South Eastern Regional championships

Colchester riders well represented at the South Eastern Regional championships at Stanborough Park in Welwyn Garden City.

 

The course ran along an open grass hillside with short stiff climbs and softening off camber corners requiring a combination of excellent fitness and bike handling skills.

 

Ride of the day came in the Junior race by James Jobber (Colchester Rovers) taking the silver medal behind national Youth champion Harry Franklin (Hargroves Cycles).

 

In the Veterans race, Ben Paton (Amis Velo RT-Solo Scaffolding) only held onto race winner Greg Simcock (Phil Corley Cycles) for the first half lap but paid for his early effort and slipped back to finish just 17 seconds off the bronze medal.

 

Ivan Burch (Ciclos Uno) had prepared by riding in Belgium the week before (taking a top 12 position) and crossed the line in fifth. Colchester Rovers' Greg Andrews and Jim Clayton finished 15th and 27th with Alan French (Interbike) 32nd.

 

Richard Jackson and Peter Hall (Colchester Rovers) took 13th and 14th in the Veterans 50+ event won easily by Mick Bell (London Fire Brigade CC), leader of the National Trophy series.

 

The Youth race was won by Chelmsford's Sean Dunlea, with Rovers' trio Frank Longstaff 15th (and fifth under 14), James Jackson 21st and Finlay Clayton 25th.

 

Colchester Rovers team were again well represented in the under 12s race, with Bob Longstaff 11th, Daniel Hall 23rd and Fergus Crouch 24th.

 

The Elmy Cycles Eastern Cyclo-Cross League resumes with round 12 at Broome Heath near Bungay on 18 December when Jobber and Paton will defend their overall leads.