Haygarth reels in Henshall for victory
LAST Saturday saw the fifth and final round of the ‘Live in Hope’ cyclo-cross series at Broughton Hall, Skipton, and local off-road riders were heavily involved, either through assisting or taking part in the event.
The recent dry weather resulted in a very fast course with many riders able to fully ride their way out of the previously impassable ‘bomb hole’.
In the morning’s racing, Elsie Haygarth slipped a little in her chase for the final standings and came in 7th in the U14 girl’s class.
The following V50 event turned out to be a cracker of a race with Steve Henshall of Port Sunlight Wheelers sprinting off in an early lead. However, Rossendale’s Dave Haygarth was steadily pulling him back and finally took the lead on the penultimate lap to take a superb win, his first for almost three years.
Elsewhere in the same event, Ramsbottom’s JMC club came in strength with Andy Burgess 25th, Carl Nelson 39th and Barry Downing 51st. Rossendale’s Mick Taylor was 54th and Graham Wright completed his series V70 win in 70th place.
JMC also did well in the V40 event with Phil Simcock taking a fine 5th placing, Green Jersey’s Matt Toman taking 40th in the men’s Senior race.
The weekend’s time trial was a 10 mile event at Tebay, and just 2 Rossendale riders took the long way North with Tony Bowler finishing 39th in a time of 23:25m and 76 year old John Leach completing the course in 29:23m.
The club’s own evening 10 mile TT series starts next Tuesday at Hapton, sign on from 6:30pm with 1st rider off at 7pm. Entry fee is £5 on the line and all classes of bikes are catered for, especially welcome are nonmembers and newcomers wishing to post a time.