2007 News
Chris and Nick shine in Lincolnshire, Dec 16.
The flying Barnes boys made a very successful foray into Lincolnshire at the weekend with Chris taking the honours in the Cottingham Coureurs U12 event and Nicholas first U14, and a super second overall, in the Youth event. Steve eased back a little after recent weeks to 6th Vet and 10th overall. Full result.
Cyclo-cross National Trophy Race round 4, December10 .
Steve Barnes continued his impressive rise back to the top level in difficult conditions at Peel Park Bradford, moving up two places in the Vets category since the previous National Trophy event on Nov 18, to finish 7th against the country's leading riders. Nick Barnes too had a race on his hands in the Youth category, on going that suited the older and stronger riders, but put in a typical gutsy performance to finish 21st in a field of 48 riders. Full result, report and photos.
North of England Cyclo-cross Championships, 2 Dec.
Super performances alround by Chris, Nick and Steve Barnes against the North's top cyclo-cross riders at Bogart Hole Clough, Manchester. Full result and report.
BLING BLING Brendan.
Brendan Kennedy, our clubmate in Dublin, may have been off-air for a while due to work and computer problems but he's not been off the bike. The roadies in Ireland are a tough breed and are still at full speed well into December. Read Bren's blow by blow account of the Swords CC Christmas Road Race. Full report.
Barnes is back.
Yorkshire Points Cyclo-cross final round 8 results, November 25.
Those who knew Steve Barnes Mk1 also knew that it was only a matter of time before the comeback kid started winning again. After a notable 9th place ahead of most of his Yorkshire rivals in last week's National Trophy event at Mallory Park, Leicestershire it was clear the form was coming and in the final round of the Yorkshire Points series at Myrtle Park, Bingley he led from the gun to win the Vets event in convincing style. Not bad for a "fattie". Nick Barnes too was on top form winning the under 14s category and an excellent fifth overall in the Youth race whilst Chris Barnes again had to settle for an, albeit superb, second behind his arch-rival, East Bradford's Billy Harding, in the under 12s. Full Result, report and photos.
Second for Seb. Yorkshire under 12s Championship, 18 Nov.
Yorkshire Points Cyclo-cross round 7 results, November 11.
Steve Barnes was in "impressive" form in the Condor RC promoted round 7 of the Yorkshire points Cyclo-cross series taking third place in the closely contested Vets competition. Quality performances also by Nick and Chris Barnes and Sebastian and Garry Marsh in their respective categories. Full result, report and photos.
YCF and Club Hillclimb, 4 November, result.
The somewhat 'out on a limb' YCF Combined Clubs Hillclimb could only attract a disappointing total of 13 entries, of whom only 6 actually made it to the start line in perfect dry, sunny (if a tad cool) conditions on the East Chevin climb out of Otley. Only two 'Wheelers' contested the club medals on offer despite a decent pre-race entry of five. Maybe the rest were at the nearby Car Boot Sale whose associated traffic congestion will no doubt cause a rethink on the course, and perhaps the date, for next year, for it would be a shame to lose this late season event which always attracts plenty of spectators and offers the usual YCF high standard of organisation and refreshments. Full Result.
'Jonathan Noble Memorial' Cyclo-cross Sunday 21 October. Round-up and Results.
The Seacroft Wheelers flagship event, round 6 of the Yorkshire Points Competition, enjoyed a day of glorious autumn sunshine and ideal conditions on a testing field, tracks and woodlands course at Temple Newsam Park. A day of racing including events for Youth, Veterans/Women, Under 12s and the Seniors/Juniors race for the 'Jonathan Noble Memorial Trophy' attracted large entries including most of the north's top cyclo-cross talent.
The always popular, and fiercely competitive, under 12s race was won by East Bradford CC's Billy Harding ahead of our own Chris Barnes and Seb Marsh, with Hannah Saville (NMYS) fastest girl in 4th place. The event was particularly well supported by enthusiastic youngsters of a wide range of ages which bodes well for the future of the sport. Tom Moses (SSC-CycleSport) came out best of the under 16's in the Youth Event ahead of rival Paul Young (Team JD Cycles) with Seacroft's Nick Barnes in 7th place (2nd under 14s), just ahead of the first young lady Hannah Shenton of Team Chance in 8th.
