Three Thanet RC riders made the 200 mile round trip to Welwyn Garden City on Sunday for the East & South East Regional Cyclo-Cross Championships hosted by Welwyn Wheelers at Stanborough Park.
The 2.5k course included one long and steep climb, several shorter climbs and numerous hairpins and tight turns. It was muddy and slippery on the climbs but also included some flat and fast grass sections.
George Pittock was best placed in the Youth race at 27th overall and 19th U16 Boy, completing five laps in 39:12. Jack Hill was unfortunately lapped by the leaders and finished 47th overall and 22nd U16 Boy. Both riders were disappointed and felt they could have done better. George lost ground on the technical sections of the course and had to work hard on the flatter and faster sections, and Jack said that lower tyre pressures would have given him more grip.
Welwyn Wheelers took all three podium places in the Youth race, with familiar names Oliver Stockwell, Joe Kiely and Archie Peet first, second and third and the host club also had two other riders in the top eight.
The Junior Men raced with the Vet 40-49 Men. Toby Perry rode a careful but strong race in the slippery conditions and was in contention for a podium finish when he was involved in a collision with a lapped rider on the last lap. This dropped Toby from third to seventh overall and fifth Junior. Toby completed six laps in 39:15 and missed third place by just 18 seconds.
The Junior Men’s race was won by Oliver Howson from the Yorkshire based club PH-MAS/Paul Milnes/Oldfield ERT which is also home to British, European and World junior cyclo-cross champion Tom Pidcock. Pictured left to right are George Pittock and Jack Hill, and action from the U16 Boys race.
