CYCLOCROSS isn’t a cycling discipline most people have heard of, but it didn’t faze the riders from St Margaret’s School/Berwick Grammar School, who claimed victory on the Frankston track on Saturday.
Cyclocross, sometimes also referred to as CX, is a race held over a variety of terrain. The course is usually a short loop that features some paved sections, some grass sections, some dirt sections, and usually some very popular mud sections. Riders are also forced to dismount and remount their bikes at times, through use of barriers, steps or ‘run-ups’ (sections that are impossible to ride).
Several riders from St Margaret’s and Berwick Grammar cycling squad decided to enter the championships, despite the fact that none had ever competed in an event and none had the purpose built bike that is usually ridden. The theory was that their fitness and general riding skills acquired in road racing and mountain-biking would enable them to be competitive. The results were astounding in that all four who competed came away with gold medals and winner’s jerseys.
Susannah Bates, Sam Clarke, Erin Hanley and Elise Hutchinson were all first across the line in their respective events. The whole four are wonderful all round-riders as all won medals in the state schools mountain-bike championships and all have qualified for the state schools’ road cycling championships to be held in Ballarat at the end of October.
