Red Rose Olympic Scorton Scramble Cyclo Cross

Yesterday Dave, Ali and I went down to Scorton for a round of the North Western League Cyclo Cross. The weather forecast looked promising (heavy rain and strong winds) and turned out to be correct. The turnout was really good, and I don't think I have ever been to a Cross race that has a loud speaker, and a tent for signing on, so it was all rather posh. Unfortunately I had forgotten any money for signing on, and they wouldn't take a cheque, so after running round frantically trying to find enough small change to enter (Thank you to the lady who lent..okay, gave me 50p), I didn't have much time to warm up.

The lap consisted of a really sticky field which we rode down the middle of, a lane with big puddles (which turned out to be useful during the race for attempted cleaning of bike), a cobbled section through a yard, and then mud. Just mud...mud, mud and more mud. Oh, and the section towards the end of the lap that I forgot about...it was like really deep, watery, mud. The practice lap was hilarious, and I didn't really see what merits the winner was going to need...power for getting through the sticky bits? Good technical ability? The foresight to bring a snorkel and flippers? Anyway, it was going to be an interesting ride.

I was pleased with my start, I was well up in the field as we went around the first sticky grass section, and then down the lane. The first muddy section was ride able, although I found myself slipping around as though riding on ice. After this there were some really deep bogs, where everyone was running (reduced to more of a bog jog by the end), so run I did, and carried my bike to try and stop it from getting too covered in mud and clogged up for the clearer bits of the course. There was also the worry that it might completely disappear if I let it go.

All in all there was probably about half a mile of running in each lap, which was sapping towards the end of the race. I was feeling good, and confident through the mud where it was possible to ride, and pleased to hear the commentator say I was in first place by the end of the first lap (I was unsure where the other women were).

I was only lapped twice by Ali and Dave, which for such a short lap was actually quite good going! I maintained my first place for the whole race, so a really good result and a lot of fun. Afterwards the lake next the course turned out to be handy to clean off some of the thick mud which had clagged itself, eerrm, everywhere. My bike also got a dip. Definitely glad I raced, I mean, they charge a fortune for mud masks in some spas don't they? My skin will be glowing...

Ali and Dave also did really well, with a 2nd overall for Dave and a 3rd for Ali, so a really good outing for the team. They will be adding a report of their own to let you know how their race was.