The sun was shining over Chelmsford last week for the latest installment of the Eastern Cross League which, yet again, attracted a good turnout from the Rovers contingent. First up were the U8s and U10s with some battling performances from Noah and Jacob Wilson, as well as Reuben and Zachary Peacock. Elizabeth Whall followed up last week’s win in the U8 Girls’ race with a fine second place, while Alex Derrick and James Clarke both had excellent finishes in the top ten with eighth and fourth respectively.
We were also well represented in the U12 race with an all Lee Valley/Colchester Rovers front row. The racing was fast and furious from the outset with George Collins producing the ride of the day, reeling the leader in half way through the race and for a moment we thought we may have a Rovers win on our hands! However, George paid for his effort but still finished in a strong third place, with Isaac Starmer in sixth and William Smith in eighth. Matilda Challinor produced another gutsy ride to finish fourth in the Girls’ competition.
There were mixed fortunes in the Youth race as Dexter Budgen-Jones and Nate Gordon both succumbed to mechanical issues, but Reece Steadman again ground out a sterling performance (even adding a ‘bonus’ lap at the end!) and Zoe Swainston battled through the hot conditions to finish second Youth Girl. Yet again Max Avery continued to show how strong he is this year (despite a gruelling road race at Brands Hatch the day before) and was just twenty seconds outside a top ten finish in twelfth place.
Peter Hall and John Letch both rode strongly in the Vet 50s, while the Rovers quartet of Jonathan Whall, Greg Andrews, Simon Wilson and Mike Pears battled it out between themselves to finish within a couple of minutes of each other. Watch this space for a season-long Rovers battle for supremacy!
In the headline event, Dan Hall again rode imperiously to nab a strong eleventh place overall and third Junior in his first year at this level.