Hannah Ormesher sixth at Regional Cyclocross Championships

I got an average start off the front row of the grid and was in about 6^th or 7^th position into the first corners, but overtook a couple of girls through the 4x4 section and a few girls came past me on the first lap which saw me roughly where I was before, but in different company. Once everything had settled down a bit I found I was reeling in the rider that I had been battling with last week at Grafham Water. I enjoyed the course and felt good on the 'fast n' flat' sections with the technical parts not only being fun and challenging but also enabling me to make some time on my rivals.

 

On the penultimate lap I passed my Grafham Water nemesis but the rider quickly made up for lost ground and sped off into the distance, there was no question of keeping with her at that pace so I let her go. On the final lap events were repeating themselves and I found myself hot on my competitor’s tail again. This time I played it more tactically and hung behind, keeping out of the wind until the last section before the finishing straight. It was fast with some sweeping turns and I felt I was slightly quicker through here than the other rider, but knew the other rider would be more than able to challenge me on the finishing road straight.  However, I seized my chance and sprinted past her on the grassy corners - it was going to be close!

 

Swinging out onto the road I went up the gears quicker than I ever has in my life! My legs were screaming and I could feel and see the other rider in my  periphery vision. These moments is what all the training is about and, reminding myself of this, I threw herself at the line and won the sprint by no more than half a wheel! It was the most exciting finish I have experienced in cross racing and I was very happy to have finished in 6^th position of 19 riders in what was a competitive field. The winner was Louise Mahe of Team Mule Bar Girl – Sigma Sport followed by Claire Beaumont of Viscious Velo. Hannah finished 2:32 down on Mahe, 1:52 down on Beaumont and 42 seconds off third place Chelmer CC rider (and familiar Eastern League face) Sherilyn Powell.