The Results are IN!
Updated: 15 hours ago
Weekend Racing Round-Up
What a weekend!
Cyclocross was happening across the North West, Wales and the West Midlands, while the North Wales Go-Ride mountain bike series reached the end of its season at Nant BH.
One of the things I enjoy about these round-ups is seeing the same riders cropping up in completely different places and disciplines. Some we've coached, some we'll be working with soon, others we've raced alongside for years, and there are always a few names that are simply worth keeping an eye on.
This isn't meant to be every result from every race. It's a look at some of the performances, riders and stories that caught our eye.
And there was plenty to talk about this weekend.
North West – Horwich Humdinger
We were at Leverhulme Park in Bolton for Round 3 of the North West Cyclo-Cross League and the wonderfully named Horwich Humdinger.
The U12 racing gave us a really entertaining battle at the front, with Isaac Spencer, Ethan and Megan Smith all involved and the order changing as the race developed.
Although the boys and girls race together on course, their classifications are separate. Isaac Spencer took the boys' win, with Ethan finishing second, while Megan Smith won the girls' race after another excellent ride.
For Ethan, there were plenty of positives to take from second. The speed was there, but this was also one of those races where the smaller things — carrying speed through corners, positioning and getting the power down afterwards — really mattered.
That's exactly what these races are for. You don't learn those things riding around on your own.
There were good results further up the age groups too, with Charlotte Brighouse finishing third, Isla McAuliffe fourth in the U14 girls, and Cass Kendall 12th in the U14 boys.
A very good day's racing at Leverhulme.
West Midlands – plenty to celebrate at Baggeridge
Over at Baggeridge Country Park, Round 5 of the West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League produced plenty of results worth talking about.
Isaac Vickery took the win, continuing an excellent run of form. Isaac is, quite simply, a phenomenal young racer. If he isn't on your radar already, he probably should be.
Matthew Russell was also racing. Matthew is a super rider and, just as importantly, a genuinely lovely young man who we've had the pleasure of coaching.
There was plenty happening in the girls' racing too. Harriet Cosnett of Wolverhampton Wheelers finished seventh, followed by Elsie Thornton of Wyre Forest CRC. A couple of places further back came Isla Furness of Newport Shropshire CC, with Matilda Cosnett just behind.
Wolverhampton is a club we've always enjoyed being around — great people, a great atmosphere and, of course, a rather nice velodrome. Isla is pretty handy on one of those too.
In the U14 boys, Danny Davies continued a fantastic start to his first year in the category with second place, just ahead of Josh Arthur.
Nathan Edmonds finished sixth and will be joining us at our next session, so we're looking forward to seeing him there. Joshua Tranter and Henry Keene were also in action.
One result that made us particularly happy came in the U12 girls, where Chloe Coton took the win, with Persephone Emuss and Charlotte Furness also right up there.
Lots of good racing from a lot of good young riders.
Welsh Cyclocross League – Foxy Cross
A few more riders we know were competing at Round 3 of the Welsh Cyclocross League at Foxy Cross.
We weren't there ourselves, so I'm not going to pretend to give you a corner-by-corner account of a race I didn't see, but there were certainly some performances worth mentioning.
In the U12s, Alexander Hadfield of Maindy Flyers finished fourth. Alexander is already well known for his road and velodrome racing, and we're looking forward to having him along at a session later in October.
In the U12 girls, Lois Linett took a fantastic second place. She'll also be coming along to train with us soon.
Macsen Harris of Cwmcarn Paragon Cycling Club finished sixth, while further up the age groups Daisy Duffield won the U14 girls and Jess Duffield took the U16 girls victory.
Some very nice results from some very good young riders.
Nant BH – the North Wales Go-Ride MTB finale
Cyclocross wasn’t the only thing happening.
At Nant BH, the North Wales Go-Ride mountain bike series reached the end of its season, with some great racing and the overall series positions being decided.
In the girls’ races, Emily Reid won both the U10 race and the U10 series, while Darcey Theobald took the U12 race win and wrapped up the U12 series as well.
In the boys’ overall standings, Ben Reid took the series win, with Sam Macpherson second and Ethan Said third.
Ethan was disappointed not to be there for the final round — racers always want to race — but third overall is still a result to be pleased with.
One of the things I really like about the North Wales Go-Ride MTB series is the skills element. We want young riders who can go quickly, of course, but we also want riders who can actually handle a bike — balance, braking, line choice, body position and confidence all matter.
Speed is important, but so is being a genuinely skilled cyclist. And from what I’ve seen, plenty of the kids enjoy the skills section just as much as the racing.
Speed is important, but so is being a genuinely skilled cyclist. From what I've seen, plenty of the kids enjoy the skills section just as much as the racing.
Further afield – Theo Carter
A little further afield, Theo Carter deserves a mention after taking second in Round 3 of his cyclocross league following another fantastic effort.
Theo is one of those riders who's difficult to pigeonhole because he's simply a very good bike racer. Cyclocross, road, velodrome — he'll have a go at the lot — and he was back racing at Assen again this year too.
He's also become a really good friend and rival of Ethan's, which is one of my favourite things about youth racing.
They can chat, laugh and be mates before the race, then the whistle goes and they're absolutely determined to beat each other.
Competitive as can be — but in exactly the right way.
What's coming next?
There isn't much time to wash the mud off the bikes before we start again.
I'd like this to become a regular part of the round-up, with a quick look at what's coming next across the North West, North Wales, the Welsh league, the National Trophy and the West Midlands.
North West
The North West Cyclo-Cross League heads to Towneley Park, Burnley, on Sunday 11 October for Round 4.
The course usually offers a mixture of grass, gravel and woodland, and it's another great venue for a proper autumn cyclocross race.
North Wales
Closer to home, North Wales Cyclocross Round 3 is at Mold Leisure Centre on Sunday 11 October.
North Wales CX is a brilliant place to give cyclocross a go, whether you're an experienced racer or turning up for your first event.
Wales – Welsh Cyclocross League
For riders travelling further into Wales, the Welsh Cyclocross League continues with Round 4 at Builth Wells on Sunday 1 November.
There are more rounds to follow later in the season, including Mountain View Bike Park and Pembrey.
UK National Trophy
Then there's the big one.
The 2026/27 Lloyds Cyclo-cross National Trophy Series begins at Moorways in Derby on 17–18 October.
From there, the series heads to Pontypool, Cyclopark, Shrewsbury and finally Peel Park in Bradford.
National Trophy racing begins at U14, but for younger riders it's still well worth going along to watch. It's a great opportunity to see the standard, walk the course, watch some of Britain's best cyclocross racers and get a feel for what racing at that level looks like.
West Midlands
The West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League moves to Princethorpe College on Sunday 11 October for Round 6, hosted by Royal Leamington Spa CC.
Be part of the round-up
I'd really like these posts to grow into a proper community racing round-up.
So if you raced, your child raced, your club had a great weekend, or there's somebody you think deserves a mention, send it over.
And it absolutely doesn't have to be a win.
A first race, a first finish, a podium, a comeback from injury, a personal best, a brilliant ride in horrible conditions, somebody moving up an age category and finding their feet, or simply a performance they're really proud of — they're all worth celebrating.
Send me the rider's name, category, event, result and a little bit of the story behind it, and I'll do my best to include it in the nex racing round-up.
If your club has a race coming up that you think should be included in the What's Coming Next? section, send that over too.
The more riders, parents, coaches and clubs get involved, the more this can become a genuine picture of what's happening in our cycling community every weekend.
and afterwards we'll see whose names have appeared on the results sheets.
Have a great ride.
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