27th July 2010
by Charlotte Crossley
Solihull CC's Jack Rootkin-Gray gets a podium place at the National Youth Circuit Championship
Solihull Cycling Club’s Jack Rootkin-Gray demonstrated fine form once again this season by taking third place on the podium and a bronze medal in the Under 8 category at British Cycling’s National Youth Circuit Championships 2010. Held on Saturday 24th July, the highly prestigious event was at Hog Hill in Redbridge London and was organised by Lee Valley Youth Cycling Club.
Two other members of Solihull CC’s youth team made the trip down to London to compete in the Championship event, with both Alex Mitchell and Danny Fox featuring in the Under 14 race. No less than 60 elite youth riders competed in the best assembled field all year, racing over 10 laps of the two kilometre circuit. Alex produced his best ride of the season to make the front group as the race split in the final few laps, finally finishing in 15th place. With another year left to compete in the Under 14 age category, 13 year old Alex has a very promising future. Sadly Danny Fox’s race in the Under 14 group was not as successful. While he rode well from the outset, he became unwell towards the end and was unable to make an impact in the top of the results table.
On Sunday 25 July Solihull CC held its annual Veterans race at Bearley, near Stratford upon Avon. In the age 40-50 race - held over seven laps of the challenging circuit which passed through Wolverton - it was Solihull CC’s own Conor O’Brien who made an early break off the front with another rider. They opened up a gap before another trio broke free to pursue them. It was only in the last lap that these three riders caught the leading two and in the final sprint Conor was pipped to the line by John Tonks, leaving Conor to take a superb second place. In the main bunch Solihull CC’s Mark Paveley, Paul Mann, Russell Perry, Mark Wevill and Dave Stockill had all worked hard to nullify any counter attacks to bring back their team mate and most of them finished in the main group, with Mark Wevill taking 11th place.
In the age 50-60 race it was Ian Cowan flying the flag for Solihull CC, and he was aggressive in trying to form a lasting break. However the key break was formed by riders from other clubs; Keith Jones and Steve Johnson, and it was Jones who prevailed on his own near the end to win the race. The main group fragmented further in the later stages with Ian Cowan taking a hard fought 10th place, just outside the prizes.
The last and shortest race was for riders of 60+ and predictably it was Les West, Alan Kemp and Don Parry who broke early and were never caught by the main field. Kemp took the honours as well as the 60-65 category prize, with Parry finishing second, while West took the third spot but also the 65+ category win. In the main field Bob Richards, Pete Bye and Dave Elliott represented Solihull CC, with Dave Elliott coming back to racing after a long injury lay-off. Pete Bye lost touch due to the fast pace, Richards finished in the bunch, but Elliott showed he is back to good form by finishing 12th and taking a deserved third in the 70+ age group.
Jack Rootkin-Gray taking a bronze medal in the Under 8's
20th July 2010
by Charlotte Crossley
Solihull Cycling Club's Joe Fox takes two town centre wins
in three days
Solihull Cycling Club’s Joe Fox staked his claim as one of the UK’s best young town centre racers by taking two high profile town centre race wins in three days. In front of huge crowds, 16 year old Fox took his first victory at the Guildford town centre circuit race that comprised two cobbled hills and a fast descent. Joe simply rode away from the opposition on the tough short circuit to win alone by over 30 seconds. Not to be outdone by his older brother, Danny Fox also won the Under 14 race at Guildford in fine style by attacking at the bell and staying clear to take a well deserved win. Two days later in Abergavenny, Joe had a real fight on his hands from local track rider Matt Cross. Once again, the Under 16 Solihull CC star rode strongly to force the decisive split and then gapped his opponent in the last set of technical bends. Up the cobbled hill to the finish, Joe won in fine style although Cross was only two feet behind. As at Guildford, Danny Fox also put on a great show in Abergavenny and was in the select top three in the closing stages of his race. A crash with four laps to go almost certainly gave him third place, but a determined fight back got him into second place and he simply ran out of time to catch the winner, Triston Robbins of the Newport Velo club.
