150+ CYCLISTS COMPETE IN FINAL ROUND OF CROSS COUNTRY MOUNTAIN BIKE SERIES AT CHEVERTON

The Wightlink-Wight Mountain Cycle Race Team hosted the final round of the Southern Cross Country Mountain Bike (XC MTB) Series at Cheverton Farm on Sunday, 14th July. Over 150 riders – many travelling from the mainland and even as far as Guernsey – signed up to take on the challenging new course, and they weren’t disappointed. Team members Ewan Cook, Nicholas Earley, Alfie Haydon and Nadia Lele, who have been on top form throughout the Series were looking to secure their overall standings and put in solid performances to take well-earned podiums in their categories on the day. Nick was first off and rode a steady race to take 3rd place on the day in the Open Sport category, which secured him a 2nd overall in the Series. Oliver Nolan was also in action and had a terrific race, finishing just behind his team mate to take 4th place. Nick said:

“It’s been a great series, and I’ll settle for 2nd overall this year. Thanks to team sponsors Wightlink and Wight Mountain for their continued support”

Nadia – who has been on fantastic form this season – took another win in the Ladies’ Sport category and the Overall Series title. Nadia said:

“Luckily, I could just about cope with the pace set by Becky Cook after the start, and even after taking the lead at the end of the first lap, I had to race really hard. On a course like this, anything can happen – fast downhills and a fair bit of climbing. I really enjoyed the series, and I hope next year there will be more women racing.”

Finley Manser-Grundy, competing in the U10 category, went into the final round of the Southern XC gridded 5th on his 6th birthday and for the first time racing on home soil, with lots of friends and family cheering. Finley had a strong start protecting his gridded position, but the first 2 to 3 laps were fast, and he had to work hard to hold off the bigger wheeled bikes by making the most of the climb and technical corners. Finley settled into a good pace, slowly building a strong gap on the group behind and managed to finish 3rd overall, which is his first podium in XC. After the race, he said

“I did well by keeping the same pattern each lap and focusing on my gearing”.

Marno Marsh and Henrietta Thomson – who were riding their first ever U10 MTB XC race – had a great time, and Marno is looking forward to competing again on his new bike in team colours.. Ewan and Alfie in the Open Junior category, and Allan Cook in the Grand Vet category, were in the last races of the day. Allan started well but a mechanical scuppered his plans early on in the race and he had to retire. Ewan – who has stepped up on the podium in every round of the series – took another win and the Series Overall win. Alfie dug in and took 2nd place, which secured him overall 2nd place in the series. Ewan said:

“I had a good start, and I just powered through, trying to pace myself for the big field climb and managed to gap the other riders until the end. It was a brilliant course, and the win made all the hard work and late nights working on it with the team worthwhile.”

Alfie said:

“I had a terrible start, but I managed to overtake several riders in the first 3 corners to recover from last place and back onto Ewan’s wheel, but he was so strong on the long drag of a climb in the field that I just couldn’t follow him, so I sat in and concentrated on holding on to 2nd to finish as that was what I needed to do to secure 2nd in the series.”

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Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT are proud supporters of Mountbatten IOW and added another £300 from the event entry fees to their fund raising target for this worthy cause.