Welsh CycloCross League – Rounds 1 and 2

The cycle racing calendar switches to cyclo-cross during the Autumn and Winter months. The Towy Riders cycling club successfully competed in the first two rounds of the Welsh cyclocross league. The first round took place at Cwmbran, in summer like conditions. The ground was firm and the racing, like the weather was red-hot. The flat circuit made the long course a test of speed and endurance.

In the under 8’s Rory Gravelle took the win in the boys after a race long battle with former Towy rider Cian Evans. They were well supported in the under 8’s by Rhys Percey, Ilan Dafydd and Jac Davies.

Awen Roberts battled back from an accident in the under 10 girls, and came close to taking the win, but having to take second place. Other great performances in that age group were Will Davies, Jake Parker, Sean Finucane and Dafydd King.

There were many Towy riders moving up to the under 12’s, where they had to contend with hurdles for the first time. Iolo Dafydd battled hard for fifth in the boys, supported by Sam Smith, Charlie Barnwell, Pearce Doherty, Oliver Percy and Morgan Lloyd. Rosie Finucane showed the under 12 girls a clean pair of wheels taking the win by a big margin. This year many of the Towies moved up to the full adult course.

In the under 14’s, Owain Roberts fought back after twisting his handlebars to take 3rd of Guto Dafydd. These two were supported by Bryn Davies and Cian Roberts. Eluned King made a flying start to the league, mixing it with the top boys to take the win in the under 14 girls, with Emma Finucane just ahead and Dannielle Parker 6th. Ioan Thomas dominated the U16 place. in the under 16 boys. 3rd boys, taking a commanding lead early on, and was never in trouble to take the win with Tomos King enjoying the fast conditions to take a great 5th place.

The following weekend the racing came closer to home, with a new venue at the trotting track in Tairgwaith, Brynamman. Again the weather was fantastic, making for fast conditions. The battle in the under 8s’ continued with Rory Gravelle having to take second place behind Cian Evans this time. Rhys Percey, Jac Davies and Ilan Dafydd also raced fantastically well and did the club proud.

Awen Roberts took another second place in the under 10 girls, with Amy Greatrick and Lona Harding-Jones also riding strongly againgst the boys. A quartet of boys led by Will Davies and supported by Sean Finucane, Sion Jones and Dafydd King flew the flag for the club in the under 10 boys.

In the under 12 boys Iolo Dafydd improved on the previous week, taking fourth, with good gutsy performances by Gruff Daniel, Charlie Barnwell, Pearce Doherty, Tomos Perkins and Morgan Lloyd on the hard fast running course. Racing againgst the boys Rosie Finucane romped home as winner in the under 12 girls, being seventh overall.

A fantastic Towy performance in the under 14 boys saw Owain Roberts take the win with Guto Dafydd second. Cian Roberts, Bryn Davies and Jonathan Walters in his first season of cross were our other riders battling the course. The under 14 girls bettered this performance with a clean sweep of the podium places, Eluned King showed that she is the queen of the cross by flying to victory, with Emma Finucane second and Danni Parker third. Tomos King again rode well to take 4th.

In the senior race Towy Riders and its adult club, TRCC were well represented in a field of some 128 riders. Robyn Davies being our highest placed finisher in 30th in a high quality field.

Results - here The Towy Riders move on to Hereford for the next round before the league comes to Carmarthen for the Towy Riders round at the Showground on Sunday the 19th of October.