The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Ben Norton bagged another podium as Spalding Cycling Club competed at the Witham Wheelers-hosted round of the Lincs League Cyclo Cross League.
The in-form Norton finished third in a competitive under-12s category, while Velvet Bowser took the second girl award after finishing eighth overall.
No Spalding youth riders took part in this event, so it was down to the veterans to fly the flag for the club in a race which was fast and furious – with the top three places separated by just 35 seconds.
Only 24 finished on the same lap, but unfortunately no Spalding jerseys were present. Chris Peel was the first Spalding rider home in 41st place, with Tom Webster close behind in 43rd (15th in the V50 category). The 18th and 22nd places in the same V50 category were filled by Gary Bentley (50th overall) and Chris Bettinson (59th overall).
Sam Bentley started the seniors’ race, but was forced to abandon with mechanical problems.
- A clash of dates with the Grafham Water round of the Eastern Cyclo cross League and the Arrow Cycles round of the Lincs League meant that Spalding was represented in both – although only three made the long journey to Louth.
In the Lincs League event at Hubbard’s Farm, Jake Norton – riding in his Sherwood Pines SRAM RT kit – put in a fine solo ride to win the youths’ race.
He was nearly 1.45mins clear of second-placed Bradley Sprogis, of Paul Milnes Cycles.
Unusually for him, Ben Norton finished his under-12 race without making it onto the podium. He had to settle for fifth overall.
Gary Bentley, continuing a consistent season, posted 47th place overall in the veterans race and 17th in the V50 category.
Meanwhile at Grafham, Matt Ellis, representing his Sherwood Pines SRAM RT team, rode exceptionally well to finish second in the youths’ race, just 15 seconds down on the winner.
Racing in wet, muddy and foggy conditions, both had crashed but overcame that setback to stay at the front of the 65-strong field.
Conditions improved during the morning and all three veterans – Simon Wright, Stewart Elderkin and Chris Bettinson – took advantage of that to ride well on what is regarded as a challenging course.
In what was his first event of the season, Elderkin had to start towards the back of the field of 70 riders.
He eventually caught Wright and the pair worked together over the remaining laps, posting finishing places of 58th and 59th respectively.
The vets 50+ race saw Bettinson crash in the water jump, but he put in a fine ride to finish 41st overall in a field of 72 riders.
