mud. 

In the vets +45 race Tim Brown, John McDowall and Dave Kiely where lined up in North Road colours.   An extended go-round style starting lap stretched out the field before Tim felt the dreaded softness of a puncture on the first bend, forcing a pit stop to change his wheel.  This left him off the back of the race by over thirty seconds, but he set gamely off in pursuit aiming to make up lost ground.

Meanwhile John and Dave had got off to a trouble free start.  John started working his way up through the field finding the conditions a little bit more to his liking than the last few weeks.  A sighting of Dave a couple of places behind on the second lap, and with the raw memory of the sour taste of tete sucking defeat of a few weeks ago fresh in John’s mind, a  a big mid race effort ensued that succeeded in gaping his silky smooth riding nemesis.  

Form then on it was a case of avoiding the ignominy of crashing and falling into the river - something one unfortunate lady rider managed, although she clambered out and finished the race!  The dreaded slippery wooden bridge crossing was still a major threat that claimed Dave late in the race, as he come down heavily cutting his elbow and knee.  Tim was still battling on, having charged his way back through the field he made contact with, and then passed Dave.  However, Tim was clearly riding with bad cyclocross juju, and suffered yet another puncture that led to several falls before he had to throw in the towel after a frustrating morning of racing. 

John McDowall was best placed North Roader in 15th place at +2.58.  Dave Kiely in a respectable 20th at +3.39, with Tim as an unfortunate DNF.   61 riders started with four DNFs.

Hannah Ormesher was again competing in the Women’s event that starts just after the male vets race.  Having set off with a strong first lap, a slip on an innocuous looking corner caused a minor fall that cost several places.    Fighting hard to regain lost ground, Hannah remained competitive with the main field and even managed to close gaps on the steep climb.  Sadly, a lack of technique on the’ dis-mount run up stairs’ part of cyclo cross cost our rider dear as she lost some more valuable places towards the end of the race.  Encouragingly, Hannah noted that at the finish she was a much closer to her rivals than in her last outing.  Another days racing for Hannah in her first year of cyclo cross, and some more lessons  taken away including the importance of the dis-mount and re-mount.  It can also be confirmed that it was NOT hannah that ended up in the river.    There was 20 ladies in the race, with one DNF.  Hannah finished 14th, a lap and 50 seconds down.

In the last race of the day, the senior one hour long event, both of our North Roaders where present - Matt Harris and Bryan Holland.  With more rain falling on an already  heavily churned up course, conditions must have been er...interesting!    Bryan Holland continues to show well, and has been elevated to ‘threat’ status amongst his teammates.  He finished 36th, a lap and 2.50 down.  Matt DNf’d for unknown reasons.    There where 79 starts with a high number of DNFs (12)

 

Young Joe Kiely also continued with his fine racing form of recent weeks finishing 12th in the Under 12's.  In the Under 8's he came home in third spot and continues to impress with his attacking riding and truly impressive cake consumption.  Dave's daughter Abigail also rode her first event of the year, on a MTB rather than a cross style machine, and came home in 39th place.