Yorkshire Road Race Championships

The Yorkshire Road Race Championships took place on Sunday at Sherrif Hutton near York & there were some impressive results from the Huddersfield based riders. Former Holme Valley Wheeler Richard Binks (Clay Cross RT) won the Masters event which came down to a sprint finish after 55 miles of hard racing on a tough course which featured the infamous 1 in 5 climb of Bulmer Bank & a long drag of a climb to the finish line. Paul Dixon (VS Cycles) finished in 7th place.

In the Junior event, over the same distance as the Masters, VS Cycles Alex Orrell-Turner got his best result of the season finishing in 2nd place to Joe Moses (Sportscover Altura RT). Alastair Hepworth (Batley CC) from Kirkburton crossed the line in 6th place closely followed by Mirfield’s Jake Womersley (Sportscover Altura RT) in 7th.

The Elite race, which covered 80 miles, set off at a furious pace with 12 riders going clear including local riders Tom Murray (IG Sigmasport), Richard Hepworth (Cycle Premier - Kovert) & Ben Kellett (VS Cycles). Kellett unfortunately punctured & had to drop out of the race. Node 4 Giordana rider Peter Williams attacked on the final ascent of Bulmer Bank & never looked in danger of being caught by the chasers, crossing the line 1min 16sec ahead of Tom Murray in 2nd. Hepworth ended up in 7th place a further 41 seconds back.

See full report on British Cycling Website.

Mark Thaxter (Huddersfield Star Wheelers) rode his first 25mile time trial of the season on Saturday in the Stone Wheelers event near Stoke-on-Trent. Once again Thaxter was on top form finishing in 2nd place with a time of 51min 21sec, the winning time went to Joel Wainman (Team Swift) with 50min 2sec.

All the time from this event are on the CTT site.

The Yorkshire Points Summer Cyclo-Cross series is in full swing with the 2nd round taking place at Todmorden last Wednesday. Kirklees Cycling Academy rider Adam Fortune was first Under 10 Boy in the Under 14s race, younger brother Nathan was 2nd in the Under 8 Boys category behind Tom Scott (Sheffield Stars) with Luca Longo (Huddersfield Star Wheelers) in 3rd place. In the Under 10 Girls category, won by Ava Oxley (Wakefield Junior Tri), Hannah Whitworth (Huddersfield RC) was 2nd & Huddersfield Star Wheeler Ella Hampson in 3rd.

The Over 14s course was probably the toughest the riders will see this Summer with a steep cobbled climb & some challenging descents. Neal Crampton (Crosstrax) dominated the race, winning by over 2 minutes from 2nd place Chris Taylor (Pedalsport CC). Best of the Huddersfield riders was Owen Mitton (Huddersfield RC) in 28th, Huddersfield Star Wheelers Ivan Boyes & Graham Piccavey were 33rd & 36th respectively.

Full results here

Thaxter makes his Mark

Huddersfield Star Wheeler Mark Thaxter was fastest Veteran & 2nd overall in the Yorkshire 10 mile Time Trial Championships on Sunday. Thaxter is obviously on great form as he was 2nd on the same course earlier in the week in the Yorkshire Cycling Federation event. Professional Triathlete Philip Graves was fastest over the course in 20min 54sec, Thaxter stopped the clock in 21min 13sec & Alistair Wareham (Team Swift) was in 3rd place with a time of 21min 31sec. Wareham was on the top step of the podium in the Drighlington 25 mile event on Saturday posting an impressive time of 52min 23sec.

Local riders Jacob Scott (Planet X) & Jake Womersley (Sportscover Altura RT) were in the thick of the action in the National Junior Road Race Championships on Sunday in the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales. After a frenetic start to the 111km race both Scott & Womersley got into the decisive breakaway group of 19 riders. With 30km to go the group began the 4km climb up to Brynmawr & the group split again with Scott & Womersley in the 2nd group. After 3 hours of racing it was Sam Lowe (Hargroves Cycles) who took the victory & the National Champions Jersey, Scott finished in 12th & Womersley was 13th.

Richard Binks gained his 2nd Category racing license with 4th place in the Steve Rigby Memorial Road Race on Sunday. Race winner Andrew Shaw (Dinnington RC) won the race with a solo attack with 5 laps to go in the 50 mile 3rd & 4th Category event on the Ledston Circuit near Kippax with Binks finishing in 3rd in the bunch sprint.

39 young riders representing several local cycling clubs & schools competed in the Huddersfield Star Wheelers Go-Ride Cyclo-Cross race at Newsome High School & Sports College on Saturday. There was a 1 lap sprint race, a longer handicap event & also an obstacle course to complete. Riders were split into groups based on ability & medals & certificates were awarded to the first 3 Boys & Girls. Star Wheeler Ella Hampson was 2nd Girl in her group with Hannah Whitworth (Huddersfield RC) in 3rd place. Luca Longo & Amos Dukes both received bronze medals in their races. In the expert group it was Matt Taylor (Pedalsport) who overcame a huge handicap to win the race. Holme Valley Wheelers Andrew & Nicky Farquhar weren’t far behind in 2nd & 3rd places.