Meanwhile, in Bradford, Solihull CC’s top Under 10 rider Matt Shaw is still well on track to secure the phenomenal overall win in British Cycling’s National Youth Series. Competing in the penultimate round of the 10 stage series, Shaw took a comfortable second place, collecting ‘primes’ points along the way. Fellow Solihull CC Under 10 rider James Alexander gave it his all to finish in 11th place at Bradford and hopes are now on him to finish within the top 10 in the overall standings after all 10 stages have been contested. In the Under 8 race in Bradford, Solihull CC’s Jack Rootkin-Gray battled hard to take second place, which has now put him on track to take a fantastic second place in the overall standings of the National Youth Series. |
At the National Mountain Bike Championships in Pippingford, Essex, Jack Ravenscroft and the three Fox brothers all raced for the coveted national champion’s jersey for the Cross-Country discipline. In the Under 14 (juvenile) category, Jack Ravenscroft put up a great performance to finish fifth on the day. Teammate, Danny Fox was just outside the top 10 with a fine 12th place. In the Under 16 category, Joe Fox was storming round the extremely technical course and was up to seventh place when his rear wheel punctured; ending his chances and putting him out of the race.
David Rutherford was the only competitor from Solihull CC who was in British Cycling's Masters Road Championships at Radwinter, in Essex, on Sunday 18th July. Ridden over 60 miles on a 17 mile circuit, the race for riders aged 50 plus only had six miles to go, with no breakaways, when it met three horse riders. The horses spooked and galloped down the road, throwing two of their riders, while one horse and rider were unfortunately drawn into the pack of racers. Most of the main group were severely affected and Rutherford’s race was over when he was pushed off his bike. He suffered no ill effects, but since only a few racers initially got past the horses to the finish, the results have been withheld pending a ruling by British Cycling.
Joe Fox winning in Guildford
5th July 2010
by Charlotte Crossley
Solihull Cycling Club's Matt Shaw takes another National Youth Series victory at Blackpool
Solihull Cycling Club’s Matt Shaw took yet another National Youth Series victory this week, which means he is currently the fastest Under 10 rider in the highly competitive British Cycling tournament.
This week’s race - which was Round 8 in the National Series - took place on Blackpool’s North Shore Promenade. A total of 21 of the best Under 10 riders from across the length and breadth of the UK took part and Shaw crossed the finish line in first place, having put 20 seconds into the chasing group in the closing laps. With only two rounds of the National Series left, all eyes are focussed on Shaw.
Two fellow Youth Team riders also made the long trip to compete in Blackpool, with James Alexander taking 11th place in the same Under 10 event. Solihull CC’s top Under 8 rider Jack Rootkin-Gray came home with a strong second place finish, while Charlie Gibson from Team Isle of Mann took first place.
Another star from Solihull CC’s Youth Team is also in the running for an overall series victory, but this time in British Cycling’s National Mountain Bike Youth Series. Under 14 rider Jack Ravenscroft claimed third place on the podium in the fourth round, on a course that is the most feared on the calendar.
Staged at Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire, riders encountered breathtaking climbs and death-defying drop-offs and descents known as ‘Worry Gill’ and ‘Medusa’s Drop’. The third place finish puts Ravenscroft in second place overall in the Under 14 category of the National Mountain Bike Youth Series, with only one stage still to go. Fellow Under 14 rider Danny Fox claimed yet another top 10 finish in a national event, coming home in 10th place in the same race.
The British Schools Cycling Association held their regional hill climb championship this week on Gorcott Hill, near Redditch and it proved to be a superb evening for Solihull CC’s outstanding Youth Team. Danielle Khan was the fastest Under 16 girl, while Lucy Shaw was the fastest Under 14 girl. Jack Ravenscroft proved he is just as competitive on a road bike by winning the Under 14 boys event, while Connor Fox won the Under 12 boys competition. Harvey Wadsworth took third place behind Ravenscroft in the Under 14 competition and James Upton finished in fourth place in the Under 10 race.
Under 16 rider Joe Fox has claimed two victories in two weeks in Leicester Road Club’s racing league, held at the famous Mallory Park track. The youth race is held over several laps of the racing track and lasts for approx 30 minutes. In both consecutive weeks Joe Fox has claimed first place in front of Joe Kirkham from Velo Club Long Eaton who has finished second on both occasions.
At Walsall Road Club’s 25 mile time trial competition, held in Burton-on-Trent on Sunday, Solihull CC’s Eddie Priddy finished 15th with a time of 58 mins, 11 secs and fellow veteran rider Steve Mountford finished in 28th place with a time of 1 hour and 49 secs. A total of 80 riders competed and the event was won by Barry Charlton of the Lyme Road Club, with an amazing time - given the blustery conditions - of 52 mins, 19 secs.
Matt Shaw leading the pack
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