Hafren Cycling Clubs membership continues to grow since being re-founded in 2011 and its riders are competing in events all over the country from road races and sportives to track cycling and time trials, Sunday 17th November saw the Hafren club, based in Newtown and Welshpool, host its first national race with round 7 of the Welsh Cyclo-cross League heading to the Trehafren Fields in Newtown.
182 riders took to the start line in total over the 5 races with 95 competing in the main race. Hafren CC’s chairman Nick Huband commented “The club is a non-profit making organisation whose aim is to promote the sport of cycling within the local area. Hafren CC has a sporting pedigree, be it road, mountain biking, track or now cyclo-cross. To have over 80 riders in the under 8, 10, 12 and the youth race just goes to show how popular the sport is becoming, especially at the grass roots level.”
And quite literally grass and tree roots were the order of the day, as well as a good dose of mud, as the riders started off on a loop which took them around the playing fields and man made obstacles before heading up into the wooded single track section which became more technical as the laps progressed.
The Hafren club had a strong showing in the event with Max Bufton taking 7th out of 21 riders in the under 8 race. The result ensures he maintains his top 10 position in the overall standing out of over 70 riders. In the youth race, Freddie Jones-Hoare put in a battling performance in his first race placing him 23rd overall.
In the main race, 13 Hafren riders lined up in the 95 strong field which included the eventual winner Tim Davies, who was born in Welshpool and once rode with the Hafren club. Whilst competing in the Welsh cyclo-cross league, Tim’s career highlights include representing Wales in the Junior Tour of Ireland in 1983 as well as on the track in the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1987. He also went on to win the British National Mountain Bike Championship and in 1991 he came 7th in the World Mountain Bike Championships in Italy as well as representing Great Britain in the World Cyclo-Cross Championships. Tim commented after the race “The Hafren Club has put on a fantastic event with a course which would rival many national races I have competed in. It had a bit of everything to make the racing really interesting and I am looking forward to heading back to compete next year”
Local connections continued to battle for top honours with Newtown’s Mark Davies, now racing for Forza cycles in Cardiff, who started the race 3rd in the overall series taking 9th on the day, closely followed by Sean Grosvenor from Llanidloes in 11th, riding for Ystwyth CC. Top Hafren CC rider Chris Roberts put in another strong performance to claim a top 20 finish with Darren Jarman second to cross the line in 32nd place. George Coe was the 3rd placed host rider to finish in 51st place. Hot on his wheels were the remaining HCC contingent of Paul Bufton, Graham Harris, Bryn Davies, Glyn Jones, Des Pugh, Mark Hill, Carl Spencer, Mark Riden, Nick Huband and Tony Brooks.
Hafren CC’s vice chairman and race organiser, Paul Bufton commented after the event “It was a massive effort from everyone connected with Hafren CC. We are firmly on the Welsh cycling map as of today and it was great to see so many first time riders as well. There are too many people to thank individually, from those who have worked so hard creating the course over the last two months to all the Volunteers and Marshall’s on the day. I would like to pay a special thanks to Newtown AFC for allowing us to use their venue as the race HQ, Powys County Council for their support in allowing us to create such a great course on the Trehafren Fields and finally Hafren CC’s club sponsor Brooks Cycles for their continued support.”
Torq Fitness were also on hand at the event giving out some great advice on fueling strategies with their energy drinks, gels and bars. For more info click here.
For the full results check out the following link
It was a great event – Huge thanks to Paul and all the members who worked so hard on the course
There is some video to be seen
Any Pics for the libary?