Team dazzles in Boxing Day Common race
THERE wasn’t much rest to be had over the Christmas and New Year period for members of the Team Enable-MI Racing-McCann cycling team.
Boxing Day saw the 69th running of the Kenilworth cyclo-cross race – the oldest cyclo-cross Boxing Day meeting in the country that attracts riders from far and wide. Fine weather saw massive crowds on Kenilworth Common and they were treated to some exciting racing.
Carl Sturgeon won the 50-59 age category race (sixth overall) and in the same category, Nick Popham finished second and ninth overall. Sturgeon proved to be a real entertainer and crowd-pleaser with his airborne antics off the top of the first steep descent.
In the 60+ age category, Kirby Bennett finished third and 32nd overall. Colin Miller finished 21st overall with Tim Stowe in 57th place.
Into the new year, January 6th saw round 6 of the cyclo-cross National Trophy Series held in Yorkshire when Nick Whitley rode to an excellent fifth place. He is next in action at the British Cyclo-Cross Championships in Falkirk on Saturday 13th January.
Last weekend also saw riders win their first national championship jerseys of 2024. The British Masters National Cyclo-Cross Championships were organised by the club and held at Misterton Hall near Lutterworth. Nearly 100 riders enjoyed perfect weather conditions and the beautiful setting made for a brilliant event and some excellent racing.
Nick Popham won the C category age group and Darren Atkins won the D category age group. Both riders were presented with their national championship jerseys and medals by the owner of Misterton Hall, Mrs Craven.
In the B category race, Colin Miller finished second, a brilliant 2nd place. Alan Buxcey and James Goodwin finished 14th and 15th In the D category and in the E category age group race, Peter Busby finished fourth with Alan Parsons eighth. In the F category age group, Kirby Bennett finished an excellent third with Tim Stowe one place behind.
Sunday saw round six of the Leicestershire Cyclo-Cross League, also held at Misterton Hall. In the youth category, Jefferson Tear-Verweij won by more than a minute while in the women’s 50-59 age category, Lindsay Newman finished second.
In the men’s senior race, Tom Bradley finished 25th after suffering a puncture early in the race and in the men’s 50-59 age category race, Darren Atkins led until he suffered a puncture. He fought back hard though to finish second, just 20 seconds behind the winner.
In the same age category, Nick Popham finished fifth, Andy Jackson 51st and Alan Buxcey 70th while in the 60+ age category, Kirby Bennett finished in first place, topping off an excellent weekend of racing for him. Pete Busby finished fourth, Alan Parson 10th and Tim Stowe 11th.
