A TRIP to Brighton for the British Schools National Mountain Bike Championships awaited Ryan Oldfield and Sulli Berry – with both leading the National Best All Rounder competition in their respective age groups and their nearest rivals also taking part – so it was all to race for.
The tough course awaiting both Redditch Road & Path Cycling Club riders provided a mixture of single track, steep hills and grassland, with only short opportunities to overtake.
Oldfield was off first in the U7s age group. After a good start, an early fall meant he had to push on and catch the leaders without overcooking it and falling again. Oldfield managed to bide his time and pass the leader on the last lap, sprinting to become national champion.
Berry had a fantastic start on a slippery course, leaving only two other riders in contention after the first lap. A fall by Halesowen’s Joe Brookes, who was second, put paid to his race.
Charles Hart from Jersey managed to get back up to Berry who was slowed on the single track by back markers and Hart managed to get the jump on Berry up the next hill.
Berry raced cleverly and tracked Hart for a lap, waiting for a wide section before he blasted past with two laps remaining, finally finishing over half a lap ahead for a comfortable win and a second national title in as many months.
A DOZEN Redditch Road & Path Cycling Club members took part in the 30th edition of the Hell of the North Cotswolds off road sportive on April 13.
The course features a mass start of 1,250 riders, a police escort through the village of Winchcombe and over 3,000ft of climbing on the shortest (50k) of three ride lengths.
Gareth Richardson, Terry Richardson and James Strain tackled the 100k course with over 5,000ft of climbing, Joe Geehan the 75k course and Mike Matthews John and Alex Potts, Tony and Stuart Crossland, Paul and Fraser Salkeld, Paul and Sulli Berry all completed the 50k course.
The ride is considered one of the hardest early season tests with nigh on five hours in the saddle.
In other events, Saturday saw round three of the West Midland Youth Circuit Racing League hosted by Stratford at Victoria Park in Leamington and the first outing for the new-look Redditch club kit.
Ryan Oldfield and Joseph Turnbull both performed well in a fast and furious U8s race to finish 5th and 7th respectively. Sulli Berry rode a brave race in the U10s category, trying to take the initiative with two laps to go, but he could not get away from the pack and had to settle for 4th in the ensuing sprint finish.
Hannah Turnbull and Isla Mason showed progress in the U12s race, with Hannah sticking to the wheel of her competitors to claim a well earned 3rd place.
Will Gorner was next up in the U14s race which always proves to be very fast. In his first race he finished in an encouraging 16th place, whilst Annie Lindsay and Joe Geehan also gained league points in the U14s girls and U16s boys races.
