British Cyclocross Championships Day 1

Oscar Amey, Cat Ferguson, Anna Kay, Cameron Mason, Nick Craig & Grant Johnson champions on day 1 of the British Cyclocross Championships in Scotland on Saturday

British Cyclocross Championships Day 1

British Cycling Press Release

Cameron Mason retained his national championship title on home turf in Falkirk, while Anna Kay secured her first elite title in the female race on the first day of the British National Cyclo-cross Championships. Corran Carrick-Anderson and Ella Maclean Howell secured the under-23 titles, while Cat Ferguson and Oscar Amey took the junior podiums after strong performances. Legend of the sport Nick Craig and Grant Johnson winners of the Vet titles on day 1.

Elite open
Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds) took his second consecutive national title in style after a brilliant solo effort that saw him cross the line a minute ahead of Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing), while Lewis Askey (Groupama-FDJ) came home third after a great battle with under-23 winner Corran Carrick-Anderson (T-Mo Racing).

A rapid start saw the elite open race strung out in the opening lap, with Mein the front runner up ‘The Wall’. Mein was followed closely by Carrick-Anderson and Toby Barnes (Ribble-Verge Sport), with home favourite Mason and under-23 rider Dan Barnes (Team Spectra Cannondale) just behind.

On the second lap, Mein went solo as Mason took it up a gear, overtaking others with ease and keeping the National Trophy winner in his sights. Just after a technical section, Mason made his move to overtake Mein and storm ahead in pole position.

With only a handful of seconds between them, Mein kept calm and continued the chase with Mason in his reach. The two were comfortably ahead of the field, with Carrick-Anderson sitting in third as Askey, Dan Barnes and Simon Wyllie (Team Spectra Cannondale) chased.

Mason racked up his gap to 30 seconds with Mein securely in the place for silver. The closing stages of the race saw Mason maintain his gap on Mein, while Askey caught and overtook Carrick-Anderson in the bronze medal position.

Coming into the finish line, Mason finished one minute and 15 seconds ahead of Mein, shouting in relief to take his second national title – all the more special on home turf. North East rider Mein came in second with a smile, while Askey secured the third spot on the podium after a fantastic chase.

Speaking after his win, Mason said: “What a crazy day! I really felt the pressure today and just wanted to do what I knew I could do. I know how to ride this course in order to get the most out of myself. My plan was to kind of let the race unfold and not go too deep, too early. I’ve raced on this course for the last 10 years or so, but I am just happy to execute the plan and get it done. That’s exactly why I ride a bike – the feeling of winning is just so awesome.”

Carrick-Anderson came home fourth to see the Scotsman take the under-23 title, while Wyllie’s sixth place saw him take the silver, and despite dropping his chain three times, Dan Barnes was able to take the bronze with a seventh place finish.

Elite female
Anna Kay (Cyclocross Reds) showed pure dominance from start to finish in the elite female race to take her first ever elite national title, while Ella Maclean Howell’s (Hope Factory Racing) second place also saw her win the under-23 title as Grace Inglis (Muckle CC) finished in a brilliant bronze position.

Kay was off the front from the gun and led the pack by a huge margin within the first lap. Junior rider Imogen Wolff (Trinity Racing), Millie Couzens (Fenix-Deceuninck), Maclean Howell and Inglis chasing, and Nikki Brammeier just off the back of them.

Kay continued to push on her lead, attacking ahead alone as Couzens, Maclean Howell and Inglis trailed 50 seconds behind, and Brammeier 20 seconds behind them.

The Cyclocross Reds rider remained calm and composed in the final two laps, while a chasing Inglis started to put the power down, but Maclean Howell counterattacked and managed to get away as the solo chasing rider to Kay. The bell lap saw Kay maintain a 45 second gap as Maclean Howell continued to battle on alone behind, while Inglis and Couzens were neck-and-neck for the bronze.

Kay raised her arms in elation as she crossed the finish line 50 seconds ahead of Maclean Howell to take the national title. A valiant battle for Maclean Howell saw her take second, while a last lap spurt from Inglis secured the bronze.

Speaking after her win, Kay said: “I still don’t believe it. It’s my first elite title in any discipline, so I’m really happy. I knew it was going to be fast and I just felt good on the first lap, so I thought, ‘yeah, why not just go?’ It’s such a good for spectators and it’s good for us as riders because we get support everywhere.”

