A BIG crowd were entertained as Huddersfield New College played host to the Yorkshire Points Series and the second round of the Rapha Super Cross.
The three-race Rapha series kicked off at Windermere in the Lake District and will finish at Alexandra Palace, London, next weekend.
Before the big event there was plenty of action in the county Points Series with over 350 riders taking part and the crowd enjoying a Belgium-style atmosphere including a beer tent, brass band and cow bells.
Holme Valley Wheeler Amira Mellor was seventh overall and first girl in the Youth race which was won by Seb Marsh (Paul Milnes RT).
The Under 8s race was a keenly contested event with Nathan Fortune (Pedalsport) getting the better of Huddersfield Star Wheeler Luca Longo in second and Alex Bailey third.
Henry Hollyman (Kirklees Cycling Academy) beat Ava Oxley (Wakefield Tri) by half a wheel in the Under 10s, while Hollyman’s clubmate Adam Fortune was third.
Mason Hollyman was second in the Under 12s behind a flying Jenson Young (Pedalsport).
In the Veterans race Richard Binks (Holme Valley Wheelers) had his best result of the season in third place behind victorious Matt Denby (Zepnat RT) and Mike Young (Pedalsport) in second.
Top Junior riders Ed McPartand (GT Racing UK) and Nick Barnes (Zepnat RT) were battling it out for the win in the Senior/Junior race.
After 45 minutes of racing it was down to a two-up sprint with McParland edging out Barnes for the win.
Tom Stockhill (Malton Wheelers) completed the podium positions and Jonny Limebear (Batley CC) was an impressive fourth, just 12 seconds behind the leaders. Lee Brown (Holme Valley Wheelers) was best of the local riders in 30th.
The Elite race was won by Jody Crawforth (Hargroves-Specialized-Trant-Next) with National Champion Paul Oldham (Hope Technology) hot on his wheels in second. Crawforth’s teammate Steve James rounded off the podium positions. Hope Technology are leading the team competition by two points from Scott UK.
Yorkshire Road Club held their hill climb up Cragg Vale. Richard Handley (Team Raleigh) was fastest up the 4.81mile climb, the longest continuous gradient in England, in a time of 15min 52.6sec, almost 20 seconds ahead of former National Hill Climb champion Matt Clinton (Mike Vaughan Cycles).
Richard Anderson (VS Cycles) continued his good form with 10th place, stopping the clock in 18min 41.5sec.
