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The weather, as is typical of this most unreasonable of summers, was a bit dubious beforehand but the race itself was bathed in glorious grey cloud with the odd dash of sunshine sprinkled in for good measure. The track had held up well despite the recent downpours but with Beacon Park the challenges often lie elsewhere regardless of the course conditions. As well as the ever changing terrain there is also has a terrific drop off through the trees which is a photographers dream
Dropping Off!
The mens race saw the return of rising star Will Lewis of High Peak Cycles and with Giles Drake absent Chris Lever was likely to provide the strongest challenge to Lewis, who was aiming for his second win of the series. Valuable points were also at stake as the overall series winner would be decided on the outcome.
The women’s event, bereft of Lee Quarry’s protagonists Becky Preece and Alison Rushton was low on numbers but with the talented Martha Gill, fresh from a stint in Canada, the field still contained much fire power. You’ve gotta love Martha, rides fast and skilfully but with a heavy peppering of laughter and enjoyment- it’s a game she is very good at playing. Ever present Maggie McPhillips deserves a mention also. I feel like I have lived every moment of her efforts through the series, her grimacing, laughing and yes the odd walk when the going gets tough (far from the only one there Maggie). Effort writ large across her face, if endeavour was a person it would be called Maggie!
Marvellous Martha
As the race got underway Lewis shot off into an immediate lead from Lever with Thomas Ramsay in his first race of the series hot on Levers wheels. In the womens event Martha set the pace ahead of Maggie.
Mighty Lewis
The pressure from Ramsay told on Lever and as the second lap unfolded he raced into second place with Lewis still at the head of affairs and setting a relentless pace. The die was now cast and for the remainder of the race this would be the sequence with Lewis finally bringing them home ahead of Ramsay and Lever. Quite a straightforward victory for Lewis, no dramas and barely out of breath as he crossed the line.
Martha took the honours in the womens race with Maggie benefitting from her own consistency gaining adequate points to lift her into series runner up spot over Preece and a mere six points behind overall winner Rushton.
Maggie McPhillips
The mens final leaderboard was headed up by Lewis with two wins and two second places in his four appearances. Paul Upton with four top five finishes in the series came overall runner up and Charles Dennison took third.
In other categories Ed Kitching dropped only one point in his four scoring events to take the Enthusiast Class. Now get yourself over to Racers Cat Kitching and don’t come back!
Kitching Racing to the Series Win
Isaac Peatfield of the ubiquitous clan Peatfield took the youth honours winning every round of the series with Joseph Brooks, another consistent performer, taking second spot. Thomas Rushton just nicked the Juvenile category from Benjamin Peatfield despite Peatfields victory in this round.
A quick catch up with Lewis and curiosity as to why he was now wielding a road bike revealed that he was going to pedal the fifty miles or so home. His mum Katie tasked with returning his off roader back to base and force feeding him a banana and a buttie to see him on his way. This way great champions are made.
Finally, dogs and kids. This event contained a preponderance of both which was evidence, were it needed, of the great family appeal of the series. My new standard measure of family friendliness-the dogs and kids scale.
So that’s the series done for this year and the small platoon of organisers and volunteers can return to their respective hideouts, many to prepare for the imminent cyclo-cross season where old foes will rejoin battle and the mud is colder, the coffee is hotter……etc.
Full Results
All Rounds and Overall_Series_2016_AWK (2)
Coming Next Week
Midweek MTB Madness. A Season in Pictures
To the inner circle of off road racing the name of Becky Preece needs no introduction, certainly not in the North of England, which is all that really matters of course.
Becky has been on the MTB and cross scene for a number of years and has proven to be one of the finest competitors on the dirt. She has a palmares as long as Mr Tickles arm and is still plenty young enough to rack up a thousand more wins.
Her bike handling skills are second to none as is her ability to gurn and grimace-even when she is winning.