Maclean Howell’s second place was enough to secure her the under-23 victory, with a fourth place from Couzens allowed her to take the silver. Wolff’s commendable ride saw her finish in seventh place to round off the under-23 podium in bronze.

Junior female
World superstar in the junior ranks Cat Ferguson (Hope Tech Factory Racing) had a sensational ride in the junior female race, taking the win almost four minutes ahead of silver medallist Alice Colling (Shibden CC) as Esther Wong (Shibden CC) took the bronze.

Ferguson fired off the start line, stringing out the bunch from the off to put the pressure on the pace. Summiting ‘The Wall’ for the first time, Ferguson was already 45 seconds up on the field, with National Trophy Series winner Colling and teammate Wong chasing behind, with the two working together well.

On the second lap, Colling pushed on to form a gap ahead of Wong, while Ferguson extended her lead to over a minute. Ferguson continued to put the pressure on, gaining a two-minute advantage over Colling, who maintained the silver medal position from a chasing Wong.

Coming into the bell lap, Ferguson was lapping the riders at the back and had almost three minutes on Colling, and took it to the limit to cross the line three minutes and 47 seconds ahead of second place.

Ferguson crossed the line with a bow, asserting her dominance with clear enjoyment, while Colling took a sensational silver medal and Wong finished in third, 30 seconds back after a strong race.

After her podium presentation, Ferguson said: “To come away with a title today is really special. It’s quite a challenging course physically and technically, so I wanted to just lead from the start and to see what gap I could get and just extend it throughout the race. In that final lap, I just wanted to enjoy it and take in the crowd. There were so many people out there supporting me today and I’m just really grateful.”

Junior Men
Oscar Amey (GKR Racing) reflected his talent from the National Trophy Series to take the national title ahead of defending champion Sebastian Grindley (Trinity Racing), while his brother Alfie Amey (GKR Racing) took home the bronze.

The junior open race kicked off the weekend, with the peloton firing off the start line. Oscar, Alfie and Grindley were the clear favourites, escaping off the front in the opening lap of the race.

Grindley was spearheading the front of the race, but a slow bike dismount saw the Amey brothers make a big attack, but it wasn’t enough to get rid of the Trinity rider. With two laps remaining, Grindley and Oscar pushed on with Alfie unable to match the pace, taking the bell lap 10 seconds behind. The three were well ahead of the rest of the field with the medal positions practically decided.

Oscar put the power down in the final lap, pushing on to forge a gap on Grindley, taking the technical sections with ease and clocking up the seconds on his lead.

The GKR Racing rider crossed the line to take the win 10 seconds ahead of Grindley to claim the national title, while Alfie finished third 30 seconds behind him.

Oscar said: “We were all kind of attacking each other for most of the race, and just on that last lap, I managed to get away from the technical section and just hold it to the finish. After Alfie made a mistake on The Wall, I tried to wait for him a bit, but Seb attacked on that section, so it just worked out really well.”

Veterans (50/60 category)
In the veteran over-50 open race, Nicholas Craig (SCOTT Racing) was dominant from start to finish, firing off the start line with Ian Taylor (Shibden CC) hot on his wheel, with Nicholas Whitley (Team Enable – M.I.Racing) chasing behind. On the second lap, Craig pushed on the pace, and formed a gap which he continued to extend with pure power, crossing the line over a minute ahead of Taylor to claim the national title. Taylor took the silver, while Whitley finished almost 20 seconds behind to round off the podium.

Grant Johnson also had a dominant day, lapping the field in the veteran over-60 open race. Johnson stormed to the win ahead of Simon Hime (Finchley Racing Team) and John McGrath (Team TMC – Strada Wheels).

MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Cameron Mason Cyclocross Reds OS
2 Thomas Mein Hope Factory Racing OS
3 Lewis Askey GROUPAMA – FDJ OS
4 Corran Carrick-Anderson T-Mo Racing OU23
5 Toby Barnes Ribble – Verge Sport OS
6 Simon Wyllie Team Spectra Cannondale OU23
7 Daniel Barnes Team Spectra Cannondale OU23
8 Max Greensill Hope Factory Racing OU23
9 Lewis Martin Studio Velo OS
10 Callum Laborde Wheelbase CabTech Castelli OU23
11 Joe Coukham Ribble – Verge Sport OS
12 Joseph Smith Wheelbase CabTech Castelli OU23
13 Flynn Gregory Wheelbase CabTech Castelli OU23
14 Jenson Young Ribble – Verge Sport OS
15 Rory McGuire Leslie Bike Shop-Bikers Boutique OU23
16 Tom Couzens Montezuma’s Race Team OS
17 Scott Fisher Hope Tech Factory Racing OU23
18 Huw Buck Jones Wales Racing Academy OU23
19 Giles Drake Wheelbase CabTech Castelli OS
20 James Swadling NSR – Nigel Smith Racing OS
21 Grant Ferguson Hope Factory Racing OS
22 Finlay Taylor Royal Albert CC OU23
23 Oliver Halliday Unattached OU23
24 Steven James Hope Factory Racing OS
25 Neil Scott Deeside Thistle CC OS
26 Otto Chilton Derby CC Webuycycle Huub RT OU23
27 William Weatherill Hope Factory Racing OS
28 Jake Edwards Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club OU23
29 Charles Fletcher Unattached OS
30 Thomas Crapper Magspeed Racing OU23
31 Pete Matthews Vanelli-Project Go OS
32 Grant Scott Ronde Cycling Club OS
33 Sam Daniels Cycle Club Ashwell (CCA) OU23
34 Oscar Taylor Shibden Cycling Club OU23
35 Richard McDonald Vanelli-Project Go OS
36 Barnaby Walkingshaw Unattached OU23
37 Ian Lee Royal Air Force CA OS
38 Giorgio Coppola Four4th OS
39 Samuel Holder Liverpool Century RC OS
40 James Elves Reifen Racing OU23
41 Charlie Mactear WestSide Coaching 74 OS
42 William Dykes Spokes Racing Team OU23
43 Jackie Chan Team Andrew Allan Architecture OS
44 Andrew Turner University of Aberdeen OU23
45 Craig Owen Lettuce Club OS
46 Glyndwr Griffiths WestSide Coaching 75 OS
47 Robin Godden Hope Factory Racing OS
48 Bruce Johnston Pedal Power Loughborough OS
49 Sebastian Bacon Wolverhampton Wheelers OS
50 Jamie Madden Unattached OS
51 Allan Clark Unattached OS
52 John MacLeod Lettuce Club OS
53 Leo Law Lakes RC OU23
54 David Falconer Musselburgh RCC OS
55 Adam Wells Rockingham Forest Whls OS

WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS
1 Anna Kay Cyclocross Reds FS
2 Ella Maclean-Howell Hope Tech Factory Racing FU23
3 Grace Inglis Muckle Cycle Club FS
4 Millie Couzens Fenix-Deceuninck FU23
5 Nikki Brammeier Unattached FS
6 Alderney Baker Team Empella FS
7 Imogen Wolff Trinity Racing Cross FU23
8 Elena Day Team Spectra Cannondale FU23
9 Hope Inglis Brother UK-Orientation FU23
10 Xan Crees Team Spectra Cannondale FS
11 Anna Flynn Team Spectra Cannondale FU23
12 Kacey Eyeington Derwentside CC FU23
13 Ruby James Hope Factory Racing FS
14 Sophie Thackray DAS – Handsling Bikes FS
15 Ishbel Strathdee Unattached FS
16 Lotta Mansfield Montezuma’s Race Team FU23
17 Rebecca Preece Hope Factory Racing FS
18 Amy Perryman TEKKERZ CC FS
19 Kate Eedy Team Empella FS
20 Victoria Peel Hope Factory Racing FS
21 Beatrix Kiehlmann Royal Albert CC FU23
22 Emma Jane Hornsby LDN-Academy FS
23 Bryony Halcrow Unattached FS
24 Cassandra Mackintosh Unattached FS
25 Heather Robinson Hetton Hawks Cycling Club FU23
26 Amy Mourne Shibden Cycling Club FU23
27 Amy Drysdale Army Cycling Union FS
28 Natasha Reddy Team Empella FS
29 Kate Mactear WestSide Coaching 73 FS
30 Isla Hedley Unattached FU23
31 Lauren Johnston Hervelo Cycling FS
32 Freya Whiteside Shibden Cycling Club FU23
33 Connie Hayes AWOL- O’Shea FS
34 Shona Mosley JRC-INTERFLON Race Team FU23
35 Phoebe Skinner Derwentside CC FU23
36 Sarah Toms Royal Air Force CA FS
37 Lettie McDonald Vanelli-Project Go FS

