Wessex Cyclo-Cross League – Round 12

DAN GUEST of Performance Cycles in Poulton has tightened his grip on the Wessex Cyclo-Cross League series after another podium effort in Round 12.

Guest finished 44 seconds adrift of Matt Macdonald (Hargroves Cycles) at the latest round held at the YMCA Family Park just outside Southampton.

Macdonald, 28, coped best with the very muddy conditions and won by 44 seconds from Guest.

The course was laid out in the park and included a large wooded section.

The morning started cold and frosty followed throughout the day by a couple of showers of rain which helped in cutting up the course as parts became boggy.

Guest and Macdonald were two of the four riders who set the pace from the outset.

Macdonald gradually piled on the pressure and extended his lead to nearly a minute over Guest, who in turn had a comfortable lead over third-placed Sam Allan.

Earlier in the day, Tom Sewell (Cotswold Veldrijden), a junior rider, just beat team-mate Graham Rogerson right on the line to win the vets/juniors/women's race with Sean Williams also from Cotswold Veldrijden making it a podium whitewash for the team.

Sewell and Rogerson were locked together swapping places lap on lap which saw them take the race right to the chequered flag.

The Vets 50+ race was won by Malcolm Cross (Hargroves Cycles).

Martin Dymond made it a very successful race for the Cotswold Veldrijden team as he closed out the podium in third.

SENIOR RESULTS
1, Matt Macdonald (Hargroves Cycles – Ridley RT); 2, Daniel Guest (Performance Cycles); 3, Sam Allen (UC Nantes); 4, Christopher Minter (Pedalon.co.uk); 5, Joe Hickerton (Charlotteville CC); 6, Jamie Norfolk (Pedalon.co.uk); 7, Graham Rogerson (Cotswold Veldrijden); 8, Nick Onslow (Pedalon.co.uk); 9, Doug Woollett (May Bush CC); 10, Phil Bowley (Alton CC).

JUNIORS/WOMEN/VETERANS
1, Thomas Sewell (Cotswold Veldrijden); 2, Graham Rogerson Cotswold Veldrijden); 3, Sean Williams (Cotswold Veldrijden); 4, Tim Hyde (G.S. Henley); 5, William McDonald (Banjo Cycles); 6, Craig Hay (Rock N Road Cycles); 7, Gary Barlow (Reading CC); 8, Robin Wilmott (Cotswold Veldrijden); 9, Andy Plewes (RNRMCA); 10, Pete Hutchinson (Cotswold Veldrijden).