// RACE REPORT: SANDWICH

8 Sept

// East Kent Cross League. Sandwich. Sunday 8th Sep 2024

// U8

Woody started off on his MTB after a late issue was found with his favoured Cyclocross bike. It clearly didn’t do him any harm as he stormed to 2nd place, claiming his 1st ever Under 8 Podium. East Kent races put the 8’s and 10’s in with the Under 12’s which means 15 min races, 5 mins longer than London league. He also completed all 3 laps that the Under 12’s did, without being lapped which for a 1st year Under 8 is fantastic. Chapeau!

// U10

Elias had an early crash in his race, but fought back brilliantly to setup a real fight with 4T’s Sonny Jenns for the final podium spot. Despite the LEC man’s valiant efforts, Sonny held on to claim 3rd by just 2 seconds.

In the girls race, more bike woes meant Lola started on her brother’s bike (ex-LEC rider Milo Stewart) much like Woody, it had no ill effects as she kept up her great start to the season with a 2nd win in a row. Teammate Olive meanwhile was echoing Elias’s battle as she fought with 4T for the final podium spot. Yet again the 4T rider, in this case Laila Murphy, held on for 3rd and by the same margin as in the boys race, just 2 seconds! Olive should take heart from this performance though, her confidence is growing for all to see!

// U12

Kien, Daniel and Tejus repping the green here. Daniel continued his return to fitness after his Spring injury. No bike issue this time, but laundry issues meant he wasn't wearing the usual green which resulted in him missing out on some of the awesome support from our travelling fans!

Tejus had returned from some road racing in Lithuania and wisely got himself signed up for this race to help him reacclimatise to Cross racing before next week's London League 2nd round. Hie bike wasn’t as acclimatised as he was though, and some gearing issues left him unusually in mid table. He’ll be fired up to make amends at Ardingley!

Kien finished the best of the 3 LEC in this race, finishing 8th and possibly could have been even higher were it not for some untimely skids into some of the tighter corners, leaving him with a lot to do on the exits.

“Your husband has acquitted himself admirably”

— Lucy

// Youth

An early dropped chain put paid to Floyd's hope of a good result here, but as we've come to expect from our green machines, he put the disappointment aside and battled hard for the remainder of the race to get back into it. He finished ahead of an old sparring partner, Jude from 4T, so that will be pleasing for him!

Edie has a knack of getting herself into a 1-2-1 battle with a rider, and today was no different. Nip & tuck with a Wigmore rider for most of the race, she just lost out in the end but kept her fan club on the edge of their seats as usual.

Much like her younger team mate Olive, the ability is there, she just needs to beleive it and back herself. Be a bit more selfish on the course. Elbow's out, let no-one passed without a fight!

// V40

After a 1st lap that took him by surprise at how knackering it was, Coach G almost lost it completely as he came to the part of the course that had the most spectators! Luckily the rain hadn't started at that point and the tires just about stayed rubber side down.

3 riders behind him as he neared the final lap, his chase to make it 4 behind ended, when he caught a tree root and dropped his chain momentarily. “not last felt like a victory” was his verdict!

With Coach G just ahead of him, mopping up the good luck, Coach Vi's fortunes sadly went the opposite way.

With 2 laps to go his back wheel slid out on a hairpin and down he went. The ambulance crew said "bruised ribs". Vi brushed it off as just a bit of a knock, and drove himself home, only to find himself at A&E 24 hours later looking at an x-ray of fractures!

So a mixed bag for the Green Machine in Sandwich. 2 podiums and 3 cracked ribs. That's Cyclocross!