If you follow her on twitter you will understand why the RSPB have a contract out on her. Her ongoing feud with the Merseyside seagull population has recently escalated into an all out war. Air power versus pedal power.
There may still be a few people out there who are not familiar with this talented bikestress and so here she is in her own words:
For updates on both Beckys racing career and indeed her ongoing conflict with the scouse seagulls she is on twitter @beckypreecex
Round four of Midweek MTB Madness was hosted by Adrian Watts of Rossendale RC and raced off at Lee Quarry in Bacup, an old familiar venue for many an MTBer from both sides of the Lancashire/Yorkshire border. This venue is the most rugged in the series and by its nature the quarry is rocky, twisty and turny with some quite spectacular ascents and descents. It seems to have its own microclimate that is the opposite of elsewhere in the locale and it also seems to contain the North Wests number one rendezvous spot for the midge (Midgetus Bastardicus)
In the mens event the dominant pairing from the last round at Beacon Country Park, Tom Bell and Will Lewis, were both absent but another pair of old adversaries in Giles Drake and Chris Lever slipped comfortably into their tread marks to provide the upfront action.
From the gun Drake and Lever grabbed a healthy lead over the rest of the field. I first shot them ascending a particularly rocky part of the course and there was nothing to choose between them. Third place and beyond were already over half a minute behind so barring mechanicals (a distinct possibility on this challenging track) this was definitely a two horse race.
Drake Leads Lever on Lap Two
Onto lap two and the pair went past me still neck and neck with the field now over a minute back. Tellingly though as they were going out of sight Lever was heard to shout to Drake that “you’re on your own now, I’m done”. That’s when the elastic snapped. And so it was that this situation remained for the rest of the race and although the race for the minor positions was more nip and tuck the status quo between Drake and Lever was maintained to the end with Drake crossing the line comfortably ahead of Lever. Third place was taken by Joseph Peatfield.
Drake has had a few strong challengers in this series but his endurance levels seem to be a class above the others, meaning that he will generally win a war of attrition. He was pushed very close at Chorlton by emerging star Will Lewis but the wily old dog just nicked it on the line. Drake is an outstanding athlete and once again proved that he is the regions dominant force in this form of racing
The women’s race proved a much closer affair. Becky Preece had returned from her holiday and ended up in a neck and neck duel with one of the stars of the series, Alison Rushton. Although Preece led for the majority of the race she never fully shook Rushtons shadow off. In the closing laps Preece appeared to slow quite visibly and Rushton rapidly closed the gap to just a few seconds. As the light began to fade and the weather closed in a real battle for top honours was playing out.
Onto the penultimate lap and Rushton took the lead for the first time and seemed to have it in the bag. Preece, grimacing, was not going down without a fight however. And so it was that as the rain started Preece emerged out of the gloom to take the win just a handful of seconds ahead of her rival.
Becky explained afterwards that she had started to blow up in the last few laps and had to pace her effort. Alison had erred and put a foot down on the last lap and this was all that Becky needed to snatch back the lead and hold it to the line. Great credit to both women for an excellent performance . Series stalwart Maggie McPhillips put in another great effort to take the final podium spot
Women’s Winner Becky Preece
Gallant Runner Up Alison Rushton
Third Place for Maggie McPhillips
The Lee Quarry round was originally intended to be the series finale. However Dave Harrison over at Beacon Country Park has managed to squeeze in another round on August 21st. That’s Sunday August 21st. Midweek on the weekend.
2107, 2108, 2109……Just counting my midge bites. Anybody else get nipped at the quarry or am I just tastier than you lot?
The inaugural Women’s Cicle Classic took place on Sunday 17th July 2016. This is my story of the day in pictures.
Affirmation, were it needed, of just how far and how rapidly women’s cycling is advancing in this country could be found on Sunday with the inaugural Womens Cicle Classic.
The men’s event has been a staple on the domestic calendar for over a decade now and attracts competitors from both the domestic scene and abroad. It continues to grow in prestige and thanks to the efforts of organiser Colin Clews and others has now secured television coverage which will further broaden its appeal to fan and sponsor alike.
