Event: Gateway Greenspaces Cross   Add this to my calendar (Outlook etc.)

Date: Sunday, 28 December 2008

Promoter: Gateway Cycling

Contact: Ian Badman-Dunphy 01375 673414 / 07983 359978 ian@gatewaycycling.org.uk

Location: Langdon Hills Country Park, One Tree Hill, Corringham, Essex, SS17 9NH. Click here for a map. Click the grey arrows at the bottom right of the map to see a detailed version.

Report: Blimey it was cold at One Tree Hill. It was a classic winter’s morning – the second you strayed out of the watery sunshine a penetrating chill cut straight through to the bones. Ian Badman-Dunphy and his Gateway chums devised a fiendishly challenging course with an energy sapping hill incorporating two cheeky sets of steps. There was much slogging up on foot as the races progressed and the riders tired.

As London League had a Saturday race, we were pleased to welcome several of our London friends for a race on their doorstep.

In the Youth race Hugo Humphreys held off Taylor Johnstone. Hugo came out from final hairpin in the lead and darted to the finish before Taylor could psyche himself up for the sprint. Some way behind Sam Connolley came in third and took the full Eastern League points to zoom up to the top of the League table. Despite being on different laps, Dan Young and James Madgwick decided to thrill the crowds and race for the line. James was well ahead until that fateful final hairpin, which claimed several victims during the day. James went down and his chain came off, so he sprinted on foot, pushing his bike to the line. He just beat Dan and then collapsed at the side of the course. It seems that in the fall he took a pretty big bosh on the knee and he got to the line on adrenalin. Later in the day James was seen happily walking about. I expect it was the special medicinal compound – cake – that was the chief reason for the quick recovery. Well, that and knowing that he had beaten twin brother, Matthew. Alan Trolove took the U14 honours again, but he has no time for complacency. In the League, Sean Dunlea and George Wood are both snapping at his heels. Phoebe Aubugeau-Williams was first girl ahead of Sherilyn Powell.

Archie Wishart had another great win in the Under 12s challenging James Jackson for top honours in the League. Sophie Holmes was the first Under 10 rider again, securing her position as 1st U10 and 1st Girl. A special commendation goes to Katy Gusterson for her first race. She got pretty tired half way through, but was persuaded to rest a little and walk her bike till she got her breath back – and then there was no stopping her. Welcome to the gang, Katy, we hope to see you again soon. And it was good to see the entire Mackie clan again, signing on in plenty of time!

Gary Allen, leading Veteran in the Wessex League, had a convincing win over Julian Parker. Gavin Rumbles took the early lead, but took a tumble and never quite recovered his placing. It’s a new experience for Gavin to only come 3rd. Early in the race there was some 2 for the price of 1 cheering when Clives Ling and Harrison were riding together. Unfortunately it wasn’t Mr Ling’s day – a fall and a mechanical sent him to the tea queue early. Clive Harrison feebly, and, I might say, unconvincingly, tried to claim that being one row back in the grid from arch-rival, Dave Copland, wrecked his race. Little did Clive know that Dave was wearing the wrong shoes, which would have scuppered Dave’s chances in muddier conditions. That’ll teach Dave not to leave his shoes at Broome again. Last week he left a bit too promptly in order to get to St Peter’s Brewery for ‘supplies’ before the shop shut… And it’s worth noting that Gary Allen was gridded in the 4th row, but soon surged to the front.

For the ladies, Rachel Moss was in tremendous form. She easily lapped fellow triathlete, Joolz Halpin, and was spotted going for a “brick” run after her race. That’s a triathlon term for a 2 discipline training session, practising transition technique and using different muscle groups. Actually, there are several triathletes choosing cross to keep their fast twitch muscle fibres in shape (twitching quickly?) and their cake-eating stamina at peak levels during the winter. I do hope that Graham Hart can coax some of his East Essex Tri buddies to join the fun.

Bruce Robinson took the 50+ honours and Phil Cooper led the 60+ charge. Honourable mentions are due to Colin Newstead and Bruce Mackie, both in good form and obviously enjoying themselves (well, they both had grins from ear to ear). Michael Smith was happy with 10th place ahead of his soon-to-be-sleepless nights. Word has it that Annette has been granted a window between cross races, during which the new arrival is to make a first appearance. Neil Simpson had first lap puncture problems which shattered his podium dream. I noticed that Richard Jackson showed club mate Ciaran Baynes who’s the daddy.

In the Senior race Ian Newby was on fire (not literally, it wasn’t faulty Christmas lights), blazing round the course so fast that the chasers could only follow his smouldering tracks. Andrew Nichols practiced his falling off technique, but still managed to out-sprint Richard Dunnett to the line to grab 2nd place. Stuart Chatting stayed in the mix for the first few laps, but he lost time and regretted that extra mince pie he ate on Boxing Day. Tom Castle was on great form to get the Junior prize (and 5th overall), way ahead of Matthew Cook, whose face showed a lack of conviction.

Thawing out at the tea tent there was much laughter amongst the Results Team when a rider suggested that by the end of the season we’d have earned enough to go somewhere hotter. For the record, the race marshals, course builders and dismantlers, timekeepers, results compilers and sign-on helpers are all volunteers. We do it all for love of the sport, your good company and the odd cup of tea (and cake). This is not intended as any kind of complaint, nor is it a plea for cash or sympathy. We’d just like to set the record straight – nobody is getting rich on your race entry fees! In fact, two of the team should really have stayed at home in the warm, nursing their colds, but they didn’t want to let you down, so they were, as usual, amongst the first to arrive and the last to leave.

Results:

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