It’s been a busy summer so far for St Ives Cycling Club with members continuing to race and win, but the last week has been especially hectic, with the club organising three races in eight days.
On July 27th the club hosted the Northampton and District Cycle Association 25 mile Time Trial on the B1043 at Sawtry. With the club providing all the marshalls no club members took part in the event, which was won by Stephen Colbert of Arbis Colbert Cycles in a time of 55 minutes 59 seconds.
On Thursday August 1st the club hosted the Northants. Cycle Racing Association and their handicap road race for 2nd, 3rd and 4th Category riders, on a course taking in the B1043 between Sawtry and Alconbury Hill, Monks Wood and Woodwalton. Four groups of riders are set off in groups according to ability and all came together on the penultimate of the 5 laps. With about 3 miles to the finish at the top of Alconbury Hill, 17 year old Keira McVitty attacked from the bunch and managed to stay clear to take the win by a wheel, with Luke Hattersley the top St Ives rider, in 4th place. It was a great win for Kiera saying, “I don’t know how I did that!” after the race.
The biggest event of the week was held at Hinchingbrooke Park in Huntingdon and was the Round 6 of the Mud, Sweat and Gears Mountain Bike series. Very nearly 300 riders competed across the categories in what was an excellent day of racing for all. After being involved in a three way battle throughout the race, it was Stephen James (Dig Deep Coaching – Pactimo) won the Elite Men’s race, 12 seconds ahead of his rivals. Laura Sampson (Gipping RT) won the Master Female race, but from a St Ives point of view, the star of the day was once again Molly Williams, who not only won the Youth Female category, but whose lap times made her the second fastest woman of the whole event.
Other notable performances from club riders were Charlotte Bamford (Youth), Holly Hoy (Juvenile), Sophie Saberton (U12), Sam Trotter (U12), Bea Pauley (U9) and Sapphire Curtis (U9) all grabbing podium places. Emma Saberton (Juvenile) and Samantha Harding (U12) took top 10 finishes in their races.
Tracey Ibbett, who, in conjunction with the MSG team, organised the day, said, “It was an excellent event with brilliant racing throughout the categories and age groups. I’d like to thank all the riders who made the event so entertaining, the marshalls and staff who made it happen, but also the staff and visitors at Hinchingbrooke Country Park who have hosted us this and the last few years.”
