Local Riders,Local Races!

Stuart Bowers (Hargroves Cycles) is looking forward to this weekend’s National Cyclo-Cross Championships, after hitting form at the right time. Ensbury Park-based Bowers has had a slow start to the winter season but after some solid training miles he is starting to fire on all cylinders. A strong performance in the Crabwood CC Boxing day race saw the Hargroves rider take second place behind Mike Cotty (Wheelbase/Cannondale). Chantry Park, Ipswich is the venue for this year’s championships and Bowers will be more than satisfied if he can match his 6th place of last year. Mike Cotty will also be targeting a top ten finish at Ipswich.

New Forest-based Cotty has been racing in Belgium in preparation for the championships. Belgium is the home of Cyclo-cross and crowds of 10,000 or more are not unusual. “It’s phenomenal, I loved every minute of it, the noise from the crowd is intoxicating beyond belief” said Cotty. Reigning U23 Champion, Luke Gray (Baboco), from Broadstone is another local rider who will be racing at Ipswich. Gray has spent the last 4 months living and racing in Belgium and has found the competition tough. Successfully defending his title would be a rare victory for Gray in what has been a difficult year.

World champion, Darren Kenny OBE, from Verwood has been selected for the World Para-Cycling track championships. Kenny has been named in a 14 man squad for the championships in Los Angeles in February. The World Championships represent the last opportunity for qualification points towards the London 2012 Paralympic games. Great Britain are sending a strong squad, including Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 2nd claimers Sarah & Barney Storey.

Tandem pilot Barney, rode most of last season with visually impaired stoker, Anthony Kappes. In L A Storey will pilot Neil Faichie, while former Olympic medallist, Craig Maclean will ride with Kappes.

Ahead of the World Championships the squad will be putting in some intensive work with two, four day training camps at the Newport Velodrome in Wales.

The Poole Wheelers are running a series of “Turbo Trainer” evenings at St Dunstan’s Church Hall Poole Rd, Upton. Running for twelve weeks on Monday evenings, the indoor sessions are designed to build speed, stamina and of course weight loss. Full details from adam.wykes@btinternet.com.

Matrix Fitness/Prendas Ciclismo is the new name for the Horizon Fitness Womens team, support from Johnson Health Tech UK – which includes the Matrix Fitness brand – and Prendas Ciclismo, has ensured the team’s continuation.
Prendas Ciclismo will be providing kit for the all British squad

2012 team line-up: Sarah Byrne, Dani King, Hannah Rich, Joanna Rowsell, Penny Rowson, Annie Simpson, Hannah Walker, Jessie Walker plus Team Mentor Helen Wyman.

Jason Falconer
Sustrans Bike It Officer,Working in partnership with Bournemouth and Poole Councils,
01202 451185
07827 927541
jason.falconer@sustrans.org.uk