The Cicle Classic has been likened to Paris Roubaix and, probably more accurately, Italys Strade Bianche insomuch as it is run over a parcours not wholly of metalled roads. It uses many of Leicestershires farm tracks and bridleways to produce an event unique on the British Road calendar and manages to set a challenge that no amount of experience is guaranteed to overcome
Logic thus dictated that with the ever growing profile of womens racing a Womens Cicle Classic had to be born. The Lincoln GP has done it to great effect now it was Cicle Classics turn.
And so it was that a large and strong field of some of the foremost names in UK womens cycling gathered in Melton Mowbray to tackle the 95km course. The weather was untypically seasonal , perhaps a little too warm for the challenge ahead as the race got underway.
Now as regular readers of this blog will be aware I am a champion for Sunsport Velo WRT and followed this event with a main focus on them. This was a big race for all of the teams and Sunsport had a strong squad with a determination to make their mark.
I met up with the team as they were setting up at race HQ and the mood was relaxed considering what was ahead of them. The four riders, Jane Hellewell, Maddy Scott, Alice Sharpe and Sophie Thackray have different strengths and characteristics but gel nicely as a unit. Manager Tony Orrell provides a calm and steady influence which seems to hit the right note with the girls-they are a young and inexperienced team so need a particular style of management to get the best from them.
Jane and Alice Warming Up At HQ
As the race got underway from Melton town centre at noon I drove over to the village of Owston. Having worked on several editions of the men’s race I knew that this was a prime spot for getting the right shots. A reasonable sized crowd had gathered in the village and were being suitably informed and entertained by on course commentator Carl Lawrenson, a veteran of this kind of event.
As the race came through Manor Farm for the first time it was clear that an early selection had taken place and the field was split into about four reasonable sized groups. Alice and Sophie were in the second group who were a handful of seconds behind the leaders. They were followed by a third group containing Maddie. Jane was finding the going tough, as were several others, and was hovering precariously close to the broom wagon as they emerged from Duvel Corner and into Owston village.
Alice and Sophie in Owston
Maddie Exiting Duvel Corner
As they came through Duvel Corner on the next lap (and from the opposite direction) more fragmentation had taken place. Sophie was still within touching distance of the leaders but Alice had dropped slightly more behind. This was proving to be a real grueller. Maddie was further back and Jane, having disappeared, had presumably been chewed up by the broom wagon.
Sophie Hits the Stony Stuff
My final sight of the bunch was on the Hot Spot Sprint out of the village and I then headed for the finish back in Melton.
Over in Melton and news came through of a traffic accident on the course resulting in a detour for the latter part of the race. Arriving later than anticipated a much depleted field made its way through the town centre and onto the final lap. At this stage there were no Sunsport riders and it looked like they had all dropped out, along with 90% of the field. Fears were allayed however at the finish.Coming home first and collecting the £1000 winners prize was Rebecca Durrell for the all conquering Drops Cycling Team. She just beat Elizabeth Holden from Ford Ecoboost in a sprint to the line.
Shortly afterwards as the field rolled in Alice emerged in a very creditable 12th place. She suffered a puncture around half way which put paid to her challenge but still managed a smile. Its testament to a successful first season as a roadie that there was still a tinge of disappointment as to what might have been.
A couple of minutes later Sophie crossed the line for an excellent 17th place. She is still a junior (albeit one of the best) and to mix it at this level on this course was incredible.
“It was a tough course with lots of tight sections meaning that positioning was key from the start, but I managed to stay high up and get a good position so I could stay with the leaders for the first 60km. After this I dropped off and was met by a group of 6 with Alice in and so we battled to the finish from there. It was an incredibly hot day which made conditions even tougher, but I really enjoyed it!!” Sophie Thackray
Still Managing a Smile!
