Readers of the EADT will have read about Alan Trolove’s performance at the recent National Cyclo Cross event at Rutland Water. He had his best result so far, finishing 25^th in the Under 16 event, and with another season left in this age group.

This event followed a day at the Manchester Velodrome training at the DHL Sprint School, with promising youngsters from all over the country. The discipline for the day was Keirin, with each rider doing four races, having been ceded on previous results. Alan raced in heat four out of nine and managed to win three out of his four races, but this still wasn’t enough for selection to ride in that evening’s Revolution meeting in front of a capacity crowd. That day will come.

January 24 saw the last event of the Eastern Cross League, with only Adi Grimwood representing the club, with Trish Dennison not well enough and Alan away on the track again. Adi rode well on a very demanding course set out in the steeply banked and wooded Mistley venue. He finished 20^th out of 42 starters, just pipped to the line in a three rider sprint finish for 19^th!

With eight results counting from a thirteen event series, this left Adrian 2oth in the Vets league. Trisha finished 3^rd in the Ladies and Alan 2^nd in the U16’s. The team section was decided by the placings of each team’s best three riders at eight counting events. With just three riders in total it was good to see West Suffolk seventh in the team competition.

We really must see if we can get some more regular riders next year ~ it is a brilliantly organised series and Cross is a great way to keep race fit.

Meanwhile Alan was back at the Velodrome, this time at a Regional School of Racing training event. Esther Colman was also due to be at this, but is currently out of action with a knee injury. Hope she’s soon recovered. Action at this event centred around Madison skills, with Alan paired with dimunitive but very fast Bethany Hayward from Welwyn. The day went pretty well, apart from when he took a tumble after sneezing so hard that he crashed! Could be on YouTube in due course!