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Report: Dan Smith
The 7th round of the Western Summer league was held at the Supermarine Rugby club. The venue, well known for the winter flood lit series, did not need the usual lights, as it was a warm and humid night. As has been the case this year there had been rain in the days preceding the race so there was some mud to keep the hardened cross riders happy. Twenty-two riders signed on for a race that had a strong line up, with many of the veterans from the winter league and national level. With top local rider Crispin Doyle who was the crowds favourite to take the win.
Crispin did not disappoint with taking the lead on the first lap and extending this with every lap. Dan Smith of the promoting club GWR team tried to keep the gap respectable, limiting Doyle to under 1min for the first 30mins of racing. There was a battle going on behind Doyle and Smith with a five rider battle in the veterans category: Gary Clark, Peter Hutchinson, Steve Dance, Mitch Purvis and Andy Gardener riding in a 'team time trial' for much of the race trying to close the gap to smith in 2nd place.
At the 40min mark Clark and Hutchinson broke clear of the group and set about closing the 20 second gap to Smith. With 1 lap remaining, Clark made contact with Smith leaving Huthcinson 10 seconds adrift. Doyle managed to lap the whole field on his last lap to take the win. While in the final sprint for second place smith got the advantage over Clark.
Results
1 Crispin Doyle
2 Dan Smith
3 Garry Clark
4 Pete Hutchinson
5 Steve Dance
6 Mitch Purvis
7 Andy Gardner
8 Mike Holborow
9 Pete Warwick
10 Tom Sewell
11 Gordon Smicne
12 Andy Roberts
13 Steve Warwick
14 Anna Cipullo
15 Pete Grombech
16 Edward Grobech
17 John Tremins
18 Paul Wood
19 Gordon Richards
20 Jamie Kimber
Looking ahead, the GWR team and Supermarine will be promoting the 9th round of the Western Summer Cyclo-Cross League on the 11th July. Please note there is an alteration to the location, start time and entry fee as shown on the British Cycling website as this had caused confusion for the 7th round. The updated venue and details are as follows:
Supermarine Rugby Club
Highworth,
Swindon,
SN3 4BZ
Racing for Sen/Jun/Vet/Women starts at 7:30pm and its £15 EOL.
So come along on Wednesday 11th July to ride or watch the Western League Summer Cyclo Cross race and then join us after in the bar where the highlights of the Tour de France will be shown after the racing concludes.
