// RACE REPORT: STANMER PARK
// Sunshine on the South Coast.
So Cross is back, and Saturday night's weather forecast for raceday was predicting a bit of rain before things heated up. Would we get a muddy start to the season?
As we all rose on Sunday morning for the long drive to Brighton, the rain had come and gone, and it was already looking like it was gonna be a summer cross style event. Which we were fine with, as most of the parents had only just returned from summer holidays, and the CX waterproofs are still somewhere in the loft. Eleven riders were repping for Green on the season opener, including some newbies!
The Pre-Season video promo had just dropped, and we were all raring to go!
“Would we get a muddy start to the season?”
// Under 8
Woody was our sole representative as a first year Under 8. In a field of seven, Woody saw three riders break away early on, but he didn't panic and kept plugging away. Lap by lap, himself and the 5th place rider gradually reeled in the Hillingdon lad in 3rd place.
With a lap to go, and 1st and 2nd place well clear, the battle for the final podium spot was ON, you could have covered 3rd, 4th and 5th with a hankie, with the gap down to four seconds between them, but after a torrid couple of laps previously, the Hillingdon rider pulled out the fastest lap of the race to fend off Woody and the other rider.
Woody was disappointed at the end, but the green machine fans weren't, appreciating his battling spirit.
No girls race at all in the Under 8's which is such a shame.
// Under 10
In the boys race we had three competing. Elias, our only 2nd year Under 10, looking to kick on from last season, Kasper, who has moved up from Under 8, and Rupert the most inexperienced of our team on the day, taking part in his first ever regional race.
An unfortunate ankle injury midweek, and the surprise return of old foe Oskar Surda in the U10 category meant a tough season opener for Elias. He started well, but at the midpoint in the race found himself in 6th place battling hard with Sonny Jenns of 4T. The final two laps saw Elias regain 5th place and hold off Sonny to the line. Well done!
Kasper's last race in this league was his first ever win in the Under 8's, also in Brighton. As a first year Under 10, this season will be tougher and more about learning and improving, just like his teammate Elias did last year. Ending up in a gap behind the (mostly 2nd year) leaders, but ahead of the rest he settled into a battle with Desiderius from Sutton, coming out on top and finishing 7th of 16!
Last but not least, Rupert who with no previous racing was gridded at the back of the field. Unaccustomed to the blistering pace of Regionals he found himself off the pace in the first lap, but did not let that phase him, and put in a cracking performance overall. Much like Woody, he didn't panic, got into a rhythm and as the race wore on be began reeling in riders one by one. From second to last on the 1st lap to 11th of sixteen as he crossed the line. Chapeau!
“he didn’t panic, got into a rhythm and as the race wore on be began reeling in riders one by one”
The Green Machine accounted for fifty percent of the Under 10 girls race, with the familiar sight of Enyo, Lola and Olive on the start line. After some great Go-Ride racing this year and Spring in the park podiums for all three it was easy to forget that Enyo and Olive were not in fact experienced veterans of the Regional CX league. Similar to Rupert, the first lap's intensity took our two newcomers by surprise, but then they both settled and their lap times dropped significantly as the race wore on. 4th for Enyo and 5th for Olive with both of them finishing ahead of a second year Under 10 from 4T. Nice work!
Our girls are all first year under 10s, with the other three in the race, second years.
Lola's luck was in before the race even started, with her provisional gridding of 22nd seemingly being upgraded to a place on the second row while race favourite and British BMX Girls-9 Champ Holly Bishop remaining in 23rd.
Lola's trademark fast start saw her take a commanding lead, and her first lap was the fastest of the race in her category. Jessica Evans of Preston Park unfortunately came down in the wooded section, and while she bravely got back on, it ended her chances of competing for the win, and left it a two-horse race. With a 35 second gap, Lola eased off a little in the middle two laps, meanwhile Holly Bishop was closing! With a lap to go, the gap had been reduced to eleven seconds, but Lola had left enough in the tank, and put in her second fastest lap after the bell to take the flag and the win.
“Lola had left enough in the tank, and put in her second fastest lap after the bell to take the flag and the win”
// Under 12
No girls in the Under 12 for LEC, but two boys in Green in what is one of the toughest categories in the league.
Daniel and Kien have both moved up a category, and Daniel is also recovering from an ankle break which has seriously hampered his schedule this year. Gridded near the back and with a lot fewer miles in the legs, Daniel wisely rode his own race, sharpening the technical skills for the season to come. Looking at his lap times, he rode an almost metronomic pacing strategy! Very impressive. 16th on the day, but more to come once the fitness returns we're sure.
Unlike Daniel, our other rider, Kien has been able to ride through the road season but CX is his first love and it showed here as the start whistle blew. Like Lola, Kien loves a fast start and he didn't disappoint here. He gamely held on just behind the leaders for two laps before settling into his own rhythm. The step up in age cat means five mins extra racing compared to Under 10's and in the blistering sun Kien began to tire, before getting a second wind and consolidating 12th place. Another solid effort and a good base to kick on from.
// Youth A/B
Two riders in the U14's Cat would round out the Green Machine's involvement in the league opener.
In the boys, we had Floyd. Another member of our team who had moved up a category from last year. Unlike the others, Floyd's move meant he was taking on the "full" course, which also meant hurdles are now going to be part of Floyd's life. Given he only took part in the CX league last year for the first time, it's pretty awesome that he's now taking on such a challenge and he took it in his stride. Like most of our team who are first years in their category, it's a season of learning for him, but on this showing, Floyd is more than willing. The Zwift sessions paid off as he climbed impressively on a near-alpine incline, tackled the technical wooded sections, and his aero-haircut was put to use on the drag across the open fields.
Last but not least, we had Edie. This time last year Edie had decided she wasn't going to take part in the Cross League. A few races in, she had a change of heart, much to her ever growing fan club's delight. One season later and she's riding on the same course as the national U16 CX Champ, representing the Green Machine, and all with her typically understated dedication. It’s fair to say there’s some work to do on the engine, but she is determined to tick off every round of this season’s schedule so it’ll come, along with a smile through the steely thousand-yard stare if we’re lucky! Two great examples of our club to the younger riders who had stayed to cheer them on.
Cross is most definitely back!!
Full results available here
“Two great examples of our club to the younger riders who had stayed to cheer them on.”
“The Green Machine ethos shone through and they never gave up.
Well done to everyone today ”
