Otley Crits

There were some fantastic performances from local riders at the Otley Town Centre Races last Wednesday night. The event which featured the National Circuit Race Championships as the finale to the evenings racing. New Mill youngster Gabriel Cullaigh (RST Racing Team) started the evening in fine style winning the Under 16 boys event by half a wheel in an extremely tight bunch sprint from Fabio Close (Velocity RT) with Leon Gledhill (BBM Revolution CC) from Shepley in 3rd place. Cullaigh’s team mate Abby Mae Parkinson from Liversedge was 2nd in the Under 16 girls which was won by Melissa Lowther (Aire Valley RT). Kirklees Cycling Academy rider Lucy Aldridge had her best ever result in a road race taking 3rd place in the Under 14 girls race, Henrietta Colbourne (Beacon Wheelers) was first across the finish line.

In the Chevin Cycles Classic race for 2nd, 3rd & 4th riders Mirfield’s Jake Womersley (Sportscover Altura RT) was never far from the front & after 45 minutes just missed out to Lee Tunnicliffe (Clay Cross RT) in the sprint finish. Michael Collins (RST Racing Team) was looking good in the leading group until a crash on the final lap put him out of contention.

The National Championship race was blisteringly fast & was won by Endura’s Scott Thwaites. Huddersfield professional Tom Murray (IG SIgmasport) was 11th place, Holme Valley youngster Jacob Scott (Planet X) had a great ride holding his own with the best riders in the country in only his first year as a Junior rider.

Mark Thaxter (Huddersfield Star Wheelers) clocked a personal best & club record in the Walsall CC 25 mile Time Trial last Saturday. Despite a strong headwind on the outward leg Thaxter knocked 51 seconds off his previous best to win the event in 50 min 28 sec, over 30 seconds faster than 2nd placed rider Adam Gascoigne.