The first round of this seasons Southern XC Series was held at a new venue/course at Wasing Estate, Hampshire.

The course is to be used later in the year for a round of the National Points Series.

Much of the course was newly constructed bash track, and whilst a huge and unenviable amount of work has been put in it was very heavy going and very bumpy. It needs a few thousand passages of wheels to bed in before there will be much fun to be had, but hopefully that will be the case before the NPS.

George Finch narrowly lost a sprint finish to Ben Tullett of Palmer Park Velo in the Under 12s race, Thomas Butler was also second in the Juvenile Mens race, a welcome and surprising result given he hasn't done a cross country race for a couple of years. Evidence of natural talent I reckon.

Jack Finch and Jack Spicer finished 5th and 6th in the Youth Mens race, with Matthew Gater a bit further back.

My pictures can be found here

Richard Wood