With two of the four woman team crossing the line within minutes of the winner this was a good solid performance from Sunsport. Again they mixed it with some quality athletes on what is possibly one of the hardest women’s races on the calendar (and I mean internationally also )
‘It was great to be a part of the first women’s Cicle Classic. Although it was such a tough course, it was a new challenge with the gravel sectors, which made a nice change to the usual road races. For me it wasn’t my day, but I was chuffed for my team mates and it was a great experience’ Maddie Scott
As for the race in general it was a real triumph. The experienced organisation of Colin Clews and his team and the generosity of sponsor Peter Stanton has resulted in an instant classic on the women’s calendar. It needs time to grow to attract the same quality of field as the men’s and the same level of support that they get on the route but Rome wasn’t built in a day and it will definitely get there.
Hell? Heaven!
Coming Up This Weekend. “Women’s Cicle Classic-A Story in Pictures”
Midweek MTB Madness came around for the third time this season last Thursday , the latest venue being Beacon Country Park near Upholland. Beacon park is set within 300 acres of countryside with a great variety of terrain much of which was brought into play for this event. Conditions were quite heavy, the area having suffered from more than its fair share of warm British rain recently and the course, familiar to many competitors who contest the NWCCA series over the Winter, proved quite challenging.
Ready for the Off
The sun actually made a brief appearance as racing got underway, although this was soon pushed aside by a more familiar grey blanket which successfully dulled the natural light (photographers notice these things). An enthusiastic field of off roaders paid little heed to the adversities of the elements however. After all there aren’t many of this type of good quality races going on in the middle of the week (hey that must be where they get some of the title from…) and the North West is particularly blessed to have a group of people dedicated to providing these well organised and challenging events throughout the Summer.
With the victors from the previous round, Giles Drake and Becky Preece absent without leave, the results were bound to have an air of unpredictability and the men’s favourite based on current form was now Will Lewis. He wasn’t going to have it all his own way however as the field included Yorkshire based pro Tom Bell, fresh from the MTB Marathon worlds in France and making his first appearance of the season on the madness stage.
The womens field was short on numbers but not on talent. Martha Gill and Alison Rushton would battle for top honours here but more of this later.
Back to the mens and Bell and Lewis got off to a flyer, distancing the rest of the field from the off. This was going to be good!
Lewis Leads Bell on Lap One
Lewis’s slight frame and boyish appearance belies his natural athleticism and on his day he is a match for anyone. And so where Lewis had pushed Giles Drake previously Bell was getting the same treatment here. Lets get all three racing together for the next round. It would make great tv!
As the race progressed the pair widened the gap back to the main field headed by Dave Powell and Christian Smith but these were always going to be racing for the final podium spot barring accidents. And so it was after an hour of nip and tuck racing including a tactical go slow towards the end the two charged for the line resulting in Bell nipping away from his younger rival to claim the honours. Lewis again had to be content with the runner up spot with Powell grabbing third.
Tom Bell
Back to the women and a similar battle was shaping up between Martha Gill and Alison Rushton until mysteriously, on the penultimate lap, Gill seemed to fall away, allowing Maggie McPhillips to get between them. Gill fought back on the last lap to overtake McPhillips but Rushton wasn’t going to be reeled in. She crossed the line exhausted but satisfied with her efforts.
Alison Rushton
Second Placed Martha Gill
In the post race interviews, conducted by series lynchpin and (for this event) race commentator with a helmet on, Karen Long, Lewis declared this the best course of the series and despite being beaten enjoyed the event immensely.
Bell too enjoyed the racing after his DNF at the MTB Marathon Worlds and we look forward to seeing his return and maybe that triple header with Lewis and Drake.
The next round in the series is at Lee Quarry, Rossendale. This is another challenging venue and should make for great racing. Ideal scenario is a Lewis/Bell/Drake showdown.
On Sunday, whilst in another world- on another planet even, Mark Cavendish was touring Normandy in his new yellow top, a dedicated group of grass rooters were giving their all in memory of Iestyn Kier and Kirsty Saunders, two young members who sadly passed last year.
