Bronze medal winner Harry back on the road

CYCLING COLUMN

HARRY Birchill made a solid return to competition when he was the first Junior rider and third overall in the Western Cyclo-Cross League meeting at Superleaze near Bristol.

Newton Abbot's 17-year-old Youth Olympic Games bronze medallist mixed it with leading UK seniors Joe Griffiths (TORQ Performance) and Chris Rothwell (BW Cycling) before giving his best to them, but Birchill did lose traction at a key stage of the race and he had the satisfaction of recording the fastest lap.

It was the first race for the Mid-Devon Cycling Club rider since his Games exploits in Buenos Aires a month ago, and he now moves on to this weekend's National Trophy Series round in York.

Mid-Devon's veteran Cathy Kilburn had a fine result at Bristol - she was the first Lady and will line up with the best in the country at York.

Also heading north is clubmate Robin Delve, who currently leads the Trophy Over-60s competition.

Delve took in the South-West CX Series round at Falmouth Bike Park and had a spot of bad luck - one of his tyres came off the rim and ended his race there.

But Delve still feels he is in good shape to defend his World Masters title in Mol, Belgium, the following weekend (December 1-2).

The Falmouth round of the

Go to

to nomination your cycling hero or team for the Devon & Cornwall Sports Awards, which will be held in Plymouth in January. Nominations have to be in by this coming Sunday – so the time to act is now SW League was a 'home' venue for Cornishman Steve Lampier (Saint Piran) and the former international pro road racer took full advantage with his third series victory there.

But behind Lampier, Mid-Devon's 17-year-old Tristan Davies was second overall with fellow Junior Oliver Allen (Pilgrim Flyers) third.

The Mid-Devon's younger riders again showed up well.

Matthew Holmes won the Under-10 group, with Jacob Start fourth and Bayley Woodger seventh.

Callum Start was third in the Under-16 class, while Solomon Drury and Ed Selwood were third and fourth in the Under-14 category.