//RACE REPORT: HERNE HILL
The Cross Season returned after a Christmas Break with a trip to Herne Hill in Saaf London.
//under 8’s
Series leader & champion-in-waiting Harrison Northover wasn't on the start list for the Under 8 Boys, so there was a whiff of podium in the air. There was also an unknown quantity who'd made the journey from the eastern league, riding for Welwyn Wheelers.
Sensing opportunity, or maybe just the fact that aspiring coach Dom had focused on start training last week, Kasper got off the line quicker than ever before. The other hot favourite Lathan Lauder was also quickly into his stride.
The remaining Green Machine in Woody & Lola followed after, with Lola desperately trying to cling on to the lead group before they left the velodrome up the ramp. Regional cross has no under 6 Cat, so Woody was in with the big boys, and did the shirt proud as he stayed ahead of 2 riders all the way to the finish. One of those riders is just above him in overall standings, so a great result!
The under 8's female cat was sadly sparse again so Lola had no real threat from behind after pulling away from the only other girl, riding for Local hosts Herne Hill. Instead she tried to stick with the boys in front, finishing 4th overall and 1st girl home of 2.
So that left Kasper.
Since upgrading his wheels, he's not had his weekly scrap with Lola, and maybe he was missing it so he decided to battle with another teammate instead, Elias in the Under 10's! Or maybe he just liked that Elias had the exact same outfit on. Either way it gave the spectators a show! a cracking ride from Kasper, finishing ahead of Caue Bruzzone who beat him in last week's LEC winter series, but just behind Lathan Lauder to finish 2nd. Or so we thought...! a late change of results saw the Eastern League rider from Welwyn elevated to top spot, and Kasper to 3rd, but still a podium none the less and well deserved too.
//under 12’s
The U12’s race, as has been for most of the season was a straight up duel between LEC’s Floyd Connor and Lucas Perilla.
With the pair pretty much inseparable on the grid it was Floyd who stole a march on his club rival. Floyd had also obviously been listening to the club coaches who promote that consistency is the key, with lap times that differed by only a four second swing for the entire race it was a masterclass from Floyd. With Lucas it was a slightly more cautious approach but none the less, an error free ride.
At the front of the race it was a local battle between VCL riders Oscar Chambers and Jacob Day. Oscar eventually broke the elastic and put a gap into his team mate, to take the chequered flag. Jacob took second with Leon McMahon taking the final step on the podium.
//under 14’s & 16’s
In the youth race line up both newly crowned cyclocross national champions, Milo Wills and Peggy Knox were due to do battle with LEC’s very own Edie Wright & Rytis Petruskevicius. Sadly for Edie she was denied going toe to toe with the ViCiOuS PeG who had to withdraw due to illness.
On the start line Edie was looking confident and relishing multiple ascents of Big Bob. After a fast, flat and frantic start it was 4T’s Eva Gibson who rocketed off into the distance, followed closely by India Osbourne and Betsy Hacker. A bit further down the mixed field we were treated to a a battle which has become something of a regular occurrence, former Green Machine member Ana Mason was doing battle with VCL team mate, Emma Buffa. Edie had the big guns in in her sights on the opening lap and did well to hold her position before the race slipped away, out of sight onto the technical MTB trails.
Bogged down by riders on the grid, Rytis had to slowly grind his way through some of the local Hern Hill one day riders. As it has been for most of the season, Rytis has stuck to his task and used his off road skills of rear wheel skids and back end whips to navigate the corners.
Due to the lack of crowd viewing points at Herne Hill Velodrome, parents face an agonising wait for the riders to reappear with many heading to the best viewing point.. the summit of Big Bob. Many of the Big Bob crowd eagerly await one of two things; the riders achieving the holy grail of riding Big Bob or the poor souls who attempt and fail… falling to their peril.
Armed with his camera U10 Green Machine member Elias was hoping to catch the latter. Squinting into the trees, Elias could see a glimmer of Green emerging from the shadows. In her first season in the youth age group, Edie showed maturity beyond her years as she sensibly dismounted at the bottom in text book LEC fashion and took to Big Bob on foot. A slick remount at the top left a disappointed Elias with nothing but a blur as Edie shot off into the distance. As the race progressed it become a repetition of well oiled drills; dismount, run, remount, ride full gas & repeat! Not much was changing hands in the way of positions and at the end of the race, a tired Edie took the chequered flag with a beaming smile across her face. Unable to shake off team mate Edie, Rytis crossed the line in the position in front of her.
The other highlight of the age group was the eagerly awaited return of former LEC member, Rianna Mahoney who was returning from a 2 month injury lay off. Racing sibling Riley for the last time as a youth rider in a CX race, not only were household bragging rights on the line but with Peggy out with illness, the U16 female win was up for grabs. In this contest Riley took the flag just in front of Rianna who stuck to her task and took the win in her AG.
