Great to have this race report from Alex Hardwicke who was racing at Misterton on Sunday along with all the rest of her family.
It had all the features veterans tell us are classic cyclocross… mud, rain, a course filled with technical challenges. Not for the faint hearted but the assembled Whizz Kids and WVCC reps gave it our best and survived to tell the tale!
First up, the U9s kicked off in a downpour but they all did a fabulous job on the as yet unsullied course. Daniel Hardwicke was sole Whizz Kids rep and did a solid job coming back in 9th, but still the last rider not to be lapped.
U12s didn’t get any better weather and the course had started to muddy up but that didn’t prevent some very quick laps and good battles amongst a strong field. Some great Whizz Kids rides … Mea Moore was 2nd in U12 girls, Charlie Hardwicke came 6th and Rory Harrison 9th in U12 Boys. Really impressed by the determination shown by all.
Next up the juniors and novices. The weather wasn’t smiling on them either but still a great race from all the WVCC reps … Jamie Kershaw was 2nd in U16 boys, Ruby Isaac was 3rd U16 Girls, Florence Switzer was 3rd U14 Girls, and Aubrey Elmer (U14), Daniel Holton (U14) and Richard Hardwicke (Novices) also got round to complete the sunshine yellow line up.
The sun actually came out for the women’s race … although a bit late to help the course, which was by that time well and truly mulched up. Despite a fall apiece, all three WVCC riders (Nicola Traynor, Alex Hardwicke, Claire Harrison) made it round a full three laps and across the finish line, although I’m not going to lie, as awed as I was by the speed of the leading ladies, I have also never been so relieved to be lapped.
Congratulations to the WVCC men who also turned out. There were too many creditable performances to mention you all by name but special mentions to Fraser Ayears who came third in the senior race (8 years after riding his first race at Misterton as a Whizz Kid?) and to Dominic Switzer who won the junior race.
You can find loads of great photos from the event on the LCXL facebook page: (9) Leicestershire Cyclocross League | Facebook
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