A quality field of over 60 riders for the Vets/Ladies race resulted in a win for Triangle RT's Richard Binks over VC Lincoln's Graham Clark and Steve Barron with last year's winner, teamate Dave Stevens, having a 'jour sans' back in 5th. Veteran Lynn Bland of Norton Wheelers led home the Ladies race.
The main event of the day for the 'Jonathan Noble Memorial Trophy' attracted another quality field of 60 riders but despite the best efforts of some of Yorkshire's top 'Cross stars and the strains of 'On Ilkla Moor Bah't at' from Frank's flute it was Lancashire's Lewis Craven (Wheelbase/Gore), pictured left, who took the prize with an emphatic victory over Jamie Sharp (York Cycleworks) and previous winner Chris Young (Team JD Cycles), with Rob Watson (Paul Milnes RT) the fastest Junior in 20th place.
Expertly organised by Steve Barnes the only low point in an otherwise very successful day was an unfortunate freak accident to a competitor warming up for the main event resulting in a broken leg and a trip to hospital. The Club sends its best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Organiser Steve passes on his " thanks to all the members and friends of the club who turned out and without whose help the event could not be staged. Including Mike Farthing and Phil Norfolk - Mike who always does the ground work but due to back problems was on the side line for the day (take it easy Mike, we need you back to full strength as soon as possible). And Phil who never stopped from Saturday afternoon when we started marking out the course, to being second last to leave on Sunday afternoon. To Andrew Barnes and his boss for the very professional looking signs and banners. Not forgetting all who contributed to the very welcome refreshments and to Audrey, Frank and Steve Noble for their support and presentation of the prizes." Full result & Photos. More Photos.
Time trial season draws to a close .
With a late start to the season, and other distractions, Mike and Barbara Penrice will be the first to admit they haven't really got going this year, but nevertheless have been the club's most prominent representatives in Open Time Trials. The tandem twosome are pictured in full flight, competitive as ever, in their final outing of the current campaign in the Lincoln Wheelers event on the Saxilby course, Sunday 14 October. Full pics.
Yorkshire Points Cyclo-cross round 5 results, October 14
Seacroft riders were to the fore once again against the area's top off-road competition in the Try Cycling event at Huddersfield this weekend. Chris Barnes and Seb Marsh took a superb second and third respectively in the under 12's race whilst Nick Barnes (4th overall) was the fastest under 14 and only beaten by older riders in the Youth race. Steve Barnes and Garry Marsh contested the Vets event with Steve finishing just off the podium in 4th after a ding dong battle for the places. Full result, report and photos.
Barnestorming weekend at the Norton Trophy Races.
Team Barnes were in super form at the Norton Trophy Cyclo-cross Races at Graves Park, Sheffield this weekend (7 Oct). Nick opened the scoring by romping home to win the Youth Event. Not to be outdone Chris promptly demolished the field in the Under 12s race in reply. So the pressure was firmly on dad Steve, still recovering from a broken rib, not to let the side down in the main event of the day. And he didn't disappoint winning the Vets section and 6th overall. Full Result
"Flamborough 104" clubrun, Sunday 2 Sept.
Eight riders tackled the annual long distance run, this year from Osgodby to the coast at Flamborough Head. Despite a gloomy weather forecast it remained dry and warm throughout if somewhat cloudy. With a strong westerly blowing behind, the outward journey was fast and easy with the 'human sat-nav' Mike Penrice guiding the bunch through the lanes and avoiding main roads wherever possible. There was 'the devil to pay' on the return journey, climbing onto the Wolds straight into the wind, but it all made for a most enjoyable and memorable ride. Nick Barnes, completing his first 'century' ride with ease, looked the freshest of the pack as we rolled wearily back into Osgodby after 104 miles for welcome tea and chocolate cake at the Penrices. Photos.
'Jonathan Noble' Hilly 11, 30 Aug. Result.
