Holme Valley Wheelers Cycling Club

Racing News

Holme Valley Wheelers making their mark around Yorkshire and beyond…The Wheelers have been travelling around Yorkshire, making their mark in a variety of cycling disciplines this weekend.

Ben Kellet travelled to Doncaster to ride the Thurcroft Wheelers 10 mile time trial on the relatively flat but very exposed Hatfield-Woodhouse course. With winds cancelling other events in the county Ben was lucky to ride and in the conditions did a superb personal best, coming in 4th position in a time of 23 minutes and 29 seconds. Ben also won 2nd handicap by improving so much.

In North Yorkshire the 2nd round of the National Mountain Bike Cross Country series was held in Dalby Forest. Over 500 riders from all over the world came to challenge themselves. It was also a test event for bringing the UCI Mountain Bike Cross country World Cup here in 2010. Local Wheeler Oliver Futrell was placed 15th in his race, 2 places higher than in the first round in April at Sherwood Pines. Oliver is still at the bottom of his age group so an excellent performance.

Both Ben and Oliver made their mark in the first 10-mile time trial of the season on the challenging Sovereign course based around Birds Edge. With a great turn out despite windy conditions all the riders were eager to see what they could do on this, one of the hilliest 10-mile courses in the country. Winner was last year’s fastest rider Steve Robinson in a good time of 25:12, but Ben was close behind in a fantastic time of 25:28, over a minute better than he had ridden on this course last year. Oliver was first Junior home in another good time of 26:51, brilliant for a first time over this course. Rachael Mellor led the ladies home by over 2 minutes with a good time for the night of 27:16. Full results

Young Jacob Scott spent his Bank Holiday weekend on the Isle of Man competing in the Youth Tour from the 1st to the 3rd of May. The Tour forms part of the National Youth Circuit Race Series. Jacob competes in the Youth B races and on the Friday evening rode the Douglas Promenade Prologue Time Trial coming in an excellent 4th place. Saturday was the Ellerslie Climb Road Race over 28 km, a gruelling 4 laps starting at the bottom of a very steep hill with the finish line at the top! Jacob did a great ride to come in 7th but loosing 6th spot by only 0.02 of a second. Finally on day 3 was the Ramsey Promenade circuit race over 19.2km where Jacob achieved his best result all weekend winning with a brilliant, well-timed sprint for the line, taking 4 seconds out of his nearest rival. Overall Jacob was 6th, an excellent placing and I am sure will only be improved on by this talented young rider.