Wessex Cross:Gray Wins in Gloucester

Luke Gray (Trek Cyclo-Cross Collective) took a well deserved win at the 3rd round of the Wessex Cyclo-Cross League in the grounds of the Cotswolds Airport at Cirencester. Rob Gray Reports………. The promoting club Cotswold Veldrijden had designed a fast twisting course on flat ground which weaved its way in and out of some interesting woods sections including a short bank. There where plenty of Belgium style tight bends and a set of planks to keep the riders on their toes.

Gray took off at the start with Ben Sumner (Beeline RT) and Scott Chalmers (Dream Cycling), leaving the field chasing them. Nearing the end of the first lap Ben caught a bank hard and rolled a tub, with only a short run to the pit Sumner changed bike loosing 15 seconds on the lead riders and a couple of places. A lap later and the gap from leaders Gray and Chalmers back to chaser Crispin Doyle (Hargroves RT) was only 5seconds with Sumner now in 4th at under 10 seconds. As the race continued Gray and Chalmers steadily stretched the lead out and Gray was happy to get Chalmers on the front to take a share of the work as the pair circulated together.

By the closing stages of the race, Doyle who had won the Vets race early, was now at 30 seconds with Sumner around the minute mark. Coming into the last lap Gray lead Chalmers, but neither rider had made a move to drop the other so all eyes were tracking them in out of the woods. Gray however had put himself in the position he wanted to be in, and as the lap went on it became clear that passing Gray was now going to be hard as time was running out for Chalmers. Then on the penultimate turn Chalmers made a dive on the inside of Gray, and for a second they where side by side rubbing shoulders around the turn and it looked like the pair were going to hit the deck." Gray said " I was forced to take a little more corner speed and felt my tyres sliding out just to stay with Scott.They both made the bend but it was Gray who held the inside line as they sprinted for the final bend. This time Gray kept Chalmers on his out side as they entered the bend, this time Gray pulled out of the bend first and easily out sprinted Chalmers to take the win.

In the under 12s it was Rowan Turner (Poole Wheelers) who took the win from one of the talented Wadsworth sisters Anna.


Results:
Seniors
1st Luke Gray Trek Cyclocross Collective
2nd Scott Chalmers Dream Cycling
3rd Crispin Doyle Hargroves Cycles
4th Ben Sumner Beeline RT
5th Dan Lewis RAF CC
35th Tim McDowell BJW

Vets
1st Crispin Doyle Hargroves Cycles
2nd Steve Davies Hargroves Cycles
3rd Keith Sheridan Cotswold Veldrijden
4th Will Girvan North Hants RC
5th Sean Williams Wightlink Offshore
Women
1st Claire Smith Cotswold Veldrijden
2nd Merce Pacios Blue Motors
3rd Anna Cipullo MB Swindon
Juniors
1st Joe Andrews Fareham Wheelers
2nd Cameron Thompson Andover Wheelers
3rd Jack Saunders Cotswold Veldrijden
1st Junior Girl Zoe Sheehan Cotswold Veldrijden
Youth
1st Elliott Lassiter Cotswold Veldrijden
2nd Tom Sewell Cotswold Veldrijden
3rd William Crofts Performance Cycles
4th Angus Hawkins PPV
5th Charlie Cooper Chapel Tri-stars
U12
1st Rowan Turner Poole Wheelers
2nd Anna Wadsworth Beeline RT
3rd Jed Smithson Oxonion CC

Photos Rob Gray