Ward is up an age group for new season
MERCIA CC/Lloyd’s Cycles youngster Daniel Ward has moved up an age group for the new cyclo-cross season.
He competed at under-12 in the opening round of the Ridley Lazer West Midlands Cyclo Cross League at Redditch and came a creditable seventh.
Ward started on the front row of the grid in a field in which 49 riders eventually finished.
Spectators were treated to some fine close racing with only small time gaps covering the top riders.
Ryan Oldfield of the host club, Redditch, took the win.
Local rider Christian Aucote rode in the senior men’s race with a mix of seniors, veterans and under-23 riders, coming 22nd out of 123 finishers.
The winner was under-23 rider Toby Barnes.
Leicestershire Cyclo-Cross League also staged their first event of the season at Marston Lodge, near Market Harborough.
Under-14 rider Zak Machin of Lichfield City CC competed strongly in a mixed field including under-16s.
After a long hard race he finished sixth behind winner Ben Marsh of Matlock CC.
Several Mercia riders are also likely to be in action when the biggest of the local leagues, the Notts & Derby, starts today at Markeaton Park.
Mercia’s Ben Startin rode in the Burton & Derby Cycling Association 100-mile time trial, held predominately on the A50 from Etwall.
Strong winds and warm weather took their toll with many withdrawing around the halfway point.
Startin finished in the excellent time of four hours 16 minutes 23seconds.
The winner was Adam Duggleby of Vive Le Velo in the time of 3.29.26, an average speed of more than 28mph.