Conditions were relatively firm and dry for the traditional Christmas Cross at Foots Cray

Apparently this was the 40th staging of what is believed to be the oldest cross race on the calender.

Renowned in the past for being a mud fest, the last few stagings have been relatively dry and so it was this year, the bikes picking up very little dirt and tyres rolling pretty well over the ground.

Sadly we have few youngsters competing at the moment, in a discipline in which we dominated the younger categories for so long. These things I think are cyclical and no doubt in time a fresh crop of under 10s and under 12s will come through.

Meanwhile Matthew Newington ploughs a lone furrow in the under 12s for VC Deal, whilst I take some pleasure in the riding of our second claim member Thomas Finch. Like everyone else, he has no answer to the flying Daniel Tullett, who wins virtually every race with apparent ease, but Thomas has recently proven himself to be the best of the rest and I think is closing the gap on Daniel. For much of the race at Foots Cray, Thomas was only a few seconds behind Daniel, before Daniel pulled out a big gap towards the end.

In the Youth race Thomas's elder brother Jack was the only London rider who could hang on to Eastern League visitor Hugo Robinson (Ipswich BC). The two soon established a sizeable gap at the head of the race, circuiting together until Hugo broke away in the last half lap to take the win. Jack now has a virtually unassailable lead in the London League, helped further by the fact that biggest threat Alex Peters (Hackney CC)had a terrible day at Foots Cray, finishing well down the order. Jack can wrap the league up if he can outscore Alex at Herne Hill this coming Sunday.

VC Deal representation in the Youth races is generally pretty good, Matthew Gater and Jack Spicer usually featuring towards the head of the races along with Jack Finch.

Matthews early season strong showings have been blunted recently by a prolonged spell of illness which has meant little bike riding apart from racing, whilst Jack Spicers march in the opposite direction took a knock at Foots Cray with a below par performance due to a gastric illness. The day before he wasn't going to ride but his enthusiasm got the better of him and he ground out whatever league points he could. For the fairer sex, Sophie Newington retains her interest in racing and turns out for most London League events.

Full results are still awaited but will be posted on both the London Cyclesport and LCCA websites.

In the mean time my pictures from the Youth and under 10s/12s races are here

Richard Wood