A SNOW covered Broome Heath saw some of the closest racing of this cyclo-cross season with a tight sprint for the youth race and the senior race neck-and-neck all the way and finally decided on a protest.

A SNOW covered Broome Heath saw some of the closest racing of this cyclo-cross season with a tight sprint for the youth race and the senior race neck-and-neck all the way and finally decided on a protest.

West Suffolk Wheeler Alan Trolove was closely challenged by Cameron Toms (Extreme Sports Therapy) throughout the Youth race. Toms was riding only his second cyclo-cross. In the end Trolove prevailed by just two seconds.

In the senior race for the Joe Waller Memorial Trophy, three riders established a lead – Chelmsford brothers Andy Nichols (Cambridge University CC), and David Nichols (Van Eyck Sport) plus Nathan Miller (XRT/Elmy Cycles),

On the third lap David Nichols fell, bending his gear mech and dropping back. Miller and Andy Nichols battled on, Miller potentially faster through the corners, but Nichols quicker in a straight line and keen to lead into the technical sections. Spectators eagerly awaited the sprint, but Miller emerged from the last narrow section through bushes alone and took the flag. Nichols finished a few seconds later and immediately protested.

After consulting witnesses the commissaire applied a time penalty for “unsafe riding” to Miller, Nichols was declared the winner and Miller placed second. The XRT/Elmy Cycles rider stated his intention to appeal.

Shaun Aldous (Extreme Sports Therapy) took third place.

The course for this VC Baracchi promotion was a snow-covered former sand and gravel pit near Bungay which provided a varied and exciting course and presented some interesting choices.

For instance, on the biggest reverse camber curve vets winner Phil Buick exploited a very wide line, getting his wheels in a banked “berm” on the outside, while most other riders elected to hug the inside. Buick finished with a 41 second margin over Lee Desborough (St Ives CC).

Anna Buick (Thetford MTB) took the women’s prize and her sister Imogen made it a Buick family treble by winning the Youth Girls. Junior winner was Josh Hannan who has won a place in the Glendene CC junior team.

The Under 12s course was understandably relatively straightforward, though some nice judgement was needed on icy corners. Zak Coleman (Great Yarmouth CC) had Tomas Gould (Ipswich BC) close in his wake on the first lap but soon moved clear. Sophie Holmes (Diss CC) made steady progress and overtook Gould to secure second overall.