JUNIOR WOMEN
1 Cat Ferguson Hope Tech Factory Racing
2 Alice Colling Shibden Cycling Club
3 Esther Wong Shibden Cycling Club
4 Arabella Blackburn Deeside Thistle CC
5 Ellie Mitchinson Montezuma’s Race Team
6 Anwen Nesham Cardiff JIF
7 Tulsi Bakrania Montezuma’s Race Team
8 Isabel Mayes Shibden Cycling Club
9 Zoe Parker Solihull CC
10 Mia Rutterford Montezuma’s Race Team
11 Rebecca Woodvine RR23 – runandride.co.uk
12 Amelia Staunton Brother UK-Orientation
13 Faye Williams ROTOR Race Team
14 Tia Taylor Shibden Cycling Club
15 Amelia Cleathro Reifen Racing
16 Layla Bradbrook Marsh Tracks Racing – Trek
17 Rebecca Gascoyne Pedalon.co.uk
18 Eleina McFadden Inspire Racing Adaston Scape
19 Harriet Hendry Deeside Thistle CC
20 Anna Patterson Ignite
21 Iona Simcock Team JMC
22 Ellie Harrison Clifton CC

JUNIOR MEN
1 Oscar Amey GKR Racing
2 Sebastian Grindley Trinity Racing Cross
3 Alfie Amey GKR Racing
4 Innes McDonald Scotia Offroad Race Team
5 Lewis Tinsley BCC Race Team
6 Alex Hart Mid Shropshire Wheelers
7 Luke Gibson 4T+ Cyclopark
8 Joel Hurt Beeston Cycling Club
9 Mak Larkin trainSharp Development Team
10 Ben Coppola SCOTT Racing
11 Ruan Vorster The Cycling Academy
12 Spencer Corder ROTOR Race Team
13 Seth Jackson Acrog-Tormans
14 Nathaniel Henderson Hetton Hawks Cycling Club
15 Declan Oldham Hope Tech Factory Racing
16 Rowan Baxter Huddersfield Star Wheelers
17 Thomas Lewis ROTOR Race Team
18 Freddie Dixon Hope Tech Factory Racing
19 Charlie Hoyle Shibden Cycling Club
20 Luca Bednarek Kirklees Cycling Academy
21 Matthew Bell Shibden Cycling Club
22 Callum Evans Team Pau
23 Ben Scott Racing Metro 15
24 Milo McIntosh The Cycling Academy
25 Isaac Oliver Sheffield Youth Cycling Club
26 Magnus Denwood Harrogate Nova Race Team
27 Ben Allan Peebles CC
28 Oscar Saxton Huddersfield Star Wheelers
29 Oliver Moss Clifton CC
30 Felix Earth Ribble rechrg Race Team
31 Dillon Air Ilkeston Cycle Club
32 Oliver Barker Shibden Cycling Club
33 Cian Howard Team RL360 Isle Of Man
34 Sam Budd CTW Racing
35 Feargus Pearson Peebles CC
36 Benjamin Massey West Lothian Clarion CC
37 Bilal Hardaker Inspire Racing Adaston Scape
38 Murray Gray ROTOR Race Team
39 Lucas Elwell Inspire Racing Adaston Scape
40 Henry O’Brien Scotia Offroad Race Team
41 George Cranston Barnesbury CC
42 Sam Beattie Scotia Offroad Race Team
43 Oliver Oldham Barrow Central Wheelers
44 Matthew McCleery Dunfermline CC
45 Callum Rushworth Inspire Racing Adaston Scape
46 Rory Youngman Annan Youth Cycling Club