Well that's it folks, Seacroft Wheelers Evening Events over for another season with the 'Jonathan Noble Memorial' Hilly 11 around the Thorner circuit. Sixteen riders, including three new Seacroft members Roy Cannon, Giles Dumont and Richard Barker, found times were somewhat subdued by a stiff nor' westerly along the long drag up Thorner Lane on an otherwise warm and dry evening. Full result here.
Many thanks to the members and friends of the club who turned out to help with the running of this and other evening events throughout the season.
Seacroft Wheelers Evening Events, Three-up 10, 23 Aug, result.
The Three-up 10 was won by the Bob Jackson RT Two-up team of Alan Dawson and Nick Griffiths after a high level meeting of officials generously waived a five minute late start penalty. The first Three man team of Paul Kirk, Dave Meakin and Nigel Baldwin, also of Bob Jackson RT, accepted defeat graciously no doubt in the interests of inter club harmony. Pete McGowen (Leeds St Christophers) put in a rare but welcome appearance to take an excellent third teamed with Yorkshire RC's Steve Smith. Full result.
Road Races round-up. 12 August.
The 2007 Seacroft Wheelers promotion under British Cycling rules provided a superb day of Road Races on the Bishop Wood circuit near Selby on Sunday 12 August. Excellent weather, remaining dry and sunny during the events, but with a testing wind on the exposed parts of the circuit, resulted in some aggressive racing, splitting the bunches and rewarding riders willing to go on the attack.
Robert Watkinson (Dinnington RC) perfectly judged a long sprint from a small group to best Steve Henson (In Gear Quickvit RT) on the line in the morning race of 62km for 3/4/J categories.
In the longer afternoon race of 106km, for Elites/1/2/3 cats, York Cycleworks' Alastair Kay (left) outfoxed a long-standing break of four riders to finish alone with enough time to coast to the line raising his arms in victory after making a decisive move on the final lap. Full result on the BC website.
Expertly and efficiently organised by Paul Edmondson the events ran like clockwork with the help of available members and friends of the club. It was good to see former members Bernard, Barbara and Claire Marsden, we wish Bernard good luck in his next venture the 1200km (yes, 745 miles) in 90 hours Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur!. Also second claim member and 'Humber Bridge Ride' veteran Roy Winterburn, no doubt looking forward to our next long distance run. Another Audax specialist Roy Cannon has only been in touch with the club a week but turned out to help, bringing along his friend Andrew, a farmer from Nottinghamshire, who thought he was coming up for a well earned Sunday off but found himself on a corner waving a red flag at the Yorkshire traffic. And of course Katherine and Eileen Edmondson, who together with Barbara Penrice laid on the magnificent refreshments, which is why everybody really turns up in the first place.
Seacroft Wheelers Evening Events, Two-up 10, 16 Aug, result.
After the Cyclesense Tadcaster League ended for the season the first of three Seacroft Wheelers Thursday Evening Events kicked off with a two-up 10 on the 'sporting' Tadcaster-Sherburn course. 8 teams and one solo rider made for a very competitive event despite cool conditions and a blustery wind with the pairing of Bob Jackson RT's Alan Dawson and Team Swift's Simon Beldon just pipping the 'Yorkies' duo of John Colman and Brian Jennings. Full result.
CycleSense Tadcaster Evening TT League Final Results. The CycleSense sponsored Tadcaster Evening League 2007 finished as it started with a 10 mile event on the 'rolling' Tadcaster-Sherburn course. 27 riders faced the timekeeper in the hope of improving their final overall positions in the fiercely contested season long competition. Week by week results are available on the CycleSense website where the final overall result will be published shortly.
The 'new format' Cyclesense League has been another great success in its second season,
catering for all ages and abilities and attracting some of the region's top testers. Thanks to our League sponsor Cyclesense of Tadcaster, the best bike shop in the area, please support them when you can. Thanks also due to Mike Penrice for planning and co-ordinating the League and to Barbara who has the onerous task of keeping score and compiling the weekly results.
Cyclo-cross Summer Series 2007 final result.
Nick Barnes wins Under 14s, Chris Barnes 3rd, Seb Marsh 5th. Steve takes 3rd in Over 14s.
