Cyclocross Cotswold Veldrijden riders compete in two event (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cyclocross Cotswold Veldrijden riders compete in two event

2:40pm Thursday 11th October 2012 in Sport

THERE were two cyclocross events for Cotswold Veldrijden riders on the weekend before last.

The first was a Wessex League event held in Wareham, near Poole. The Vets/women/junior start was very fast and to be at the front of the bunch was essential.

Cotswold riders Sheridan, Phillips, Scott and Hobbs got the good start required with Evans not too far behind.

As they headed into the first narrow section, a small group containing Sheridan managed to get a gap on the following Cotswold Veldrijden dominated group.

On the second lap, Sheridan suffered a mechanical problem att the furthest point.

The following group had all three Cotswold Veldrijden riders working well together with Scott able to ride the steep assent while others again shouldered their bikes.

As the race entered its last lap, Phillips was aware of the importance of getting to the narrow wooded section first and made his move on fellow team member Scott.

On exiting the woods, there was only a short sprint on the fast fire roads to the finish line and Phillips kept his position to finish a fantastic eighth.

• 1st Mike Sampson (GS Henly). Other Cotswold Veldrijden finishers: 9th Pete Scott, 11th David Hobbs, 19th Martin Evans, also Graham Hughes, Anthony Turner, David Woods Richard Bennett, Hannah Gibbs and Andy Gibbs.

The youth race was won by local rider Chris Rothwell with Elliot Lassiter 3rd, both Swindon RC. The Senior event proved a quick race with mountain bike and 2011 U23 cyclocross champion Steve James taking the win for Hargroves cycles.

Cotswold Veldrijden rider Mike Holborow finished a creditable 14th in a quality field. Other Cotswold Veldrijden riders to finish were Aaron Tayler, Stuart Watson, Gareth Walker and Keith Rothwell.

Three Peaks cyclocross

THE second event of the weekend, which contained Cotswold Veldrijden riders, was the three peaks cyclocross race in North Yorkshire.

This was the 50th anniversary of what is considered to be the toughest cyclocross race in the country.

All three Cotswold Veldrijden riders - Nick Walmsley, Pete Hutchinson and Andy Smith - finished without too much incident. Walmsley was home in 4hrs 8mins.