NECCA Round 7, Hetton Lyons Country Park

The final round of the NECCA Cyclo Cross League was battled out at Hetton Lyons this weekend. The weather was actually really good for once, bright skys and not too cold, although it was blowing a gale.

The course was a good one, some really fun sections and no massive hills to run up (or swamps to run through). I discovered before the race that I was actually lying in 2nd place in the mens Sportif League for this series, which I was really pleased with, so today my task was to beat the person in front of me in the league - this I managed. For me, the race was spent working my way up through the riders ahead, giving myself targets of where I was going to pass the next person, and then once that was done, where to pass the next. I finished 1st placed woman.

Although my brakes and my gears were not working today...(who needs them anyway?) I feel as though my bike handling skills have improved since the start of the season, I was still loosing some time to other riders on technical sections, but not half a mile, so less demoralising. I am pleased with my cyclo cross season, I won the majority of races I took part in, and did well in the NECCA league - being 1st woman everytime I rode, even though I missed the start of the season due to road racing. Last year I rode a couple of the end of season Cross races, including the British Universities Sports Association Championships, and my results this year are miles ahead. Last season I was happy if one man finished behind me, whereas this year I have managed to lap some of the men, and never came in last place.

Cyclo Cross Season Overview
1. NECCL Round 3 - 2nd
2. NECCL Round 4 - 1st
3. NECCL Round 5 - 2nd
4. NECCA Round 1 - 1st
5. NECCL Round 6 (TLI National Championships) - 2nd
6. NECCL Round 7 - 3rd
7. NECCA Round 3 - 1st
8. NW League - 1st
9. NECCA Round 6 - 1st
10. NECCA Round 7 - 1st

- In the TLI Cyclo Cross Leauge I was unable to compete in sufficient number of rounds to gain a place in the overall league.

- In the North East Cyclo Cross Association League I was 1st woman overall in the league, coming in first place every time I rode, and 3rd in the Sportif League overall.

- I only rode one round of the North West Cyclo Cross League in which I was 1st woman.