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Riders contend with mud mayhem and slippery steps




THREE youth riders from Stratford Cycling Club travelled to Gravesend, in Kent, on Saturday to compete in the UK National Cyclocross Championships.

Racing against the top riders in the country in tricky conditions, Ruben Stringfellow finished 56th in the u16m event, Scarlett Ford was 13th in the u16F and Jorgie Gillett was 24th in the u14F.

The early practice laps started off on frozen ground but by mid-afternoon, when the junior races got underway, the icy conditions turned to sticky mud as the sun came out to thaw the exposed ground.

Competitors taking part in the cyclocross championships in Kent.
Competitors taking part in the cyclocross championships in Kent.

In the shade the deep ruts stayed frozen hard and the 46 steps, which the riders had to carry their bikes over each lap, had to be heavily gritted.

In this challenging mix of conditions, the riders were forced to change bikes every half lap as the mud clogged up tyres and weighed them down meaning it was hard work for the pit crew who had to clean the bikes in time for the next half-lap. Cycling most definitely is a team sport.

Similar conditions on Sunday saw Spencer Corder finish 13th in the men’s elite while, over the same course, Ailsa McLagan was 31st in the women’s elite. With the u23s in the same race as the elite riders, Corder recorded an excellent seventh in his first year in that category.

With Stratford also boasting two current West Midlands regional champions in Scarlett Ford (u16F) and Lucas Shepherd (u10M), the present and future of the club looks bright, especially in this most challenging of cycling disciplines.



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