Event: Colchester Rovers Mistley Cross   Add this to my calendar (Outlook etc.)

Date: Sunday, 23 January 2011

Promoter: Colchester Rovers CC

Contact: Ken Baker 01206 520707 emmross@ntlworld.com

Location: Furze Hill, Shrublands Road, Mistley, Essex, CO11 1HS. (Off B1352 at Mistley GR 122315)

Video: From Mark Carroll (MECcyclingUK):

• Youth race
• Senior/Junior/Elite Vet race

Report: Going into the final round of the Eastern cyclocross league at Mistley near Manningtree in Essex on Sunday promoted by Colchester Rovers cc, 3 riders were in contention to win the 13 race senior league, the closest it's been for many years, long time leader Shaun Aldous (extreme sports therapy) and Andy Nichols (cambridge Uni) were tied at the top whilst Nathan Miller (xrt - elmy cycles) stood a mathmatical chance of the league win should the other two falter.

The Mistley course set on a wooded hillside is one of the most demanding in the eastern league both physically and technically, and provided a fitting finale to the league standings.

Using the event as a final run out before the junior world championships this weekend, National junior champion Hugo Robinson (xrt - elmy cycles) led from the start followed by the seniors battling for the league title, Miller's hope's were soon dashed when he unshipped his chain at the bottom of a muddy decent soon after the start causing damage to his rear mech and forcing a run to the pits for his spare bike. Robinson deployed his usual rocket "catch me if you can" start and was soon out of sight whilst Nichols had Aldous for company as the two set about deciding who was the 2010-11 league champion, signs of the elastic starting to stetch on the 2nd lap showed Nichols had the upper hand with Aldous blowing on the 3rd lap, Miller meanwhile was charging his way back through the field, comfortably moving up to 4th whilst his younger teammate continued to smoothly increase his lead up front, for a while it looked possible that Miller could catch Aldous but the time lost on the first lap proved too much. Robinson crossed the finish line to take another win, Nichols took 2nd despite a last lap crash, the league title his for the 2nd year in a row whilst Aldous held off Miller for 3rd.

The Elite vets title was settled before the start of the final round with the no show of cc luton's Gavin Rumbles, winner Martin Carter (unnattached) had a close battle with Ben Paton (amis velo) for the first half of the race before pulling away to take the elite vet win.

1st race of the day for Vets and Women saw Bruce Robinson (shaftesbury cc) and Phil Buick (thetford mtb) in another race long tussle, Buick opening a lead early on only for Robinson to claw his way back into contention, the draggy climb at the back of the circuit suiting Robinson's power, a falling backmarker held Buick up on the last lap, try as he might there was no catching Robinson. Nicki Davis (walden tri) put her mountain bike to good use on the technical decents on the course edging teammate Sue Mcintyre for the womens win.

In the youth race Sean Dunlea (pca ciclos uno) was dominant from the start, his slight build suited perfectly to the course's many climbs, Dunlea left behind an interesting battle between Imogen Buick (thetford Mtb) and Matthew Madgwick (ipswich bc), Buick fresh from her National Trophy triumph the previous week at Rutland was in a clear 2nd place at the end of the first lap before Madgwick joined her midway through the race before making 2nd place his own behind the flying Dunlea.

The U12's race was won convincingly by Georg Jenson (lea valley youth), the only rider to beat Jenson in the league all season Zak Coleman (Gt Yarmouth cc) took 2nd in a close battle with Pierce Bacon (ipswich bc).

Results:

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