SHAUN Aldous showed Eastern League seniors the way round Stanborough Park when he won the Welwyn Wheelers cyclo-cross by a margin of over three minutes.

Aldous, who was League champion two seasons ago, initially bided his time while junior Josh Hannan put in a spectacularly fast first lap. But second time up the longest climb, Aldous applied himself seriously to the pedals and eased himself into the lead and from then on never looked like losing it.

Hannan who, like Aldous, races for the Extreme Sports Therapy team, soon had company in the form of Matt Cook (WV Eemland), and Elite Veteran Gavin Rumbles. First year senior Cook held second place in mid-race but Hannan finally overhauled him again as did Rumbles, spinning low gears and keeping within ten seconds of Hannan, Cook finished up in fourth spot which was still good enough to put him on top senior league table.

Martin Carter was runner-up among the Elite Vets while Gabriel Clarke was second junior and 11th overall.

The climbs and soft ground made the circuit tough, and early in the day grassy corners were slippery, but as mud was gradually pushed aside from the racing line a fast flowing course emerged.

No less than 70 riders started the separate veteran’s race which was won by Lee Desborough, a Letchworth Velo roadman in the 90’s but new to cyclo-cross. Desborough won a duel with Tim Butler (Ipswich BC) who had the skills to gain on the descents but had to be satisfied with the Over 50’s prize after Desborough, just turned 40, proved stronger on the climbs. Craig Gould (Ipswich BC) took third place and Philip Cooper was fourth and best 60+ rider.

Chelmsford rider Sean Dunlea (PCA Ciclos Uno) put in a confident ride in the Youth race and led from start to finish. Joseph Fry (Welwyn Wheelers) was his nearest challenger. Fastest girl was Lorna Robinson (Ipswich BC), sister of Hugo and still in the Under 14 category. Georg Jensen of Lea Valley Youth CC scored his third successive win in the Under 12s.

Reigning Eastern League Champion Andy Nichols took 23rd spot in the National Trophy cyclo-cross at Abergaveney which featured lots of off-camber corners and a little bit of mud. Alan Trolove from Bury St Edmunds was 14th in the Youth race.

Hugo Robinson (XRT/Elmy Cycles) went to Belgium in search of experience at the highest level, riding the Superprestige junior race at Oostkamp-Ruddervoorde near Bruges. He came 22nd in a field of 61 juniors on a course built specially for the event including a 50 metre long sandpit, several flights of steps and significant stretches of tarmac.

Other cycling: Sean Dunlea followed up his cyclo-cross success with another win in “Challenger” youth race in the final round of the Mud, Sweat & Gears mountain bike series in Hylands Park in Chelmsford. The course included lots of singletrack with off-camber corners. Wet, slippery tree roots tested rider’s skills to the limit – and beyond.

Peter Barton (Chelmer CC) won the “Warrior” one-hour veteran’s race, while in the “Racer” two-hour Senior event Stephen James (Moda UK) was the winner with Dan Howe (TROG) fourth and Paul Thomas (VC Revolution) seventh. Full results can be seen at www.timelaps.co.uk

Soham rider Lee Desborough teamed up with Mick Hodson to score a remarkable win in the Hainault Hilly two-up 25 at Quendon in Essex, the pair finished in 54:40, beating Murat Ozdenya and Richard O’Rourke of Flitch Crono by 18 seconds.

On the same wonderful sunny morning 93 riders were attracted to Suffolk CTC’s 25 and 30 mile Roughstuff (off-road) events in Rendlesham and Tunstall Forests.

Result:

Eastern Cyclo-Cross League round four, Welwyn, October 9

Seniors, Juniors, Elite Veterans: 1 Shaun Aldous (Extreme Sports Therapy) 11 laps in 1:00:12; 2 Josh Hannan 1st Jun (Extreme Sports Therapy) +3:17; 3 Gavin Rumbles 1st Elite Vet (CC Luton) +3:25; 4 Matthew Cook (WV Eemland) +3:37; 5 Steven Halsalll (St Ives CC) +4:05; 6 Martin Carter Elite Vet +4:16; 7 Clive Harrison Elite Vet (Ford CC) +5:08; 8 Hayden Wood +5:48; 9 Dave Copland Elite Vet (Ipswich BC) +6:24; 10 Phil Hersey (Eagle rc) +1 lap +0:06; 11 Gabriel Clarke Jun +1 lap +0:29.

Women, Veterans: 1 Lee Desborough Vet (St Ives CC) 6 laps in 37:41; 2 Tim Butler 1st Vet 50+ (Ipswich BC) +0:23; 3 Craig Gould Vet (Ipswich BC) +0:33; 4 Geoff Bores Vet 50+ (Ford CC) +0:50; 5 Philip Cooper 1st Vet 60+ +1:15; 6 Martin Graves Vet 50+ (Newmarket Cycling &Tri Club) +1:16; 7 Gary Wood Vet (Maldon & District) +1:25; 8 Tony Wilkins Vet 50+ (Team Endura) +1:58; 12 Susan Wood 1st Woman (Maldon & District) +3:18.

Youth: 1 Sean Dunlea (PCA Ciclos Uno) 5 laps in 29:31; 2 Joseph Fry 1st U14 (Welwyn Whls CC) +1:06; 3 Daniel Tulett U14 (Palmer Park Velo) +1:45; 12 Lorna Robinson 1st U14 Girl (Ipswich BC) +6:56.

Under 12: 1 Georg Jensen (Lee Valley Youth CC) 5 laps in 17:17; 2 Ben Tulitt 1st U10 (Palmer Park Velo) +0:04; 3 Zak Coleman (Gt Yarmouth CC) +0:52; 7 Sophie Holmes (Diss & District CC) +2:41.