Cycle Club Ashwell's youngsters have kicked off the Muddy Monsters cyclo-cross season with some fine results and podium finishes.

The event is an eight-round winter racing championship aimed at the younger cyclist with little or no racing experience.

Welwyn Wheelers hosted round one on their tricky banked track, where riders negotiated slippery, tight corners in chilly conditions against a large field of riders.

Remi Clark starred for CCA with a silver medal in the U10 girls, placing third in the sprint race and second in the endurance race.

In the U8s, Charlie Brazier and the Wilkinson twins, Phoebe and Xander, both rode bravely against older competitors in their field as they experienced the event for the first time.

If the track at the Gosling Stadium in Welwyn Garden City was unfamiliar to some, round two brought home comforts.

Held at Ashwell, the home jerseys were out in force across the categories and momentum swung from one club to another throughout the afternoon.

Toby Scott shone for the home side on the day, riding up an age category, as he brought home the gold medal in the U12 boys.

Competition was tough for him and he had to dig deep to come from behind during a gruelling four-lap endurance race, passing George Rice of St Albans-based Verulam CC on the penultimate lap and opening up a decent gap to hold him at bay to the line.

There were more strong performances from CCA in the age group with Nathan Douillet the next best placed of the Ashwell team.

Sophie Harvey secured a second gold for Ashwell in the U12 girls as she not only won her own group, but pushed a number of the boys and girls from the U14s during her races.

Purwell Primary School in Hitchin brought a team of riders making their competitive debuts and left the event with a brace of medals.

Raffi Caneppele Masters held off strong competition from CCA’s Fred Silk, the winner of the endurance race, in the U10 boys while in the girls' section, Purwell’s Evie Nightingale was second to Ashwell’s gold medallist Florence Chaloner.

Chaloner was a star for the home team, racing in the U10s for the first time since stepping up from the U8s, and she confidently pushed a number of older riders throughout the racing.

The series continues with a trip to Bedford on Saturday before a visit to St Albans.

And the CCA riders will hope they can cement their strong positions in the championship table before the festive break.

Ashwell Cycling Club have available spaces in their youth set up. Their Saturday afternoon sessions run between 1.30pm and 3pm until Easter.

For further information, email Mark Wyer on youth@ccashwell.com