THE cyclo-cross season got under way at Sible Hedingham in classic weather for the sport - rain and mud. It might say September on the calendar, but one look at the morning rain had riders fitting heavy-treaded tyres in readiness for the first round of the EADT Cyclo-Cross League.

Fergus Muir

THE cyclo-cross season got under way at Sible Hedingham in classic weather for the sport - rain and mud.

It might say September on the calendar, but one look at the morning rain had riders fitting heavy-treaded tyres in readiness for the first round of the EADT Cyclo-Cross League. Heavy showers before the start meant a mud-bath in some of the dips at Brickwall Farm.

In the main race Shaun Aldous of Marks Tey based Lotto/Interbike team duelled at the front with Ben Roach (Wyre Forest CC) until Aldous slithered into a hedge on a muddy off-camber corner and Roach got away to win by a clear margin.

Third place went to Nathan Miller (53-12/Multisports), league champion last season. In fourth and fifth places came two young pretenders who have just moved up from the Youth category and who are likely to be challenging for podium places later this year.

Matt Cook, who took fourth place, and Luke Newby, who was fifth, were taking part in their first hour-long senior race.

Cook, from Barnham near Thetford, has had six weeks road racing in Holland during the summer to hit race fitness; while Newby has concentrated on the mountain bike national series. Newby duelled with and eventually beat his father Ian, who took 6th place.

Cook lapped more and more quickly, overtook the Newbys at half-distance and eventually finished first junior and fourth overall.

There is a new Veteran's Over 50 category in the league this season. Tim Butler, showing off the club's new blue and white kit, beat all the 40-50 year-olds to take the lead in this competition, finishing five seconds ahead of clubmate Julian Parker, fastest of the “young vets”.

Rachel Moss of the Ford CC was unchallenged in the women's category.

The Brickwall Farm course includes some sharp climbs and descents and long stretches across grassland. Though muddy in places, the going was generally fast and bike changes infrequent.

There was a big field: 77 riders finished the senior race, there were 21 in the Youth race and 15 in the Under 12s, putting to rest any concerns that the season may have started too early.

Max Sykes (VC Deal) and Hugo Humphrys (Lee Valley Youth CC) soon established a lead in the Youth race, with Humphrys getting a clear lead after two laps.

Sam Titmarsh (Team Darenth) led the Under 12s race throughout. Colchester Rovers rider James Jackson held second place early on but Tristan Price, who has moved from the Colchester club to PCA Ciclos Uno, overtook in mid-race and eventually finished 28 seconds down on Titmarsh and 29 ahead of Jackson.

The leading girl was Sophie Holmes of Diss & District CC, who was fifth overall and fastest of all the Under 10s.

The next round of the EADT League is promoted by Ipswich Bicycle Club tomorrow in the grounds of Foxhall Stadium. First race at 11am, seniors at 1pm.

EADT League Race One

Seniors, Juniors, Veterans, Women: 1 Ben Roach (Wyre Forest) 8 laps in 57:13, 2 Shaun Aldous (Lotto Olympia Team Interbike) +0:56, 3 Nathan Miller (53-12 Multisports) +2:59, 4 Matthew Cook 1st Jun (Mildenhall CC) +3:41, 5 Luke Newby Jun (Diss & District CC) +4:53, 6 Ian Newby (Diss & District CC) +5:09, 7 Mark Thomson (St Ives CC) +6:50, 8 Craig Beech (Lotto Olympia Team Interbike) +6:54, 9 Tim Butler 1st Vet 50+. (Ipswich BC) +7:28, 10 Julian Parker 1st Vet (Ipswich BC) +7:33. Other scores: Rachel Moss 1st Woman (Ford CC) +1 lap +5:22.

Youth: 1 Max Sykes (VC Deal/Activ/Hammonds/Rowland) 5 laps in 30:04; 2 Hugo Humphrys (Lee Valley Youth CC) +1:17; 3 Tom Gallagher (Welwyn Whls) +4:30; 4 Daniel Young (Glendene CC) +5:21; 5 Samuel Connolley (Maldon & District) +5:39; 6 Joshua Green (Glendene CC) +7:20; 7 Josh Parkin 1st U14 (Team Darenth) +1 lap +0:25; 8 Lewis Parker (Ipswich BC) +1 lap +1:53; 9 Alan Trolove (West Suffolk Whls) +1 lap +2:00; 10 Sam Bores (Lee Valley Youth CC) +1 lap +2:52.

Under 12: 1 Sam Titmarsh (Team Darenth) 7 laps in 16:15, 2 Tristan Price (PCA Ciclos Uno) +0:28, 3 James Jackson (Colchester Rovers) +0:57, 4 Adam Gough (Unattached) +1:56, 5 Sophie Holmes 1st U10 (Diss & District CC) +2:33, 6 Jack Hardwicke (Plomesgate CC) +1 lap +0:09, 7 Charlotte Wickens (Ipswich BC) +1 lap +0:36, 8 Matthew Baker U10 (Unattached) +1 lap +2:09, 9 Joe Pearson U10 (Ipswich BC) +2 laps +1:40.