Cyclocross racing is alive and well in Western Australia as a contingent of 9 riders and supporters made the trip over to Adelaide for rounds one and two of the 2022 AusCycling National Cyclocross Series (NCXS). We even had a couple of WA ex-pats now living in Adelaide flying the flag for WA, making it an 11-strong group!
Port Adelaide Cycling Cub has hosted rounds of the NCXS for a number of years. In 2021, the Adelaide leg of the series was the only event to go ahead as the rest of the season was cancelled due to COVID-19. So it was great to see a strong start to the 2022 season ahead of future rounds in Queensland and Victoria, and culminating in the running of the 2022 AusCycling Cyclocross National Championships in Wollongong in New South Wales this September.
The WA team for the weekend of racing was comprised of:
- Elite
- Masters 2
- Mark Matear
- Masters 3
- Mark Liew
- Elwood Ruffle
- Taylor Wilcock
- Masters 5
- Mark Arnold
- Claudia Dohr
- Ben Nash
- Masters 6
- Alistair Press
- Supporters
- Glenda Arnold
- Tanya Matear
NCXS – Round 1
Saturday, 4th June 2022
After torrential rain across Adelaide in the week leading up the opening rounds of the NCXS, the riders were greeted with testing conditions as they got in their first practice laps on Saturday morning.
Running in an anti-clockwise direction, the riders had to tackle a mix of grass, dirt and sand, with a small section of tarmac down the home straight.
All members of the WA team performed well with the following results achieved:
- 2nd for Alistair Press in Men’s Masters 6
- 1st for Ben Nash in Men’s Masters 5
- 7th for Mark Arnold in Men’s Masters 5
- 1st for Claudia Dohr in Women’s Masters 5
- 1st for Elwood Ruffle in Men’s Masters 3
- 3rd for Taylor Wilcock in Men’s Masters 3
- 8th for Mark Liew in Men’s Masters 3
- 1st for Mark Matear in Men’s Masters 2
- 4th for Tristan Nash in Men’s Elite
Detailed timing for the day’s racing can be found here.
NCXS – Round 2
Sunday, 5th June 2022
If you thought it couldn’t get any wetter or muddier after round 1, you were wrong! Heavy rains, high winds and cold temperatures greeted the riders for round 2. Course practice was delayed in the morning as the organisers were forced to re-route some of the course to avoid the ‘rivers’ that were now running across the circuit. The entire pit area had to be moved as it was now under water.
The course was switched to a clockwise direction and the riders needed to ensure they nailed all of their lines as the course was muddy and slippery.
After another epic day of racing, WA riders came away with some more great results to add to the previous day’s exploits.
- 4th for Alistair Press in Men’s Masters 6
- 2nd for Ben Nash in Men’s Masters 5
- 5th for Mark Arnold in Men’s Masters 5
- 1st for Elwood Ruffle in Men’s Masters 3
- 7th for Mark Liew in Men’s Masters 3
- 1st for Mark Matear in Men’s Masters 2
- 4th for Tristan Nash in Men’s Elite
Claudia Dohr didn’t take to the start for round 2 and Taylor Wilcock suffered a mechanical in the tricky conditions and was unfortunately not able to finish the race.
Detailed timing for the day’s racing can be found here.
The next rounds of the NCXS take place in Samford, Queensland on the weekend of 18th and 19th June. WACX riders will be represented there again, so keep an eye out for more results in the coming weeks.