Close action at the Southern XC Champs

The Southern XC Championships hit hot Checkendon on July 10, where Jamie Newall was crowned fastest man in the south.

The course really sorted the best from the rest as it headed out across the fields, before testing endurance up some steep and draggy climbs, peppered by bumpy and sandy descents. The second half of the lap offered little respite as the going turned to hardpacked twisting singletrack before heading back to the fields for a final sprint finish for those that had the energy.

The Elite men’s race saw a real depth of talent, with Steve Hambling, Marcos Schier, Rob Enslin and Lee Williams on the line as well as Phil Cooper, winner of the recent Whyte Solstice Challenge. Alongside these were regulars Dunc Jamieson, Jamie Newall and Stu Bowers and it was these three who set the initial pace before Jamieson sprung free.

He continued to build a gap until lap four when he flatted, letting Newall and Bowers escape.

Post race Jamieson laughed, “It’s just typical – you have a great
race, you’re on top form, you’ve got good legs and then the bike breaks. I managed to get back on terms with Stu, but Jamie was long gone.”

Newall rolled in a minute clear of Jamieson who was a further 40 seconds ahead of Bowers. A week later Jamieson proved he really did have great legs by putting in an incident-free performance at round four of the National series, finishing fifth in a strong Elite field.

The Supermasters saw another quality field, but from the gun there was only one favourite. Simon Willats has dominated 2005, overhauling last year’s champion Paul Hopkins, who didn’t lose a 2004 Southern XC race!

Hopkins kept Willats honest for lap one, but faded come the second loop, unable to keep with the Ride Cycleworks star, who built a three minute lead. Third place went to a revived Paul Lasenby who took to the podium alone, thanks to the speedy departure of Willats and Hopkins being flat out on the masseur’s bed.

2005 has seen the Sport category really establish itself with some quality riders gracing the top five. George Budd has been the man to watch this year, winning the Gorrick Spring Series and the last two Southern XC rounds.

However, a disastrous first lap for regulars Budd, Tim Smith and Gerald Tudor saw them way back on Richard Rumbelow, who rolled in with three minutes to spare.

Budd joked post-race: “We should never have let Gerald go first through that tight singletrack – his bike fits through but he doesn’t! We were all really sketchy through the singletrack, having a crash or two each and this lost us the time on the leader. I didn’t see him all race.”

Earlier in the day it was the younger riders who set the course alight, with Matt Hill continuing to dominate the Youth racing. After the race he told me how this course was ideal preparation for the National Series the following week, where he was just edged out into third position in a sprint finish.

In the women’s Elite race it was an unfamiliar face leading out. Helen Purdy kept a fast pace on the long lap when others slowed, finishing with a convincing 15 minute lead over nearest challenger Marcie Reinhart. Third place went to young rider Abi Greenaway, who is clearly coping well racing above her age category.

Junior winner Rob Whenman never looked troubled as he stormed to another Southern XC win, three minutes clear of Chris Lane. Carl McDonagh led out the Grand Veteran field, to take the title of best ‘most experienced’ rider.

Darren Compton took the Masters win easily ahead of Alex Amey and Stuart King, with the Ride Cycleworks duo of Mark Chadbourne and Roland Tilley taking a one-two in the Veterans, never leaving the head of the pack.

The race saw deserved champions crowned and more points earned in the Southern XC Series, which is shaping up nicely. Round Five is not until September 4 at Surrey Hill, by which time riders will be rested and ready to go again, to consolidate their points and test themselves on the classic Gorrick course.