South West Cyclocross League 2025/26 Round 9 - Sun, 4th January

“Spitfirecross” was held at the old Perranporth Airfield near Cligga head amongst the disused tin and copper mines and was a fantastic location. The ground was rocky and the course was technical with many slippery turns. The sandpit was inspired! Will raced it back in his early days of CX racing and remember it “being very different to all the other courses. Some tight grass switchbacks, some motocross rutted corners and a lot of Cornish coastal gravel and rock”. Some places favoured an MTB (just to help protect your rims) but most of it was great on a CX bike.

This was the first post New Year Hangover race of 2026, and the penultimate race in the SWCX series. A cold day up on the cliffs at the old airfield with a stiff breeze blowing across the course.

Lisa raced the Female Vet 50, Will raced the Open Vet 50 and Jez raced the Open Vet 60

Will was gridded on the back row so quiet a lot of traffic management to deal with in the first few laps, but then progressed through the field reasonably well. The single track sections did make overtaking a bit tough and although he set some new power and heartrate figures, he couldn’t get onto the back of the front group. He finished 7th.

Lisa smashed it taking the Category win - first race on the new Trek Boone. She needs more competitors to race with - the women’s racing is always good, just low on numbers. As she says “we compete and race and then we smile” and who doesn’t want more of that?

Jez had a good solid race and came home in a very respectable 38th.