More than 170 riders from Devon, Cornwall & Somerset peeled open the first doors of their advent calendars on Sunday morning and made their way to Exeter Bike Park for Round 8 of the South West Cyclo-Cross Series.
Run by the University of Exeter CC in what was their first foray into hosting a cyclo-cross event, riders were met with a challenging course which weaved on and off the Little Silver motocross circuit. Climbs aplenty, off-camber descents and the occasional downpour threw up challenges for every rider.
Sponsored by Optimising IT, the event saw riders aged six to 70 tackling the course in various formats.
Mid Devon CC topped the medal tally, with notable wins from Lauren Fox, James Allen, Eva Fox, Catherine Kilburn and Robin Delve across both youth and adult categories.
Plymouth Corinthian CC had a successful day out, with half of the club’s competing riders on a podium at the end of the day.
Tracey Corcoran returned to winning ways in the women’s vet 40 age group, whilst Ben Causon and Phil Bray secured the second and third podium spots in the open vet 40 category: the latest in a hotly-contested club rivalry.
Miles Earl bagged another top ten this year, with eighth in the open vet 40. Miles organised another successful edition of ‘Corrie Cross’ a few weeks ago, when it was Plymouth Corinthian’s turn to host a series round at the top of Newnham Park last month.
Iain McWass continued his season with strong ride in what is his first season of cyclo-cross to finish 15th in the open V40; racing officially for Plymouth Corinthian CC but competing in the colours of Plymouth Triathlon Club. Matt Rayment, also a member of the city’s triathlon club, crossed the line 21st in the largest field of the day – the open V50 category.
Hannah Bayes and recently crowned Welsh champion, Jack Hastings (Cardiff JIF) were overall winners of the senior categories at the Bike Park.
The SWCX now moves onto Newnham Park in Plympton, where junior-focused club, Dartmoor Velo will host the final round of the 2024 series.
The leading finishers in each category below:
U8 Girls:
1 Daisy Adams (Bristol Cycling)
2 Tahnee Skinner (Dartmoor Velo)
3 Martha Skene (Taunton Bike Club)
U8 Boys:
1 Dougal Skene (Taunton Bike Club)
2 Risu Wikeley (Exeter Eagles BMX)
3 Fernley Godden (North Devon Velo)
U10 Girls:
1 Indie Skinner (Dartmoor Velo)
2 Jessica Evans (Preston Park Youth CC)
3 Rosie Eastmond (Dartmoor Velo)
U10 Boys:
1 Oscar Riches (Wheal Velocity)
2 Henry Christie (Wheal Velocity)
3 Alastair North (Decoy BMX Club)
U12 Girls:
1 Bryony Medland (Dartmoor Velo)
2 Emily Eastmond
U12 Boys:
1 Charlie Robinson (Wheal Velocity)
2 Brody Harris (Wheal Velocity)
3 Fredrik Simcock (Mid Devon CC)
U14 Girls:
1 Lauren Fox (Mid Devon CC)
2 Ayla Wells
U14 Boys:
1 James Allen (Mid Devon CC)
2 Samuel Medland (Dartmoor Velo)
3 Lucas Riches (Wheal Velocity)
U16 Girls:
1 Orla White (Dartmoor Velo)
2 Aoife Scawn (Dartmoor Velo)
U16 Boys:
1 Oliver Riches (Wheal Velocity)
2 Meryn Kitching (Mid Devon CC)
3 Samuel Gray (Mid Devon CC)
Open Senior:
1 Jack Hastings (Cardiff JIF)
2 Lee Adams (Tavistock Wheelers)
3 George Whitlock (Mud Dock Racing)
4 Tristan Kelsall-Spur (Exeter Wheelers)
5 Felix Whetter (SN Vitae Huub p/b Bim Bam Coaching)
Female Senior:
1 Hannah Bayes
2 Heidi Gould (Assos UK Racing)
3 Grace Whitehouse (WarVena Racing)
4 Kari Eilertsen (Alltrax Cycling Club)
5 Clare Sharp (The Widger Spoke)
Open Junior:
1 Max Standen (Southfork Racing)
Women Junior:
1 Eva Fox (Mid Devon CC)
2 Lara Dix (Mid Devon CC)
3 Hayleigh Whyle Smith
Open V40:
1 Nick Blight (Nopinz RT)
2 Ben Causon (Plymouth Corinthian CC)
3 Phil Bray (Plymouth Corinthian CC)
Female V40:
1 Tracey Corcoran (Plymouth Corinthian CC)
2 Lucy Driver (Bridgwater Cycling)
3 Johanna Pope
Open V50:
1 Tim Carpenter (Exeter Wheelers CC)
2 Jim McConnell
3 Gideon Aroussi (Exeter Wheelers CC)
Female V50:
1 Catherine Kilburn (Mid Devon CC)
2 Lisa Martin (05/03)
3 Jackie Shute (Mid Devon CC
Open V60:
1 Robin Delve (Mid Devon CC)
2 Nick Percival
3 Robert Cranston’s (GS Vecchi)
Female V60:
1 Sarah Myford (Wadebridge Coasters)
2 Louise Crossman
Open V70:
1 Pete Stagg
Link to full results: https://chiptimingresults.co.uk/results.aspx?CId=61&RId=5128&EId=1