Andy Seltzer writes…
Sunday morning dawned rather misty and a bit cooler than the previous day when we set up the course at Deers Leap. However it was no where near as bad as the biblical down pour of last year, and once the mist had burnt off we were in for another Indian Summer day, a week of dry weather ensured that the course for our Cross stayed dry fast and flowing.
For the under 10s race we were treated to a respectable field of 12 riders competing on a short circuit that was won by Sam Titmarsh of Team Darenth.
Racing on an extended course there were 6 riders in the under 12s race this was won by David Barnes of Palmer Park Velo.
The next race for youth riders moved onto the main circuit which would used by the seniors, a slightly disappointing field of 8 starters, maybe owing to the fact that we clashed with a few youth events in the area. Team Darenth again supplied the victor in Patrick Scarborn.
The only hic-up so far was when one of the final riders to finish reported seeing some cows on the course in the far woods. With a tight schedule between races East Grinstead’s Richard Woodward and Chris from Deers Leap headed of on a cattle round up .
With this minor crisis adverted, and thanks to a good turn out from the club to help ensure everything ran smoothly I even decided to race tagging onto the back of the 74 strong main field for the mad sprint at the start, no sooner had we charged out of the field and up to the first of the wooded sections that a blockage of riders occurred caused by the first drop off, personally I blame the organiser.
Once clear of this I then set about moving up through the field. The dry conditions allowed the trails to remain fast and flowing once I had settled into a rhythm I ended up locked into a race long battle with Luke Evans of Sydenham Wheelers which helped us both move steadily through the field. Further ahead of us a self confessed slow starter Steve Dennis was also on a mission to move on up through the field, the best placed rider on a Mountain Bike had also got his sights on winning the veterans category, unfortunately a late fall prevented him from overhauling Ian Cleverly from Mosquito Bikes. However Steve was still one of only a dozen riders who didn’t get lapped by the unstoppable Matt Holmes from Artic RT in fact Matt led home his team of Darren Barclay and Allister Tulett.
Results
1st Matt Holmes Artic RT
2nd Darren Barclay Artic RT
3rd Allister Tulett Artic RT
1st Veteran Ian Cleverly Mosquito Bikes
2nd Veteran Steve Dennis East Grinstead {12 overall}
Me 11th Veteran and 31st overall.
Thanks to all those who help out and to those who came and raced.
Course Builders: Lorraine and Megan Seltzer, Ange and Jack Nainby, and Mike Anton.
Judges: Lorraine Seltzer, and Richard Blackmore.
First Aid and Race Starter: Ute Woodward.
Marshals: Steve Dennis, Rick Nainby, and Paul Winkley.
Signing On: Chris, and Steve Daniels.
Course Dismantling: Ben & Alice Hardisty, Paul Harris and Richard Woodward.
Wrangler: Richard Woodward.
Race pics on Mike Anton’s photography website 
Seniors
Race pics on Mike Anton’s photography website U12s and Juniors
