HUGO Robinson took the top spot on the Eastern Cyclo-Cross League podium after a clear-cut but eventful win at Colchester.

Never one to waste inches that might be utilized for on-the-limit cornering, Robinson spectacularly ripped his new XRT/Elmy Cycles skinsuit on a tree – though without any noticeable effect on his progress to a convincing victory.

Behind him an intense battle raged for second place – and maximum senior points, as Robinson is in a separate junior category.

Contenders were Shaun Aldous (Extreme Sports Therapy), Andy Nichols (Cambridge University CC) and Greg Simcock (Team Corley Cycles).

Towards the end Aldous put in a burst which only Nichols match. Nichols was quicker in a straight line and up the climbs but Aldous had the edge through the technical bits.

On the final lap the pair charged side by side towards the last stretch of singletrack.

It was a question of “who is going to brake last?” said Nichols.

It was Nichols – he emerged first onto the finishing straight; Aldous could only hang onto his wheel for third place.

However Aldous has the consolation of coming out top in a wholesale re-shuffle of the league standings – where he now leads Nichols by three points.

Conditions were near-perfect on the fast and varied course at the Hillyfields public open space.

Riders climbed, dipped and twisted across grass and over rough ground left by Roman industry and Civil War siegeworks.

Great Yarmouth CC’s Zak Coleman scored his first League win in the Under 12s race after a ding-dong with ten-year-old Pierce Bacon (Ipswich BC).

Bacon led on the first two of the five laps. Then Coleman opened an eight second lead which he just held on to despite a determined last lap charge from Bacon.

Alan Trolove (West Suffolk Wheelers) won the Youth race, 36 seconds in front of Sean Dunlea(PCA Ciclos Uno).

There were some close encounters in the 68 rider veterans’ race where Phil Buick (Thetford MTB) came off in front of Gary Allan (GA Cycles), allowing Tim Butler (Ipswich BC) to establish a lead of nearly 20 seconds.

However Allan, a visitor from Southampton, was very fast on the grass sections and came through to win ahead of Butler with Buick third. Joolz Halpin (Maldon & District) scored her first league win the women’s race.

Results

Eastern Cyclo-Cross League round 5, Hillyfields

Seniors, Juniors, Elite Veterans: 1 Hugo Robinson Jun (XRT-Elmy Cycles) 8 laps in 56:53; 2 Andrew Nichols 1st Senior. (Cambridge Uni) +0:20; 3 Shaun Aldous (Extreme Sports Therapy) +0:21; 4 Greg Simcock (Team Corley Cycles) +0:31; 5 Gary Lingard 1st Elite Vet (CC Hackney) +1:34; 6 Nathan Miller (XRT-Elmy Cycles) +1:59.

Women, Veterans: 1 Gary Allan Vet (GA Cycles) 6 laps in 46:45; 2 Tim Butler 1st Vet 50+ (Ipswich BC) +0:21; 3 Phil Buick Vet 50+ (Thetford MTB) +0:51; 4 Geoff Bores Vet 50+ (Ford CC) +2:04; 5 David Brown Vet (Essex Roads CC) +2:29; 6 Martin Graves Vet 50+ (Newmarket Cycling &Tri Club) +2:58; 39 Joolz Halpin 1st Women/Vet. (Maldon & District) +1 lap +0:43; 43 Emma Johnson 1st Woman (XRT/Elmy Cycles) +1 lap +1:38.

Youth: 1 Alan Trolove (West Suffolk Whls) 5 laps in 31:57; 2 Sean Dunlea (PCA Ciclos Uno) +0:36; 3 Joseph Fry 1st U14 (Welwyn Whls CC) +2:27; 5 Imogen Buick 1st Girl (Thetford MTB) +3:41.

Under 12: 1 Zak Coleman (Gt Yarmouth CC) 5 laps in 14:47; 2 Pierce Bacon (Ipswich BC) +0:01; 3 Matthew Baker (City of Norwich) +0:17.