Andy Seltzer writes…
Having just returned from Belgium the previous day after watching the gods of cyclo-cross in action at the Koksijde round of the Cyclo Cross World Cup I headed down to Lancing Manor inspired by the antics of Sven Nys and Bart Wellens, hoping that some of their form might have rubbed of.
Late autumn sunshine plus a prize fun boosted by In Gear sponsors Quikvit helped boost numbers to over 80 again or was it that Sean Yates was handing out the prizes?
The fact that the race didn’t clash with a National Trophy Round also ensured top quality at the front of the field.
The course consisted of a climb broken up into three stages followed by a long wooded descent and then the only run up on the course before reaching the finish area.
The start of the race was a lung bursting leg breaking climb up to the top of the sport centre grounds after which everyone settled into their own race.
At the front of the field Junior National Cyclo Cross Champion Alex Paton powered away from everyone else, it didn’t seem much after half distance that he lapped me and it was sometime later that last weeks winner Darren Barclay then came past.
Back to my race and after a solid start I started to pull my way up through the field even catching up with a sparring partner of many seasons Simon Scarsbrook of V.C. Etoile when I passed him at the top of the climb (more like grovelled past him) Simon gave me a friendly shove I thought he was cooked.
However it appeared he was keeping his powder dry for the last lap when he attacked on the climb and it was I who was cooked as I lost a couple more places on that final climb.
In the end I just scrapped in to the top 30 overall and 8th Veteran.
Race winner Alex Paton V.C.Deal
First Veteran Mick Bell London Fire Brigade.