Yes it was Mossley CRT Memorial Races at the Tameside Cycle Circuit in Ashton Under Lyne. Proceeds from the day were going to Manchester Childrens Hospital and Child Death Helpline and a strong turnout witnessed a spread of events throughout the day from under 8s through under 10s,12s etc. In short a thumping good family day!
As I arrived the U16 boys race was underway. A lively and vocal crowd cheered, cajoled and issued orders to their chosen jockeys. An age old tradition passed through the generations occasionally resonating and generating success (see Mark Cavendish opening paragraph)
The track is flat with the occasional hairpin to test skill and brinkmanship but generally suited to a diesel engine rather than a goat. Furthermore a strong April wind (in July!) played a great part in separating wheat from chaff and taught the youngsters an instant lesson regarding teamwork and cooperation. Nobody could surely take the full brunt of the elements and come out on top?
And so it was that after an hour of racing it boiled down to a 10 ish up sprint for the line. Coming out on top was Jack Ford from Albion Cycling followed by Oliver Rees Holmfirth CC and Isaac Peatfield Bolton Hot Wheels. There was some fine talent on show, names that will come up again in the future.
U16s Boys Winner Jack Ford
The main event was the womens race. Again run over an hour and this time won by first cat racer, Rebecca Rimmington of team WNT.
Rimmington broke away early on and miraculously, conditions considering, managed to stave off the bunch for the entire duration. Intelligent racing from the peloton, sharing the workload through and off, through and off was all to no avail and the final sprint was merely for the consolation prizes. Second was Flora Gillies Team 22 and third Ellen McDermott Team Jaden Weldtite
As I said previously I only witnessed the Under 16 boys and the women’s races but can surmise from this that the whole day was a success and a fitting tribute to the two youngsters. The organisers at Mossley have ambitions to make this an annual event, and why not? Good talent on a crowd pleasing tight circuit and a good spread of events is a sure fire winner. All for a good cause to boot. Count me in for next year.
Full results are available on British Cyclings website https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/147410/Mossley-CRT-Memorial-Races and a full set of photos from the U16 Boys and Womens are free to download from http://www.chrismeadsphotography.com
Rebecca Rimmington Powers Away
A Concerted Chase Ends in Vain
A rare blog entry as it contains no photos and its largely about me. This may not happen again (hopefully)
Being involved in bike events as I am I do appreciate that in terms of exertion levels and blood sweat tears etc I do have the cleaner end of the stick. We all make choices and mine is to choose the camera over the bike. Not an easy decision and don’t get me wrong there are countless times when I have to resist the temptation to cast aside the camera and remount. My first off road race was the Cheshire Classic in the early 90s. I finished third in the sports category.It never got any better than that. Legends such as David Baker and a young Helen Mortimer were out there that day also. Styrene helmets with plastic covers, GT Tequesta, no shocks, no disc brakes. Happy days
I digress. I got an email last week from a participant of a sportive I had recently photographed. He liked the photo I had taken of him but not enough to pay £5.50 for the download. He offered me £1.50 on the basis that I may reduce it to this price in a year. Don’t get me wrong, he was very polite and we engaged in some witty online banter, but of course I refused.
I refused because I value my work and my ability as a photographer. I also believe it is a reflection of the effort that goes into covering an event. A sportive is a good example. Many of my events are in the Peak District. I live in Wigan. Most events start around 8.00am and I like to be in position at least 30 minutes prior to this. So on a sportive day I will get up around 5:30am. I will get my shots then typically depart for home around 2:00pm.
