The season kicked off in the middle of September with a late sunny summer London League race at Rochester. No need for mud tyres with short dry grass and steep banks. Not even the quick dismount for the planks could slow the fast pace of Dorset Rough Rider Luke Gray (youth) on his way to his first win of the cross season.

The first Wessex league event took place at Oxford on a Saturday and another win for young Luke. This turned out to be a good warm up on the way to Wales for round 1 of the National Trophy Series the following day at Abergavenny. Having raced at Abergavenny many times before we knew what to expect at the old Welsh vicarage B&B. Tea and home made cakes, and a chance to wash the Oxford mud off in the sun over looking the valley and Offa's Dyke long distance walking path.

Abergavenny went well for Luke. He set the pace and totally destroyed the rest of the field, taking only Dan Mclay for company who struggled with Luke's pace through the tight turns. It was Dan's day though as he took the win in a sprint finish from Luke. Another Wessex win at Newbury for Luke was followed by an illness, which then dragged on to the next National round at Ipswich.

At Ipswich it was back to usual for me at the B&B as I cleaned the bikes in the sun under the watchful eye of Jeanne & Luke having tea and cakes in the garden. With Luke not at his best the next day we took a gamble and changed to a new set of wheels 10 minutes before the start. It was a set of untried deep section carbon Zipp wheels with hand made Dugast mud tubs. We felt in Luke's condition he had nothing to lose. The gamble paid off, as the rain fell just 2 minutes before the start turning it into a very slippery course. Luke came 2nd again, this time beating the flagging Dan Mclay, but the win went to Tom Moses.

Crow hill saw Dorset Rough Rider Steve Gillette make his debut into the world of cyclo-cross at this local venue and I had my first ride of the cross season a couple of weeks later at Southampton, while Luke rested.

Mallory Park was the next National Trophy venue with only 2 points separating Luke and Dan the holder of the series leader's yellow jersey. It was a bitterly cold day with freezing cold rain and strong winds, making the course a very slippery affair. Luke had a good start and strung the riders out across the course on the first lap. But there was a no show from Mclay and with Luke still not back to full fitness the win went to Tom Moses again. Luke struggled 16 seconds behind in a near state of hypothermia, doing enough to take over the series lead and the coveted yellow jersey. After spending 40 minutes under a hot shower he had managed to stop shivering and within 2 days was well and back into full training. The Wessex league rolled on with Luke taking a win at Newbury and within a couple of hours taking another win at a Western league event at Chippenham.

The South of England Championships were held at Devon this season. Luke being the current holder of the youth title for the last 2 years started as hot favourite. He didn't disappoint with an emphatic win and claimed a record braking 3rd consecutive Youth title. Bradford was the next venue for the National Trophy Series, so it was straight to the B&B, an old stone listed farm house for hot chocolate and home made mince pies. Luke had a good start to the race, struggled halfway through, but came out strong to drive the pace all the way round the last lap. He put up an impressive display of skill through the twisty parts leaving Dan Mclay struggling to get near, and it looked like he had it in the bag. But it was Dan who had the stronger finish and once again took the win by 4 seconds from Luke who took his second yellow series leaders jersey and his 4th second place.

The Wessex Boxing Day Cross is becoming a tradition for me. A bit like Steve Bowers riding all the way there to watch it every year, only this year he brought fellow member Steve Groome along too, just to watch me suffer. Then in the second Wessex cross over the Christmas period I suffer some more at a very heavy going course at Calmore. Luke gave everybody in the youth race a minutes head start here, and still went on to win by over a minute. I'm sure there was a mistake in the results, I did 6 laps in an hour and Luke did 5 in just under 30 minutes! Whats wrong with my legs?

So it was off to Derby for some unfinished business in the final round of the National Trophy Series at Peel Park, the venue for next years National Champs. What, no tea and cakes to greet us at the B&B ! No unfortunately not, only a lukewarm shower in an old farm house. The next day Luke waited on the start line in the leaders yellow jersey for what was to be a very muddy race. Then seconds after the start Luke was lucky to stay upright on the first corner when a rider crashed into him, resulting in a few lost places. Within a couple of minutes he was back at the sharp end of the race. But nearing the end first lap whilst leading Luke made a mistake on a slippery off camber and drifted wide clipping the bushes to avoid dropping his bike. This gave Sam Harris and Tom Moses a golden opportunity to attack as it led onto a tarmac section, where they both got away. Mindful of what happened last year here when the series leader broke a rear mech in the mud and nearly lost the overall title, Luke played safe and changed bikes 3 times. Although Luke was catching both in the closing stages he ran out of time, and finished 3rd on the day. He rode a tactical race and in doing so won the overall National Youth Trophy Series and the overall winners yellow jersey.

The last Wessex League event took place at Reading, a real old classic cross race in deep mud. This gave Luke an opportunity to wear his National Champions shirt and me the chance to get nice and muddy. It was a real challenge, and that was just cleaning the bikes afterwards. Not to mention Lukes new white and stripey shirt. Well there we have it, a fantastic cross season for one member and a solo outing for another and me a chance for a ride in between all the driving, washing bikes, standing in the rain in the pits and eating cakes at B&B's.

Cyclo-Cross is the fastest growing cycle sport in this country, that's something you probably didn't know, and Swindon road club, who's members only started riding cross in the Wessex league last season, had 27 of their members ride cross this season. We are an off road club and had just 3!! That's the lowest our club's had in more than 15 year's. Lets hope for a big change next year in what is the most accessible and friendliest off road cycle sport of them all.