{"id":15392,"title":"Sussex Mud and Cyclocross","description":"Reflections on a very muddy UK National Cyclocross Championships, held at Ardingly, West Sussex.","content":"

Published in<\/strong>: CYCLOCROSS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Reflections on a very muddy UK National Cyclocross Championships, held at Ardingly, West Sussex. \"\"In Sussex fields<\/strong><\/p>

A Sussex lad<\/h3>

Born in Malaysia, registered as an Irish citizen and not officially British until age seven, if I can claim a home it's West Sussex. The quarter-century I've spent living in the county, riding its winding lanes and muddy paths has inspired a fondness for its beauty and quaint ways. The gentle rolling unsophistication of the Southdowns, the ox-bow lakes and meandering river of the Arun valley and the bustling port of Shoreham.\"\"
Sussex rider David Bone emerges from the quarry<\/strong><\/p>

Throughout this article, I will refer to Sussex. It's a place that no longer exists, having been cleaved in two in 1974 when the ceremonial counties of West and East Sussex were born. We in the West tend to look upon the East with disdain for all its Brighton gaudiness and ungodliness. Still, we're happy to claim their football team when the sun shines on them.\"\" As real as Piltdown Man - the Sussex dinosaurs kept the crowd amused<\/strong><\/p>

I'll be honest, there's not a lot of fame associated with West Sussex. We like it that way. Although it's the sunniest county in the UK, home to a world-renowned theatre in Chichester and scene of the 1982 World Cycling Championships<\/a>. At least, unlike East Sussex's infamous Piltdown Man, we don't have to make up our history.\"\"
West Sussex - The sunniest county in the UK<\/strong><\/p>

If there's anything I love as much as the Sussex countryside, it's cyclocross. Combining the two doubles the pleasure. The first UK National Cyclocross Championships organised in West Sussex were held just outside the tranquil village of Ardingly. Promoted by cyclocross stalwart Dougie Fox and his hardworking crew from the Crawley Wheelers.\"\" Appropriately named Bedlam Brewery<\/strong><\/p>

Would the weekend deliver on its promise? It certainly did. We enjoyed enthralling racing, a superbly organised and friendly event, and even some Sussex beer. Personally, it served up memories that I will cherish long after I have hung my own wheels up.<\/p>

Desperate pursuit<\/h3>

The two protagonists had been locked in combat. The race will be decided in mere seconds. The lone leader has a vulnerable advantage as he tackles the final stretch of treacherous slime. His face is an image of effort and desperate hope. Behind, his pursuer is racked with pain. He will not concede. His only chance, he knows, is for disaster to befall his adversary.\"\"
Thomas Mein closes on the National title<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

Finally, the last few agonising metres are over. Thomas Mein (Torman Circus Cyclocross Team) can rest and savour his victory in the Elite Men's National Cyclocross Championships. \"\"All eyes were on pre-race favourite Cameron Mason<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

His defeated rival, Cameron Mason (Trinity), can only reflect on what might have been. The final race of the 2022 National Cyclocross Championships has delivered an epic duel between two world-class riders.<\/p>

Challenge<\/h3>

But for many hopeful competitors at the National Cyclocross Championships, they have no expectations of glory. For them, it's enough to challenge themselves. Success is avoiding being lapped, to best a friend or local rival or just finishing without mishap. The world's best lineup alongside the Sunday rider. These are the most democratic of championships.
\"\"
A competitor gets to know the Sussex mud personally<\/strong><\/p>

This year's championships, delayed from 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, provided ample opportunity to test their physical and technical skills against the mud-swathed course at the South of England Showground. \"\"Pit crews and water were a precious commodity at Ardingly<\/strong><\/p>

No less an authority than the Southdowns National Park claims there were once at least thirty different words for mud in the Sussex dialect. Ardingly did its best to provide the majority of them.<\/p>

Proper cyclocross conditions<\/h3>

An unusually dry cyclocross season in the UK was followed by weeks of rain leading up to Christmas. Contestants in other sports might have greeted such precipitation with dismay but not hardened cyclocross fans. \"\"Hattie Harnden dives into a Sussex slough<\/strong><\/p>

As the National Championships grew closer riders talked with glee about \"proper cross\" which translates into mud. Lots of it. Or, as we might say in Sussex \"slab\", the thickest type of mud. And so it came to pass.<\/p>

It never rains in California but it pours in Sussex<\/h3>

Saturday's masters' and youth races were held in ever-increasing rain. Combined with a biting wind, it provided testing conditions for contestants and spectators alike. At least the mud, or 'stug', was relatively benign, being of a more watery composition. \"\"The climb out of the quarry<\/strong><\/p>

Riders sought out the fast fading grass wherever they could. Riding at the extremities of the course marking in search of elusive grip.\"\" There were many fallers in the treacherous bomb-hole<\/strong><\/p>

At least the bomb-hole descent was less skittery in the absence of any real ruts and the bikes weren't constantly clogging with mud. It still demanded huge amounts of watts to make achingly slow progress.<\/p>

Sunday sun<\/h3>

Sunday's races were greeted with sun and only the gentlest of breezes. Unhurriedly, the mud dried, although the little remaining grass remained deeply boggy. Slowly it turned, in Sussex terminology, from stug to stodge and then the dreaded slub. Mud that clings like a limpet to bikes and riders yet remains horribly greasy. \"\"Sussex slub<\/strong><\/p>

Junior races<\/h3>

The earlier women's junior race followed the form book with a clear win for Ella Maclean-Howell (Tofauti Everyone Active). Pre-race favourite for the junior men's race, Nathan Smith, had a mechanical issue and abandoned. Maclean-Howell's teammate Joseph Smith took the title to make it a double weekend of celebration for the team.<\/p>

