Slideshow: Matlock riders impress at two big weekend events

Once again given the dry weather, the course suited the powerful rider as speeds were high and the course proved not too technical.

Local rider Lee Shunburne of Fossa Racing finished in third behind Jonathan Harper and Gareth Whittall, while junior rider Arthur Green was Matlock CC’s fastest rider, coming home eighth overall in the seniors race.

Matlock’s Chris Green and Patrick Gould both rode well to finish in tenth and 14th place respectively in the veterans race.

Local rider Sarah Kennedy of Squadra Donne-Shutt VR Race Team was the comfortable winner in the women’s senior race.

Matlock CC’s Christine Howard was in fine form in the women’s veterans race as she took a well-deserved win, team mate Maz Heffron finishing second.

Matlock’s Louis Swindell was second in the boys U9s race, while Harriet Limb just about kept her Matlock CC team mate Holly Hoy at bay as they came first and second in the girls race.

In the girls U12s race, Matlock’s Sarah Briggs and Amelie Wayte finished second and third respectively.

Matlock’s Cameron Orr put in a solid performance to finish seventh in the youth U16s race, while in the U14 category, John Webster finished fourth in the boys event with team mate Ellie Smith third in the girls race.

Meanwhile, Matlock CC’s youngsters performed strongly at the British Schools Cycling Association Hill Climb and Roller Racing Championships at the weekend.

Riding for their respective schools, there were wins and top placings in most of the age categories for local riders.

Highfields School’s Jamie Ingram took the win in the O15 boys event, while Holly Gould from Swanwick Hall took the honours in the Girls O15s race.

George and Louis Swindell took the top honours in the Boys U13 and U9 category respectively, with elder brother George recording the fastest time of all the riders regardless of age.

The girls U13s race saw Ellie Smith of Anthony Gell School come out on top, narrowly beating her Matlock CC teammates Sarah Briggs (Derby High) and Amelie Wayte (Highfields).

Joshua Pine won the boys U11s category from Sam Gould of Darley Dale Primary, whilst Libby Smith won the U11 girls race.

Holly Hoy from Lea Primary just had the edge over Annabel Parker in the girls U9s race, whilst Oliver Hodgkinson of Lea Primary won in the boys U7s race.

Later in the day the riders had transferred their skills over to riding the rollers in two events – the 500m standing start sprint and the 1,000m flying start.

Once again Jamie Ingram won the O15 boys event, while George Swindell was the winner in the U13s event and Ellie Smith led the U13s girls home ahead of Sarah Briggs and Amelie Wayte.

Alexander Barton took the win in the U11 boys race with Libby Smith taking the top step of the podium once again in the girls U11s race.

There were then wins for Louis Swindell (U9 boys), Annabel Parker (U9 girls) and George Parker (U7 boys)

All photos by John White.