Eastern vs Southern Cyclo-cross Challenge

October 19, 2008

Kingston
Race Report by Bob Woods (Organizer)
Jon Safka Photos

Well the Cyclo-cross gods blessed this Cyclo-cross challenge in Kingston with fabulous weather.  It does not get much better than what we had with the weather and the beautiful setting looking out over Lake Ontario with the golden fall leaves on the ground and most still on the trees.  A total of 172 riders came out not for the scenery, but to try the "uber" challenging Kingston course.  The course featured many technical sections of turns, sharp down hill corners to turn back up, both short (3) and long stairs (too many to count), and the "terrace".  The terrace is a series of 2 meter wide short terraces on the side of a slope on the course.  Riders after having gotten off a barrier ran to the top of the terrace and then proceeded across the first terrace, then plunged down to the next one, changing 180 degree direction, then a short ride to the next turn – plunge down the decent to the next terrace, another 180 degree turn – all the away to the bottom.  There always lots of action on this section, and always draws a good crowd of spectators. Yes there was a nice long section of flat riding for the power riders to gain some ground.

Race 1
 

Evan McNeely (J&J Cycles)

The first race of the day saw all categories except the Elite Men and Women and Master A/1 start in a mass start – a new way of starting for the southern series riders.  Starting on the flat, the 92 riders hit the gas and tore off onto the course.  By the time they hit the first barrier (about 500 meters after the start) riders were sorting themselves out.  By the first full lap, riders were feeling the course, with a number already falling on sections of the terrace.  Overall, the Junior Men showed their metal, with Evan McNeely (J&J Cycles Kingston) taking the overall race lead and never relinquishing it, riding just under 9 minutes per lap.  He was chased by a group of other Jr Men from Ottawa: Connor O'Brien, Michael Miller (both Ride With Rendall) and U 17 Men, Karl Hoppner (Independent).  Evan rode away from the small chase group leaving the others to decide 2^nd and 3^rd in the category.  Connor, Michael and Karl rode together until the second last lap, when Connor was able to create a gap that stuck until the finish.

In the Master Men B/2 Chris Olsen had a stellar day riding to a 1 minute 41 sec gap on second place rider Paul O'Blenes and third place Sean Wright, all from Ottawa's Cyclery Team. In the Master Men C/3 Greg Christie (Ride With Rendall) rode well, and was able to put a little time each lap on chaser Colin Funk (Gears and Grind) of Kingston.  Third place went to Paul Miller (Ride With Rendall).  Top Master 3 Southern Series rider was Thomas Hughes in 9^th place.  The Master D category, and all Eastern series affair, featured 4 riders with Carroll Roy (Equipe X-Cycles) from the Eastern Series via Quebec the first place finisher well ahead of the second place finisher, Michael Cooney (Ottawa Bicycle Club)

The Women's category saw great field of 20 riders at the line!  Racing was very competitive, with Cathy Lewis (IT Cycles) from Brockville crossing the line 1:06 a head of Jen Adams (Ottawa Bicycle Club), who was 1:28 ahead of third place Joanne Shuck (Ottawa Bicycle Club).  Top Southern series rider was Michelle Jackman (Coach Chris/Ted Velikonja) in 8^th place. It was terrific to see so many women ride the event.

Photo: Jon Safka
 

The younger categories saw some very spirited rides from Mitchell Slobodian (U13 Male), Lois Betteridge (Ottawa Bicycle Club) (U13 Female), Anne McKinnon (U17 Female) all single entrants to their categories. Karl Hoppner (Independent) rode very well, finishing with the overall leaders and took top U17 Male. Will Etherington (J&J Cycles) from Kingston took 1 place in the U15 Male category.

Race 2 - Elite Men, Elite Women and Master Men A/1

77 riders in the 3 categories started the race.  This included newly bestowed Canadian Bronze medalist Derrick St. John (Stevens Cross); Osmond Bakker (EMD Serono/Stevens) recently back from a top 10 placing at the famous Gloucester Mass. Cross event. Also in the pack was Steve Proulx (EMD Serono/Stevens) new Canadian Master A Silver Medalist, and the ever dangerous Aaron Fillion (Ottawa Bicycle Club). Top riders Andrew Watson (Norco-Evolution Team) and Peter Morse (Jet Fuel Coffee) from Southern Ontario were also on the line, so it was going to be a great race.  The guys did not disappoint the crowd as the pace was furious right of the start.  Osmond and Derrick took a small lead in the first lap and continued to build on it through out the race. However, Andrew Watson was not to be discouraged and at the end was closing the gap he had lost in the middle of the race.  The finish between Osmond and Derrick came down to the final sections of the course as they were neck and neck together.  Then at the last barrier, Derrick's chain jammed a bit and Osmond rode to a small but comfortable victory.  Andrew crossed third narrowing the gap to Derrick to 45 seconds.

Photo: Jon Safka
Derrick St. John (Stevens Cross) follwed by Osmond Bakker (EMD/Serono)


Photo: Jon Safka
Andrew Watson (Norco Evolution)


Senior Men Podium
 

The Elite Women's field was 10 deep with  Natasha Elliot (EMD Sorono/Stevens), Jennifer Stephenson (Ultralink), Anita Lagler (Chain Reaction) and Tricia Spooner (EMD Sorono/Stevens) looking to take the crown.  Natasha, back from very successful racing cross in the US, broke away at the start and never looked back.  She displayed the power and skill that has seen her win a number of races this year. She was the only woman to stay on the same lap as the Elite men.  Second pace went to Tricia Spooner riding one of her best cross races ever.  Jennifer Stephenson rounded out third.  Top Southern rider was Anita who finished a strong fourth.

Photo:Jon Safka
Natasha Elliot (EMD/Serono)


Senior Women Podium
 

The Master Men A/1 was predicted to be very competitive with a strong deep field.  Marc Boudreau (Ride With Rendall) back from Nationals proved to be too strong for David Dermot (True North Cycles) of Toronto and the rest of the field. Marc held on to win with a 40 second gap over David.  Third went to John Fee (Cyclery).

Overall, everyone liked the racing, the super course the great weather and beautiful site. 

Of the 177 riders, 118 were from the Eastern Series, 33 were from the Southern series and 22 were day registrations from the local area.  So in terms of the challenge, based on the table below, the Eastern Series won all the categories but 1 (Novice Men).  I think that the Southern Series riders enjoyed the "Ottawa" style of course and differences and perhaps more will be back next year.