IPSWICH rider Nathan Miller set the early pace at the Ford CC’s Davy Down cyclo-cross but it was visitor Darren Barclay who dominated the race in the end.

Barclay, a former GB representative rider, is not often seen in Eastern League races. After one lap Miller (XRT/Elmy Cycles) had a lead of three seconds over Andy Nichols (Cambridge University CC). However Nichols was feeling the effects of racing in wintry conditions in Belgium the previous day and retired after three laps.

At about the same time Barclay caught Miller and from then on the Arctic Premier RT rider steadily opened a gap on all-comers. Miller disputed second place with League leader Shaun Aldous (Extreme Sports Therapy) and eventually achieved a small lead.

Aldous fought his way back in contact and the pair slithered round the final U-turn together. Miller held the inside line and found the grip to get claim second place at the flag.

The varied course at the Davy Down Country Park in Thurrock included a bridge over a pond and two flights of steps up to the imposing water pumping station buildings that served as the HQ.

Patrick Cook (Ipswich BC) scored his first win in the junior section while Gary Lingard was first elite veteran.

Reaping the benefits of a cycling holiday involving 14,500 metres of climbing in the space of six days, Bruce Robinson from Shenfield was the winner of the veterans race.

There was drama in the final moments as Lee Desborough (St Ives CC) closed what had seemed an unbridgeable gap but immediately crashed while mounting his bike at the foot of the final flight of steps. His freewheel had failed and he had to push his bike to the finish, which he did without losing second place.

Sue Wood (Maldon & District) held off Claire Beaumont (Rapha Condor) by three seconds to take the women’s prize.

Alan Trolove (West Suffolk Wheelers) had a clear win in the youth race, 49 seconds up on Sean Dunlea, - another rider who had raced in Belgium the day before.

The Tulett brothers from Palmer Park Velo took the top two places in the Under 12s: Georg Jenson was third and Pierce Bacon (Ipswich BC) reversed last week’s order by beating Zak Coleman (Great Yarmouth CC) to fourth spot.

Eastern Cyclo-Cross League Rd6, Davy Down

Seniors, Juniors, Elite Veterans: 1 Darren Barclay (Arctic Premier RT) 10 laps in 55:45; 2 Nathan Miller (XRT-Elmy Cycles) +0:36; 3 Shaun Aldous (Extreme Sports Therapy) +0:36; 4 Andy Waterman (Dulwich Paragon) +0:50; 5 Gary Lingard 1st Elite Vet (CC Hackney) +0:51; 6 Kevin Knox Elite Vet (Dulwich Paragon) +1:57.

Women, Veterans: 1 Bruce Robinson Vet 50+ (Shaftesbury CC) 7 laps in 43:30; 2 Lee Desborough 1st Vet (St Ives CC) +0:22; 3 David Brown Vet (Essex Roads CC) +1:20; 4 Geoff Bores Vet 50+ (Ford CC) +1:38; 5 Philip Cooper 1st Vet 60+ +1:50; 6 Tony Wilkins Vet 50+ (Team Endura) +1:56; 17 Susan Wood 1st Women/Vet. (Maldon & District) +4:18.

Youth: 1 Alan Trolove (West Suffolk Whls) 6 laps in 34:51; 2 Sean Dunlea (PCA Ciclos Uno) +0:49; 3 Tom Franklin (HHYCC) +2:41; 4 Jonathan Sjolin (West Suffolk Whls) +4:01; 5 Matthew Madgwick (Lee Valley Youth CC) +4:26; 6 James Tapley 1st U14 (Cambridge Triathlon Club) +5:10.

Under 12: 1 Daniel Tulett (Palmer Park Velo) 6 laps in 16:03; 2 Ben Tulett 1st U10 (Palmer Park Velo) +0:40; 3 Georg Jensen (Lee Valley Youth CC) +1:02; 4 Pierce Bacon (Ipswich BC) +1:44; 5 Zak Coleman (Gt Yarmouth CC) +2:04; 6 Sophie Holmes (Diss & District CC) +3:10.

West Suffolk Wheelers Cycling and Triathlon Club have won the Suffolk Sports Club of the Year award.

Representatives of the Bury St Edmunds club received the Suffolk Sport award at a dinner at Trinity Park, the Suffolk Showground, attended by 350 people drawn from the 1200 clubs registered with the organisation.

Among the factors that caught the judges attention were the Wheelers’ Clubmark accreditation, their inclusion of triathlon in their remit, their Go-Ride youth programme, links with schools, and connection with the Priory School for those with learning difficulties.

It is at the Priory School that the club, who last month won the St Edmundsbury Club of the Year award, have erected their new �30,000 clubroom at which the club hosts a five-nights-a-week programme of winter activities for its members.

For further details of WSW-Tri see: www.westsuffolkwheelers.co.uk/