Round Six of the Wessex Cyclocross League provided us with a new and exciting course. After Pedalon and NHRC retired Popham last year, they moved their course to Milestones Museum, Basingstoke. And what a course it was. Milestones featured many corners, climbing, bumps and banks; they really made the riders work for it!
The weekend saw some good battles. Kicking off with the U8s, Sunni Muriithi finished sixth, followed by Jordon Riley in eighth. The U10s saw Ella Greenhalgh take third, Flo Boustred fourth and Amie Williams fifth. Joseph Lovegrove fought well, following a great start, coming fifth. Leighton Riley came eighth, Wilf Barlow twelfth and Harrison Hough in twenty-third. In the U12s, Emily Williams took third; Freddie Trosh finished seventh followed by Reuben Lewis in eighth; Archie Frogley came thirteenth, Ruben Davies sixteenth, James Sutton seventeenth, Alfie Hough twentieth and Rex Davies in twenty-first.
The rest of the youths followed, taking to the full course. Eve Carline took second in the U14 girls, accompanied by Matilda Wilks in sixth and Ruby Boustred in ninth. In the boys, Billy Dyer finished fifteenth and Leeyo Muriithi in eighteenth. In the U16s, Marit Davidse finished fifth; Morgan Gilbert came 12th following a close battle with his brother, Aneurin (13th). George Boustred finished 15th.
There’s quite a battle in the M40s/Junior race at the front. Andy Gardiner finished second after a final lap slip let the World Champion get away for a narrow defeat and Pete Boustred was ninth. It was a slipped chain that cost Niclas Olley against former teammate Tom Allen in the male juniors, as Niclas came second and Benji Pike in fourth. Samuel Marcade retired following an injury on the opening lap. Emma Harrison came ninth in the senior females and Poppy Carline came fifth in the junior category.
Jon Hall finished ninth in the M50s and Jon Dudley came twelfth in the M60s.
Overall, Sotonia fought well last weekend! Next up: Falkirk Nationals and Round Seven at Kingsclere, hosted by Newbury Velo.