Seacroft Wheelers riders dominated the Under 14s category of the 7 event TLI Yorkshire Cyclo-cross Summer Series with Nick Barnes (right) an emphatic overall winner after taking first place in no less than five of the seven qualifying rounds to finish with the maximum attainable 100 points. Although competing against many older riders Chris Barnes took a superb third place and Sebastian Marsh a really excellent fifth overall against an entry of 27 competitors. In the Over 14s the 'Blast from the Past' Steve Barnes began to show his true class to take third overall in a series supported by 90 riders including Garry Marsh making a confident debut in 38th place . A great result for the club lads and what a promising warm-up for the coming winter season! Full results and final standings on the Yorkshire Cyclo-cross website.
Dave rides the Tour.
Following a warm up in the recent White Rose Classic our Sportive specialist Dave Smith tackled the 'British Cyclosportive' based on the 2007 Tour de France stage from Greenwich to Canterbury. Held just a week before the pro's start 'the big lap', over 4000 riders faced a full gamut of weather conditions along the tough 120 mile course with Dave finishing well within the top half of the field in 7h 57m including pitstops - an epic in anybody's book and all on natural talent and little training! 'Bravo' Dave. BC report here. Dave's account here.
Dave's Classic ride.
Dave Smith (left) was the only Wheeler to ride this year's White Rose Classic on Sunday 11 June, fast becoming the region's most popular cyclo-sportive. 800 riders faced a choice of routes from 80 to 185km seeking out some of the Yorkshire Dales' most spectacular countryside and formidable climbs. Dave completed the 80k route in 3h 23m 58s to achieve the Silver Standard award on a 'parcours' that included the cruel 1 in 4 ascent of Langbar up to Beamsley Beacon within the last five miles. Good training for the 120 mile British Tour de France Cyclo-sportive Dave tackles in two weeks time! Dave can be seen (left) psyching out the opposition on Norwood Edge in picture 3 of the BC report here. Full result, more pics and info on the WRC website.
Win for Chris Barnes.
British Cycling Youth Circuit Race Series.
Saturday 9th June 2007
The club's youngest racer Chris Barnes (right) outsprinted a field of 15 riders to take a superb win in the under 10's event in the latest round of the British Cycling Youth circuit race series held at Preston. In a much larger bunch of 30 riders Nicholas Barnes was in the front of the action throughout and took an excellent 9th in the finish. Full Report, Photos and Results. More photos of Chris in the under 10's event, and Nick in the under 14's.
Brendan's blog.
Keep up to date with Brendan Kennedy, our clubmate competing regularly in the 'Seacroft' colours in Ireland. Brendan sends regular reports of his exploits, mainly in and around the Dublin area, in both road races and time trials. The bold Brendan also reports much interest in the club among the local 'peloton' and sends his best wishes to all members. Full report.
Great Selby Bike Ride photos.
An excellent Seacroft Wheelers turn-out in support of the Great Selby Bike Ride on May 13th which is run annually for local charities. In weather which was a great improvement over the downpour of 2006 the group completed the 45 mile course with ease despite Mike and Barbara appearing to have turned up without a bike! Full pics here
Rock 'n Roll Stars Following excellent performances in the B.S.C.A. National cyclo-cross Champs held at Lincoln on February 11th (details in Spring newsletter) the versatile Barnes boys turned their hand to roller racing in the Yorkshire and North of England Championships on 25 February. In this, now not so common, but very exciting and skillful discipline both Chris (left) and Nick (right) won their respective age categories to add to their ever growing 'palmarès'.
Seacroft Wheelers proposal gains CTT acceptance
A proposed amendment to Cycling Time Trials regulations piloted by Mike and Barbara Penrice and supported by the club has been accepted by the National Committee. Now organisers of events of 50 miles and above will have greater flexibility in placing a seperate Tandem event within an overall start sheet, resulting in benefits to both organisers and Tandem competitors.
Cycle lane lunacy
Thanks to Steve for finding this hilarious website. Or perhaps not so funny if you consider some of the serious cycling safety issues raised and the fact that it is our money these councils are spending!
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