… Continued after the advert …

VET 50 MEN
1 Nicholas Craig SCOTT Racing
2 Ian Taylor Shibden Cycling Club
3 Nicholas Whitley Team Enable – M.I.Racing
4 Morgan Donnelly Kendal Cycle Club
5 Mike Simpson Beeline Bicycles RT
6 Stuart Marshall Unattached
7 Pete Middleton www.Zepnat.com RT Lazer
8 Andrew Brindle Horwich CC
9 Simon Hale Army Cycling Union
10 Darren Atkins Team Enable – M.I.Racing
11 Chris Ames Newport Phoenix CC
12 Nicholas Popham Team Enable – M.I.Racing
13 Philip Simcock Team JMC
14 David Haygarth Wheelbase CabTech Castelli
15 Douglas Cameron Unattached
16 Daniel Alexander www.Zepnat.com RT Lazer
17 Andrew Peace Shibden Cycling Club
18 Phillip Craker Barrow Central Wheelers
19 Brian Johnson Reifen Racing
20 Phil Mowbray Unattached
22 Bill Kay Reifen Racing
23 Douglas Sharp Forth Velo
24 Keith Law Lakes RC
25 Kevin Knox ViCiOUS VELO
26 Nigel Dykes Unattached
27 Mark Wood Barrow Central Wheelers
28 Paul Nutton Shibden Cycling Club
29 Andrew Johnston Clifton CC
30 James Melville Glasgow United CC
31 Phil Oliver Rutland CC
32 John Elwell www.Zepnat.com RT Lazer
33 Neil Mansfield Grity Race Team
34 Jim Davies Kendal Cycle Club
35 Stefan Macina Shibden Cycling Club
37 Andrew Whiteside Shibden Cycling Club
39 Paul O’Brien Team HUP
40 Neil Raitt Dundee Thistle RC
41 Steve Nicholson Dunfermline CC
44 Chris Spencer Bioracer UK RT
45 Tim Kershaw Auchencrow Thistle
49 Nigel Holl RT23
50 Wayne Jones ROTOR Race Team
51 Timothy Peters Horsham Cycling
52 Norman Blissett trainSharp Club
53 Andy Collins Mid Shropshire Wheelers
54 Mark Saxton Huddersfield Star Wheelers
57 Craig Tabiner Port Sunlight Wheelers
58 Robert Wimble Drogon Racing Team
59 Charles Gray Manchester Wheelers Club
62 Norman Gillan Squadra Porcini
63 Rene Coupek Fietsclub Balerno
66 Peter Goy Louth Cycle Centre RT
67 Julian Howell Gala Cycling Club
68 Warren Mason Unattached
69 Andrew Cook Trek Sheffield Fox Valley
70 Ian Kendall Liverpool Century RC
72 Paul McQueen Hoddom Velo
73 Simon Titmuss Ronde Cycling Club
75 Alastair Ross Squadra Porcini
76 Philip Wilkinson Rockingham Forest Whls
77 Calvin Price Dunfermline CC
79 Andrew Strathdee Nevis Cycles Racing Team
80 Benjamin Box NSP Cycling Team
82 Peter Houston Fietsclub Balerno
83 Graham Wilson Royal Albert CC
85 Paul Bailey Glasgow Green Cycle Club
89 Edward Sarmiento www.cyclocrossrider.com
90 Fraser Tait Ayr Roads Cycling Club
91 Daniel Doncaster Cycle Club Ashwell (CCA)
93 David Hogg Stirling Bike Club
94 Joseph Fee Deeside Thistle CC
97 Stuart Stenton Falkirk Bicycle Club
103 Stephen Noble North East BMX Club
106 Allan Maclean VC Glasgow South

VET 60 MEN
1 Grant Johnson Unattached
2 Simon Hime Finchley Racing Team
3 John McGrath Team TMC – Strada Wheels
4 Glenn Coltman Pedal Power Loughborough
5 Mick Style Element Cycling Team
6 Gary Hobbs Stroud Valley Velos
7 Robin Murray Buxton CC Sett Valley Cycles
8 Paul Dickens Rockingham Forest Whls
9 Anthony Matthews Paul Milnes Bradford Olympic
10 Jan Kardasz Fibrax Wrexham Roads Club
11 Christopher White Fife Century RC
12 Michael Davies Pedal Power Loughborough
13 Peter Harris Pearce Cycles RT
14 Brian Gough Southport CC
15 Peter Golding West Suffolk Wheelers
16 David Robinson Louth Cycle Centre RT
17 Sean Beswick www.Zepnat.com RT Lazer
18 Clifford Featherstone Unattached
19 Jeremy Toy Dundee Wheelers CC
20 Peter Busby Team Enable – M.I.Racing
21 Mark Fayers Richmond Cycling Club
22 Colin Shearer Musselburgh RCC
23 Steven Jenkyn Pedal Power Loughborough
24 Martin Eadon Ride Coventry
25 Graham Gauld Deeside Thistle CC
26 Mervyn Walker Orkney Cycling Club
27 Chris Watts Matlock CC
28 Michael Speirs Kendal Cycle Club
29 Paul Brown Pedal Power Loughborough
30 Thomas McNeish Royal Albert CC
31 Robert Regan Falkirk Bicycle Club
32 John Newton