Reading Cycling Club press report, week ending 18 December 2011

Poole Wheelers Cyclo-Cross

Gary Barlow represented Reading CC at the 10th round of the Wessex Cyclo-cross League. The Poole Wheelers event was held in Wareham Forest to the west of Poole in Dorset. Barlow reports:

"This round provided a very fast course consisting mainly of hard gravel fire roads with some soft pine needle trails, sections of sand, and many exposed tree roots. A bright sunny morning greeted the riders but very low overnight temperatures had left the ground still frozen in places. Ice covered puddles awaited the early racers. The senior race was won by Mike Simpson of GS Henley who out-sprinted series leader Mike Cotty to win by a bike length. Dan Lewis (RAF CC) completed the seniors podium in 3rd.

I rode in the Veterans/Women/Juniors race. Right at the start I narrowly avoided a crash as the starting straight narrowed into a fast pine trail descent. As the race unfolded I was placed just inside the top 15, chasing a group of 4 riders. I was unable to catch them until 2 of that group were involved in a crash on a tricky descent. This allowed me to gain a couple of places. I held on to finish 12th and record my best placing of the year.

The V/W/J race was won by junior Matthew Hargroves (Hargroves Cycles) with Sean Williams (Wight Mountain) 2nd and Matthew Woods (Hargroves Cycles) 3rd. The first lady was Sarah Woods (Wight Mountain).

U12 results:
3rd place Jay Allan Palmer Park Velo
1st girl Lizzie Barlow Palmer Park Velo

The next event is in the Wessex League is on Boxing Day in Southampton."

Photo caption: Gary Barlow rode well in the Poole Wheelers Cyclocross event
Photo credit: Vit Javorik www.vjfoto.com

Roderick MacFadyen
www.ReadingCyclingClub.com