A SOMEWHAT depleted Bromsgrove Olym-pique team turned up on a cold and windy morning at Aldersley Leisure Village, Wolverhampton for round nine of the Midland Cyclo-Cross Series.

Several riders had problems just getting to the venue as there were three other events taking place at the same time. Nevertheless, those that did ride found the course not quite as boggy as previous weeks, with plenty of technical bike handling required to negotiate the steep sides of the old railway cuttings and embankments.

In the U12s, Emily Seal was best Bromsgrove finisher in 16th place, Jason Dingley was 18th and Genny Billington 21st. The youth event saw experienced off-roader Jake Burgess take an early lead, leaving Olympique's Alex Billington and Wolver-hampton Wheeler Stuart Jones to fight it out for second place.

Alex attacked on the penultimate lap and finished with a 20 second lead over Stuart. Will Goulbourne was next for Bromsgrove in fourth place, with Ross Dingley seventh. Peter Banham had to run half a lap when his crank arm fell off, still finishing well in tenth spot. Jack Barnes riding only his second race ever, improved dramatically to finish 16th.

In the vets, juniors and ladies event, Rob Twigg was best Olympique rider in fifth, Rob Greenaway eighth, Mike Cooper 17th, Ian Billington 19th, Geoff Dingley (after hitting the deck for the second week running) 22nd, Gerry Blackmoor 25th and Dave Goulbourne 28th. Francine Billington held the lead in the ladies race until she was passed with half a lap to go and had to settle for second place again. Kate Salmons was third.

In the senior event, Alan Dyus rode an excellent event to take 12th place with brother Ian was 26th and Luke Twigg finished 29th.

Next week the keen competition moves to a new course near Malvern.