AFTER A two-week break Minehead Cycling Club’s Cyclocross racers were back in action at Escot Park in Devon. A slippery grassy course with hard climbs was a challenge.

First up were the ever more competitive veteran classes. Steve Toogood (V50 10th) and Tim Rook (V50 24th) were both riding well, staying upright on the fast bends.

David Bray (V60 5th), who was up the against strongest opposition this year, said: “I didn’t feel it today, I’ll have to try harder at the next round”.

Stephen Crossman (V60 18th) crashed, but with a broken bike managed to stagger over the finish line to salvage some points towards the overall championship rankings.

Louise Crossman (V60 1st) had yet another confident ride to take the top spot.

By the time Scott Ellwood (V40 12th) started his race the rain had really set in, turning what was already a wet race into a very wet race. All lap times dropped off.

CX racing is short sprint with races usually lasting about 55 minutes. Mark Brewer’s weekend was the complete opposite. He finished 3rd into the Chiller 24 hour MTB race in the Kielder Forest, riding solo, covering 240km and 7,700 metres of climbing. His race log recorded an incredible 9,000 of calories consumed.

Mark said: “After a few hours they told me I was 4th so I pushed on a bit, managed to take 3rd, but once I found myself in contention for a podium spot a whole world of pain opened up as I had to hold onto it! The trails were in good order, not wet and horrible”.

Other MCC members were out on the roads on Saturday, sensibly making the best of the weather, they reported a “stunning ride across Exmoor, enjoying the colours of Autumn.”