Back home for 3:30pm and an hour off to recharge the cranial batteries. Then the fun starts. I upload my photos (typically 600+) onto the Mac and start editing. This takes around 4 hours. I crop, tweak colours, convert to monochrome sometimes. I then upload to my website and this takes 2 to 3 hours. T’interweb is slow in Wigan where electricty is still a phenomenon. Once they are on I do all my marketing, tweeting etc. The time is now around 11:30pm. So up at 5:30am job done for 11:30pm, total 18 hours. All done in a day and to the highest possible standard. Of the many thousand photos I have sold there has never been one, not one, complaint. Other events are slightly less intense, cyclocross, MTB, road racing but still not easy. And if its press work there are deadlines.
Now none of this is a complaint. I said at the start that it is a choice and I love it, really love it. I must do! Its just my way of conveying the process that goes into producing the end product. You may see me taking your photo and then see the photo the next day. There is a big bit in the middle, between A and B if you like. Similarly if you are a cyclist I see you riding a bike. I don’t see the big bit where you are out training in all weathers and eating hamster food to keep your body in tip top, race ready condition. Similar, except yours physically hurts a hell of a lot more than mine. Choices.
We are lucky as we all, in some capacity or other, involve ourselves in a wonderful and from my standpoint highly photogenic sport. I admire each and every last one of you for playing your part (not quite true as I have met the odd pillock) and express my thanks for letting me stick my camera into your face, occasionally at times when its the last thing you want. You will thank me later though when you are sending it off to Moon Pig! Its all good fun.
So spare just a tiny thought for the photographer, whether it is me or some other poor soul, next time you see him and in return I will continue to shoot you at your sweatiest, most exhausted, distressed and sometimes elated best
Enjoy the ride and I promise that the next post will a) contain photos and b) not be about me
Occasionally I will wander away from covering cycling related events. I have been known to do the odd wedding or baby portrait but this season I seem to have developed a whole new string to my bow. Through my association with Dark and White Events and their sportives I have had the opportunity to get involved with trail running . Now I wasn’t a bad cross country runner in my youth so this type of event floats my boat somewhat. It also helps that the events are all held in the glorious Peak District with its stunning scenery and idyllic villages. I am definitely up for this kind of gig on a weekend.
Great Organisation Typifies Any Dark and White Event
One of the most appealing factors in the running events is that you can clearly see the competitors faces. This is not a criticism of cyclists as shades and a helmet are a necessity for their events. Not so the runners, and this reveals the character and gives an insight into how the race is going for them ie showing pain, joy etc.
Smiles All Round
The competitors are, almost to a person, happy and generally delighted to be there and the banter I have with them is as good as I have had in any event over the years.
And so it was to my third one of the season on the 18th of June, a mere 26km (11km for the shorter route) along the Tissington trail and its surrounds near to Ashbourne.
The course was perhaps not as brutal as the other races I have covered this year (or at least the section I was patrolling) and the weather seemed just about right-temperatures in the mid teens and an unfulfilled threat of rain hanging in the air.
Almost three hundred competitors took to the start line in Ashbourne with approximately 200 tackling the long course and 100 on the shorter one. The start was staggered in groups to avoid a huge scramble at the outset with the first runners getting underway at 8:30am
One thing that struck me was the amount of runners who had dogs in tow. Now you don’t see that at a bike event do you?!
Dog Day Afternoon
I snapped the runners both in the village of Thorpe close to the Peveril of the Peak hotel and also along the Tissington Trail. The trail is superb for offroad adventure and was busy with walkers, runners, cyclists and horses. I guess this is typical and the lack of any motorised traffic makes it safer and a lot more relaxing.
The runners that came down what was called section two of the trail were on their second passage just before Thorpe having turned off the first time to take in the delights of the river path in Dovedale. That would have been my ideal spot for shots but would have meant forgoing photos of the folk on the shorter run which I wasn’t going to do.
Come midday the last few went past me, all still smiling and making the most of this great event and I headed off to get some editing done.
I have a few more of these on the cards this season and am looking forward to the next one and there are a few regulars who are becoming familiar to me and vice versa. It’s all good
To view/buy photos from the day the full set is online chrismeadsphotography
Out on the Trail
ShoottheBikeRace 