THERE was an epic battle on Hempton Common, near Fakenham, as the ninth round of the EADT cyclo-cross league was fought out - between the competitors, their rivals, and the conditions.

Fergus Muir

Cyclo-Cross:

There was an epic battle on Hempton Common, near Fakenham, as the ninth round of the EADT cyclo-cross league was fought out - between the competitors, their rivals, and the conditions.

Master of the rain, wind, cold and mud was Ian Newby the vastly experienced Diss & District CC rider who took a well-deserved maximum league points for his third place, first EADT League rider, after a consistent, unflinching performance that was one of the rides of the day. Visitors took the top two places, Ben Roach (Wyre Forest) winning and Phil Cooper coming second. Cooper was initially unconcerned when the Roach, still a junior last year, opened a gap. He believed that his young rival would fade in the final stages. But it didn't happen. Cooper stabilized the gap, but did not claw back any time, finishing 1:21 down.

League leader Shaun Aldous (Lotto/Interbike) initially led the chase after Roach and Cooper. However he faltered, eventually stopping to grab more clothes. Aldous still finished fifth, but afterwards was shaking with cold and barely able to speak.

Andrew Nichols (Cambridge University CC) took fourth place, while Stuart Chatting of the Colchester-based Amis Velo claimed seventh, his best result of the season.

Matt Cook (Mildenhall CC) won the junior prize also taking sixth overall. Robert Green (Ipswich Bicycle Club) revelled in the technical course and finished second junior, while third junior spot went to Jamie Websdale.

In the veteran's race fireman Mick Bell battled with Gavin Rumbles (CC Luton) and eventually opened an 11 second gap. However Bell is not a league member so Rumbles takes the points and now has an unbeatable score in the Veteran's competition.

Clive Ling (Diss), noticeably fast on the sandy run-up, got away from Julian Parker (Ipswich BC) on the third of the five laps. Ling took third place by an eventual margin of 33 seconds, moving up three places in the League standings.

Hugo Robinson (IBC) won the Youth race by a country mile and in the Under 12s James Jackson won with a confident performance, only having to run once after slipping at the foot of the main climb.

Interestingly, given the conditions, second place in both the Youth and Under 12 races went to girls - Sophie Holmes(Diss) coming second to James Jackson (Colchester Rovers) in the U12s and Hannah Barnes (Pinarello RT) being second to Hugo Robinson (IBC) in the Youth race

Results

EADT League Round Nine

Seniors, Juniors: Ben Roach (Wyre Forest) seven laps in 51:23, 2 Phil cooper (Blue Sky Cycles) +1:21, 3 Ian Newby (Diss & District CC) +3:33, 4 Andrew Nichols (Cambridge Uni) +4:02.

Veterans, Women: 1 Mick Bell - Vet (London Fire Brigade) five laps in 38:20, 2 Gavin Rumbles Vet (CC Luton) +0:11, 3 Clive Ling - Vet (Diss & District CC) +0:49, 4 Julian Parker - Vet (Ipswich BC) +1:22.

Youth: 1 Hugo Robinson (Ipswich BC) four laps in 27:55, 2 Hannah Barnes - First Girl (Pinarello RT) +4:27, 3 Lewis Parker (Ipswich BC) +4:53, 4 Alan Trolove - First U14 (West Suffolk Whls) +5:14.

Under 12: 1 James Jackson (Colchester Rovers) four laps in 12:44, 2 Sophie Holmes - First U10 (Diss & District CC) +2:08, 3 Matthew Baker - U10 (Unattached) +3:27.