Event: Norwich ABC 125th Anniversary Cross   Add this to my calendar (Outlook etc.)

Date: Sunday, 7 November 2004

Promoter: Norwich ABC

Contact: Darrel Glover 01953 455772(h) 07050 038048(m) darrel@drgbodyshop.co.uk

Location: New Eccles Hall School, Eccles, Nr Attleborough, Norfolk. Click here for a map. Click the grey arrows at the bottom right of the map to see a detailed version.

Report: A beautiful autumnal day at Eccles tempted a good field for a fine day’s racing. Congratulations are due to Darrel Glover and his team for excellent facilities and planning, and to Norwich ABC on their 125th Anniversary.

In the Under 12’s race Hugo Robinson stormed round in cyclonic fashion, with only Andrew Philips avoiding being lapped. Cara put in yet another strong performance to be first girl. All competitors are commended for excellent sporting efforts. It’s nice to see that Connor Barry can now get round the course without help from Daddy. Paul Barry is also pleased about that.

The youth race gave Carl Harris his fourth win of the season, thus nudging him ahead of Andrew Griffiths in the league. Peter Hargreaves was making time up on Carl all the way through the final laps, but didn’t quite have the oomph to grab the win. Luke Newby had his best ride of the season so far, and Dale Jackson continued his run of finding the most unpleasant place to fall, landing himself in a nettle patch. Mandy Cook wrapped up the ladies race. Kerrick Newstead put in a good effort for the Junior race, but it wasn’t enough to catch an on-form James Jackson. Kerrick suffered from carrying too much hair round the course.

The battle of the vets continues to twist and turn. Today Mark Farrow took the lead from the first lap. Try as he might, Dave Copland was off the pace and couldn’t catch him. Donald MacGregor got the Senior Vets (that’s “quite old”) and it was good to see Tim Butler put in a very respectable performance after a long break from racing while recovering from injury. John Terrell was also having a good day judging by his smile at the end. That doesn’t mean much though, as John is usually smiling. Bruce Robinson made an easy win of the Grand Vets (that’s “very old”). New boy on the block, Clive Sparkes, showed old timer Chris Gooch how to win the Master Vet category (that’s “seriously old”) and Brian Foster moaned and groaned his way to Super Vet winner (that’s “older than you’d care to think about”).

In the Senior race Carl Davey continues the sparkling form he has maintained all season. Carls Davey and Thompson and Shaun Aldous played cat and mouse for the first four laps, but then Carl Davey pulled away for another emphatic win with his special tongue to chin pose for the finish line. For his second ever ‘cross race, Matt Spillman shows that triathletes can do it in style. Neil Stevens is a welcome returner to the league after a few weeks of changing nappy duty. He was a bit down on past form, no doubt due to the sleepless nights.

Results:

Back to fixture list