Charlie Aldridge and Hattie Harnden dominated at the Lloyds Bank National Cross-country Series over the weekend, setting the course in Cannock Chase on fire in the Olympic disciplines, while Corran Carrick-Anderson and Bethany-Ann Jackson secured short track wins.
With a break in the European calendar, the stars and the sun came out to play at Cannock Chase for the third round, the original date having been postponed due to high winds.
Short Track
The flat course had plenty of turns and twist to make for some great racing and viewing for the spectators.
In the elite and junior open race, Corran Carrick-Anderson (SCOTT Pioneer DJ) edged ahead of fellow Scot Innes McDonald (Scotia Offroad RT) for the win, with Billy Reed (Xcomtb.com Race Team) bringing home the rest of the pack. In the women’s equivalent, a very strong Bethany-Ann Jackson (Pine Sport) finished a lap ahead of everyone else. Ruby James (Hope Factory Racing) led home the rest of the field ahead of Evie Strachan (RR23 - runandride.co.uk).
The veteran open class was once again dominated by Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing), leaving the race for second place wide open. Tony Fawcett (SCOTT Pioneer DJ) clashed with Dougie Cameron to allow local lad Tom Colley (Chase Racing) to get the second spot, with Fawcett recovering for third. In the women’s race, the usual battle between Natalie Smith (Rotor) and Rowena Duffield (Cwmcarn Paragon) saw Smith pinch the win on this occasion. Karen Heppenstall (Grity Race Team) had a great race to come in third.
A delighted Jacob Mauger (Jersey Youth Cycling) won the youth and juvenile open race, with Zac Hutchinson (Clifton) in second. The battle for the final podium spot had been a tough one with Dan Ward (Rotor) beating Alarik Knox (Verulam). Daisy Wilkinson (Scotia Offroad RT) dominated the women’s race ahead of Lauren Fox (Mid Devon) and Jess Duffield (Cwmcarn Paragon).
Olympic
Elite races
Charlie Aldridge (Cannondale Factory Racing) and Corran Carrick-Anderson (SCOTT Pioneer DJ) led from the front, opening a large gap on the rest of the field. Aldridge described it as a ‘war of attrition as it was so hard to get away’. The Scot tried a couple of times to go solo, before the last effort on the final hill got him the break he wanted. Behind them, Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) had a battle with teammate Max Greensill (Hope Factory Racing) before leaving him part way through the race to go solo in third. Greensill, a local lad who had cut short his holiday to race in front of the home crowd, took fourth with the final podium spot going to Jason Bouttell (Destination Bike RT).
In the women’s race, Hattie Harnden (TREK FACTORY RACING GRAVITY) led from the start and never looked back in a strong performance. Sadly Ella Maclean-Howell (Hope Factory Racing) retired after lap two, leaving Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) to ride a very controlled race into second place. Behind her, the action really started with the podium spots changing every lap. Holly MacMahon (Southborough & District Wheels) started strongly but faded during the later stages of the race, allowing local lass Nicky Healy (Grity Race Team) to slowly but surely make her way through the field to claim third. Eilish Gilbert (Saint Piran) came fourth with Jo Thom (Sprocketscycles.com) in fifth.
Junior races
In the open category, there were three main battles for the podium places. Max Standen (Southfork Racing.co.uk) raced hard with Innes McDonald (Scotia Offroad RT) for the win, with Standen only able to breakaway in the closing stages of the final lap. Behind them Dec Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) fought with Alex Hart (Grity Race Team) for third and fourth, in a repeat of their Margam race last round. A delighted Freddie Dixon (Hope Factory Racing) finished in fifth after his battle with Ben Coppola (SCOTT Pioneer DJ).
Bethany-Ann Jackson (Pine Sport) continued to dominate the field in this series, taking her second win of the weekend in the junior race. Jackson created big gaps in the field behind as everyone else tried to keep up. Evie Strachan (RR23 - runandride.co.uk) took second ahead of Maddie Moorhouse-Smith (Hope Factory Racing). Daisy Taylor (Royal Albert CC) managed to stay on her bike after a run of bad luck in Europe for fourth, with Ellie Mitchinson (Montezuma's Race Team) rounded off the podium.
Youth and juvenile races
Another strong ride from Arthur Limb (Matlock) saw him take his second win in two rounds in the youth open race, but behind him the battle was on. The early laps saw Luke Trafford (Shibden) and Jacob Steed (Sherwood Pines) ride together for second and third. Trafford managed to get a gap on Steed, but Luca Hill (BW Cycling) was steadily making his way through the field to overtake both of them for second place while Trafford held onto third.
In the women’s youth race, it was another local lass, Maizie Harper (Pine Sport) who took the win having shaken off the attacks from Daisy Wilkinson (Scotia Offroad RT). Teammate Freya Mowbray (Scotia Offroad RT) was third.
In the open juvenile race, it was a repeat of Margam Park, with a fierce race between Ben Whitehouse (RR23 - runandride.co.uk) and Zach Hutchinson (Clifton). Whitehouse managed to get into the last section of singletrack in the lead which he maintained up the final climb for his second win of the season. A happy Zach Smith (Guernsey Velo Club (LBG)) took third.
No mechanical issues this round meant Olivia Poole (Deeside Thistle) was back to her winning ways in the women’s category, with Aoife Scawn (Dartmoor Velo) taking a comfortable second. However, it took a sprint finish to decide third place with Harriet Butcher (Lee Valley Youth CC) just outsprinting Welsh champion Annabelle Griffiths (Marsh Tracks Racing – Trek) for third.
Veteran races
There were no mechanical issues this round for Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) who dominated the open race from the start. Adrian Lansley (Pedalon.co.uk) looked to be catching him at one point until the gap grew again. Chris Lever (Cookson Cycles), despite the suffering look on his face, had a great ride for third. In the women’s race, Helen Jackson (Kendal) led from start to finish with Rowena Duffield (Cwmcarn Paragon) in second. Nicole Read had a flyer at the beginning of the race but faded a little, allowing Karen Heppenstall (Grity Race Team) to claim her second podium of the weekend with third place.
In the grand veteran open category, it was another good battle between Nick Craig (SCOTT Pioneer DJ) and Marc Chamberlain (TY Cycles Race Team) who were neck and neck most of the race. Both made frequent attacks, but were unable to escape each other, until the final lap when Craig managed to go solo for the win. Birthday boy Sam Humphreys came third.
After a close first lap, Helen Pattison (Montezuma's Race Team) escaped from the rest of the field for the win in the grand veteran women’s race. Caroline Goward (SCOTT Pioneer DJ) came in second with a slightly surprised but very happy Sarah Craig (Ride for Charlie) in third.
In the super veterans open race, Welsh champion Grant Johnson led from start to finish to claim the win. Andy Weaving (TY Cycles Race Team) brought home the rest of the field with British champion Stewart Coates (All Terrain Cycles Ride) grabbing third. Carolyn Spiers made it another Grity Race Team podium place in the women’s category.
Expert races
Will Weatherill (Hope Factory Racing) took the win after Adam Potter burnt his matches in an effort to close the gap. He came second ahead of Ollie Mant, while in the women’s race, Megan Bettles (Numplumz Mountainbikers) returned to her winning ways with last round’s winner Alderney Baker (Team Empella) having to settle for second. Rachel Bennet was third.
The riders will be back racing this weekend at Woody’s Bike Park for the fourth round of the series.