Isle of Man Youth Tour

After 3 days of tough competition in the Isle of Man Youth Tour, Jacob Scott (Planet X) took the final stage on Monday in the Junior event. On the 3rd lap of 6, 2 riders broke clear of the bunch on the climb to Bride & were quickly joined by 4 more including Scott. The 16 year old rider from Holmfirth won the sprint on the Ramsey seafront from Dutch rider Jochum Buchener (Sleepwell Hotels) in 2nd & overall race winner Joe Moses (Sportcover Altura RT), from Bradford in 3rd.

In the Under 14 Boys event the White Rose League Team, which included Kirklees Cycling Academy riders Harry Hardcastle & Brad Dransfield, were 3rd in the overall team prize which was won by the Velocity Race Team Composite.

In the Under 12 Boys event Mason Hollyman (Kirklees Cycling Academy) & former Holme Valley Wheeler Jack Ford (Wakefield Junior Tri) were 7th & 13th overall, but in the Points competition based on finishing positions on each stage Ford was 2nd behind Matthew Shaw (Solihull CC) & Hollyman was 3rd. Mason’s younger brother Henry was highly creditable 7th overall in the Under 10 Boys.

Kirklees Cycling Academy siblings Adam & Nathan Fortune were flying in their races at the Palatine Spring Specials Circuit Race at Blackpool on Saturday. Adam won the 5 lap Under 10 Boys race & Nathan was 2nd behind Tyler Lloyd (H Middleton CC) in the 3 lap Under 8 Boys event. In the Seniors 3rd Category race Dave Micklethwaite (3RT) was an impressive 2nd place behind James Chamberlain (Cyclesport International RT). Team mate Daniel Stocchero was 3rd in the 4th Category race which was won by Richard Sagar (North Lancashire RC).

The first 2 events of the Summer Cyclo-Cross season took place last week with the first race at Oakbank School, Keighley. Adam Fortune (Kirklees Cycling Academy) had the best result of the local riders in the Under 14s race finishing 1st Under 10 Boy, Nathan Fortune was best of the Under 8 riders. Ian Taylor (Craven Energy Tri) was a class apart in the Seniors race, with much of the course waterlogged it was more like the conditions you’d expect for Winter events. Best of the Huddersfield riders was Owen Mitton (Huddersfield RC) in 24th, Ivan Boyes (Huddersfield Star Wheelers) was 36th.

On Sunday it was the Kirklees Mayor’s Charity Cyclo-Cross at Spenborough Athletics Track. Matt Denby (Zepnat RT) won the Seniors race & Gilly Dukes (Huddersfield Star Wheelers) won the Ladies competition in her first ever race. Holme Valley Wheelers were 3rd & 4th in the Under 14s race with Isaac Shepherd & Jim Brown, Luca Longo (Huddersfield Star Wheelers) was 4th in the under 10s event.

Huddersfield Star Wheelers are organising a Go-Ride Cyclo-Cross event for novice riders on Saturday at Newsome High School & Sports College. First race starts at 3.30pm, ring organiser Ivan Boyes on 01484 302846 for more information.

Gabz Cullaigh wins in Belgium

Gabriel Cullaigh (RST Racing Team) took his first continental victory in the Nieuwelingen Open Omloop in Kruishouten, Belgium on Sunday.  Cullaigh was riding with other members of the Great Britain Talent Team who split the 63km race to pieces right from the start in the strong crosswinds.  Going into the final lap the young Holme Valley rider was away in a break with team mate Ben Chapman & a local rider.  

"Me and Ben were firing off attacks but couldn't shake the Belgian rider off.  We went into the finishing straight and Ben led it out, with 200m to go the Belgian kicked, I responded and came round him and drove to the line taking the win by a bike length. 

There was a packed days racing at a wet & cold Tockwith Aerodrome last Saturday with Huddersfield riders getting some great results.

Shelley youngster Jack Ford (Wakefield Junior Tri Club) continued his winning streak in the Under 12 Boys race, Mason Hollyman (Kirklees Cycling Academy) was 3rd.  Felicity Gledhill (Planet X), from Shepley, matched Ford's result in the Under 12 Girls race.

Billy Lazenby (Eastland Velo) won the Under 10 Boys race with Kirklees Cycling Academy riders Henry Hollyman & Adam Fortune finishing closely in his wheel tracks in 2nd & 3rd respectively.  Adam's younger brother Nathan was 2nd in the Under 8s.

Abby Mae Parkinson (RST Racing Team) was 3rd in the Under 16 Girls race behind team mate Lauren O'Brien in 2nd & Melissa Lowther in 1st place.

Huddersfield Star Wheeler Josh Ruddiman had his best result in his first road racing season, sprinting for 2nd place in the 4th Cat race, won by Levi Moody (Pedalsport).

Former Holme Valley Wheeler Jacob Scott (Planet X) was 2nd in the Junior race and was one place better in the Tameside Circuit race on Tuesday where he won the 2nd, 3rd & 4th Cat event.  Nathan Fortune & Felicity Gledhill won their races at the circuit near Ashton Under Lyne.

Holme Valley Wheelers Rachael Mellor & daughter Amira won their respective categories in the Leigh Premier 10 mile Time Trial on Saturday near Bickerstaffe, Lancashire.  Rachael was 24th overall & 1st Lady in a time of 24min 56sec & Amira, despite a slow puncture, finished in 27min 12sec & was first Junior.