This past Saturday, September 3, the third annual Northampton Cycling Club Hydra Cross p/b Open Square came back to Holyoke’s Pulaski Park. Hydra Cross is the second race of four in this year’s new River Valley Cyclocross Series p/b Shimano. Two-hundred sixty-two racers from all around the northeast (including Quebec!) came out to race a newly redesigned course in Holyoke’s linear, riverside park. Hydra Cross has grown each year thanks to ongoing support from NCC and our sponsors, including Open Square, the City of Holyoke Parks and Rec department, Northampton Bicycle, The American Legion Post #351 in Holyoke, Highland Hardware and Bike, and Our Lady of the Cross Parish.
The race was supported by more volunteers than any previous edition, and the collective effort showed. Thank you to everyone who signed up to volunteer and pitched in.
Photo: Chris Evans
Building on previous years’ courses, Chris Niesen and Al Donahue designed a fast, flowy course that squeezed great ‘cross out of every inch of the park, including plenty of off-cambers and vertical gain. The dusty, loose conditions increased the technical challenge of the course, particularly on the dirt off-camber not far from the finish line.
Photo: Chris Evans
The women’s elite race was won by Austin Killips (Nice Bikes) and the men’s elite was won by Henry Coote (Riverside Racing). Twenty-five NCC members raced, many of them also volunteering on Friday and Saturday. Myles Scott (NCC) came second in the boys 13-18 race, Gunther Breismeister (JAM/NCC) won the boys 9-12 race, Henri Dumont (NCC) took home second in the same race, David Goodwin (NCC) and Joe Lellman (NCC) both scored top 10 finishes in the large masters 60+ field, Ben Jankowski (NCC) won the cat 3/4 men’s race in decisive fashion, Charlotte Lellman (NCC) took home 6th place in the women’s elite race, and Melissa Warwick took 3rd place in the women’s 4/5 field. Kevin Mullaly (JAM/NCC) finished in 3rd place in the men’s elite field, and Chris Niesen (JAM/NCC) came home in 10th. Sophie Parrot (JAM/NCC) nabbed the 8th spot in the women’s 4/5 race. The full results list can be found here, including links to photographs and videos from race day.
Photo: Chris Evans
Please reach out to NCC members and race directors Justin and Mike with any feedback or questions about how to help with next year’s race. hydracrossrace@gmail.com