Elite women's race<\/h3>

The Elite Women's Race was expected by many to be a coronation procession for Belgian-based Anna Kay (Star Casino CX Team). \"\"Elite women's favourite Anna Kay<\/strong><\/p>

In the absence of potential rivals Zoe Backstedt, Josie Nelson and Amira Mellor<\/a>, who were all Covid isolating, it looked like the title was hers for the taking. She'd been close twice before and, despite a mid-season injury, Anna has been the British queen on the international circuit.\"\" Hattie Harnden seemed at home on the mud<\/strong><\/p>

Anna's popular in the cyclocross fraternity and support for her was evident during the race and whilst practising on the course with her Dad Bill, who'd raced on the Saturday.<\/p>

Reigning champion Hattie Harnden (Trek Factory Racing CX) had only started her European cyclocross season in December and had looked way off the form required for victory. However, her results had improved dramatically in a short period of time.\"\"
Millie Couzens pushes hard<\/strong><\/p>

Millie Couzens<\/a> (Crelan-IKO), who'd recently won her first elite UCI race, was expected to challenge. But once she pulled out after two laps, it was left to a three-rider race off between Kay, Harnden and Annie Last (Scott Racing). Anna soon established the expected lead and looked at first as if she'd achieve the anticipated result.\"\" Hattie Harnden used her power in the mud<\/strong><\/p>

The race quickly developed into a battle of contrasting styles. Anna Kay maintaining a low gear appeared to glide across the glistening mud. \"\"Running skills were at a premium<\/strong><\/p>

Behind, Harnden adopted a more brutish-looking technique. Using sheer willpower and a bigger gear to force her way through the slurry. It was noticeable too that she and the third-placed Annie Last were running more of the sections.\"\" Amy Perryman was part of team winners Team Montezuma's<\/strong><\/p>

Slowly, inexorably Harnden overhauled Kay and once ahead started to extend her lead to take the victory. Once again Kay was to be denied the title that one day will surely be hers. To make matters worse, a surprising Annie Last passed her too. It was hard not to feel disappointment for Kay.\"\" An exhausted Christina Wiejak<\/strong><\/p>

Fourth place went to relative cyclocross novice Christina Wiejak (Saint Piran) who produced the ride of her life. As riders crossed the line, there was a mixture of emotions on display. Relief at finishing. Satisfaction at not being lapped. Tears of disappointment as well as those of joy.\"\" Alderney Baker (left) is congratulated by Natasha Reddy<\/strong><\/p>

None more so perhaps than those of Alderney Baker<\/a> (Team Empella). Her unexpected bronze medal in the Under-23 category left her overwhelmed. Few seemed happier than her best friend Natasha Reddy (Bianchi Dama) who congratulated her as soon as she'd crossed the line.<\/p>

Elite men's race<\/h3>

All too soon, the final event of the weekend was upon us. At the front Mason and Mein set a blistering pace. They started fast and then went quicker. For a while, it looked like the Trinity Racing rider would prove strongest but Thomas Mein wasn't going to give up without a struggle.\"\" Cameron Mason's challenge faded in the twilight<\/strong><\/p>

The pace was so frantic that with each lap more and more riders were withdrawn. The UCI's 80% time rule can be a cruel one. Lapped and pulled riders gave a collective impression of shock and weariness as their races ended early. \"\"One of the many riders to fall foul of the 80% rule<\/strong><\/p>

Eventually, a slight mistake by Cameron Mason was enough of a sliver of an opportunity for Mein. It was all he needed and he pressed home his advantage forcefully.<\/p>

\"\"Patrick Hough looks relieved to have stopped<\/strong><\/p>

Behind, Joseph Blackmore (Roto Race Team) came through to take the bronze medal. Only thirty-one of the seventy-plus starters were allowed to complete the full race distance, such had been the brutal pace set by Mein and Mason.\"\" Shock and weariness are written across this rider's face<\/strong>

\"\"Team Montezuma's had two riders in the top ten<\/strong>

\"\"
Muc-off was much needed at the end of the day<\/strong><\/p>

Results<\/h3>

Elite Men<\/strong><\/p>

1 Thomas Mein Tormans Cyclo Cross Team
2 Cameron Mason TRINITY Road Racing (U23)
3 Joseph Blackmore ROTOR Race Team (U23)
4 Toby Barnes SCHAMEL P\/B KLOSTER (U23)
5 Corran Carrick-Anderson T-Mo Racing (U23)
6 Tom Couzens Montezuma\u2019s Race Team (U23)<\/p>

Elite Women<\/strong><\/p>

1 Harriet Harnden Trek Factory Racing CX (U23)
2 Annie Last SCOTT Racing
3 Anna Kay StarCasino Team
4 Christina Wiejak Saint Piran
5 Xan Crees Spectra Wiggle p\/b Vitus (U23)
6 Ceris Styler BackstedtBikePerformance
7 Alderney Baker Team Empella Cyclo-Cross (U23)<\/p>

Junior Women<\/strong><\/p>

1 Ella Maclean-Howell Tofauti Everyone Active
2 Elizabeth McKinnon Derwentside CC
3 Emily Carrick-Anderson T-Mo Racing
4 Freya Whiteside PH-MAS \u2013 Paul Milnes Cycles
5 Hope Inglis Kent Velo Youth<\/p>

Junior Men<\/p>

1 Joseph Smith Tofauti Everyone Active
2 Ben Askey BackstedtBikePerformance
3 Max Greensill Hope Factory Racing
4 Bjoern Koerdt Shibden Cycling Club
5 Oliver Peace Shibden Cycling Club
6 Callum Laborde Tofauti Everyone Active<\/p>

Tim Costello, 14 Jan 2022.<\/p>

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