Road Races 2011

27/8 Darley Moor Road Races
Good results on Saturday morning with Kerrigan Robb riding a good attacking race to take the win in the U10s.
In the U12s James Browning was not on his best form but managed to keep going for 4th. Karl Baillie rode strongly but was just beaten into 2nd in the sprint for the U14s. Peter Cocker took 2nd in the U16s after forcing the break with another rider with 2 laps to go but just lost out in the final sprint. Harry Browning was active throughout chasing down attacks in the main bunch but missed out on the leading positions in the final bunch sprint.

28/7 Rockingham Speedway Handicap RR
Another trip to The Rockingham speedway for the last of the 3 race handicap series. After being the only club rider the previous week when he finished 7th Paul Conneely was joined by Simon and Peter Cocker. Using just the infield circuit this week, the groups came together quite quickly in the 1 hour race. Despite numerous attacks, with Peter being prominent amongst them, the bunch was together for the final sprint with Peter just in front of Paul just outside the top 10 with Simon a few places further back.
The organiser is now looking at the possibility of a winter series of races at this venue.

27/7 Lincs League Road race - Ashby de La launde
A good field of 74 riders for the latest round of the Lincs Road race league in warm dry conditions.
Good turnout of Wheelers
Group 1 John Farmer, Dave Moulds and John Clifton
Group 2 Rob Johnson
Group 3 Simon Cocker and Ross Tomblin
Group 4 Peter Cocker and Paul Conneely
With a big bunch of riders and 4 minutes handicap the rest of the field never saw group 1 until after the finish with Schoolby Harry Bellars from Spalding sprinting clear for his first win. The two Johns and Dave found the pace a bit too quick in only their second road race but will have gained some good experience.

Group 3 caught group 2 for 2 mintes with half a lap to go but groups 4 and 5 never quite made up thera 3 minutes and 1 minute handicaps respectively and were stil some 30 seconds adrift at the end. All the other club riders finished safely in their groups.

17/7 Witham Wheelers Road Races
With heavy rain rolling round the rest of the country the weather gods smiled kindly on the 2 Witham Wheelers road races, with only a brief shower in the mornings event.Both events attracted healthy fields with sponsorship by the local specialist lightweight bike shop PedalPushers of Grantham.
The GT Ellingworth event saw 67 3/4 category riders in the morning and was held over 3¾ laps of the rolling course held on quiet but narrow country roads. With the strong wind helping on the main hill and discouraging breakaways on the more exposed parts there were few significant breaks. As the riders hit the main hill for the last time with a mile to go to the finish there were still some 40 riders in contention from the original 63 starters.
Matt Barrett (Lutterworth Cycles) timed his finishing burst to perfection to take a clear win after 48 miles from Alex Mitchell (Sheffrec CC) and Natham Harrison (Yorkshire Velo).
Of the club riders taking part recent new member in his first ever British Road Race Juan Carlos Azorin Marco finished 16th and Paul Conneely 33rd. Ross Tomblin retired with a lap to go. Photos»

In the afternoon a mixed field of 53 Elites, first and seconds with a few brave thirds rode the GA Bennett held over 5¾ laps with a strengthening wind to make conditions challenging.
At the end of the first lap a small group had formed with few seconds lead including Simon Wilson (CyclePremier Metaltek) who was to be ever present at the front for the whole race. At the end of the second lap 8 riders now had a 45 second lead over a chasing 8 man group with Matt Jones (TeamRaleigh) chasing from the bunch. Over the third lap the lead group swelled to 25 riders as the stronger riders made their way to the front leaving the other half of the field some 2 minutes down. This group then split with Jamie Burgan (Boneshakersbikes.com), Mike Cuming (Twenty 3c Orbea), Tom Stockdale (Team Quoroz), Ben Dean (Team Wallis CHH), Wilson, Richard Hepworth (Cycle-Premier Metaltek), Jones and Dexter Gardias (Forme Impsort ) building a 1 minute lead over 10 riders with John Tanner (Team Sportscover) attempting to bridge an ever widening gap from the rear bunch. Into the final lap and the same 8 riders were still together with Junior Alistair Slater (Hargroves)and Will Fox (Forme Impsort) now only 20 seconds behind, but that was as close as they got. The lead group split on the last lap and in tight finish Jones beat Wilson by a tyres width from Cuming and Gardias with the remnants of the break 30 seconds further back led in by Hepworth. Jamie Kennedy (Glasgow Couriers) took the prize for first 2nd cat and Neil Edwards (PM) as the only 3rd cat to finish.
Photos»
Also, Janet's photos of the volunteer marshals in action»
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15/7 Rockingham Speedway - Handicap R-R
A forty minute drive for a free race courtesy of our sponsor, how could anyone turn down such an offer? Simon Cocker couldn't, plus the chance to see some 'old' adversaries from the S.E. Mids divison. Good circuit of just over 3 miles using the oval banked race track plus the roads on the in field.

Around 45 riders set off by category at 1 minute intervals. Local custom seemed to be for the 4th cats to wait for everyone else , which took around 1.5 laps, then watch as the half a dozen good cat 1/2 riders took in turns to attack, before finally breaking away with 2 laps to go.
James Cambridge took the win from the lead group of 5 riders with Simon taking 10th in the bunch sprint for around 15th overall.
A good midweek race especially for anyone wanting to try their hand at Road Racing. There are 2 more events on the 21st and 28th July, if anyone wants more info let me know.

10/4 TLI Blyth Road Race - 10th April 2011
A flat 7 laps of a 5 mile circuit at Blyth was the setting for an Australian pursuit race run under the TLI organisation. All three groups contained strong riders which showed in the average speeds, which were assisted by the warm calm conditions. Group 1 averaged 24.8mph, group 2 averaged 25.9mph and group 3 averaged 26.8mph but neither group 2 or group 3 were able to overcome 4 minute handicaps meaning each group fought it out amongst themselves.

Group 1 contained Tony Mendham but he got distanced at the start of lap 5 and was unable to latch onto groups 2 or 3 and dropped out at the bell to watch the finish.

Group 3 contained Paul Conneely who was always comfortable in the pack and managed to get some recovery in the last lap to take 4th over the line in the bunch sprint and 6th overall in the group as two riders had got away with two laps to go.

Group 2 contained Phil Etches, Phil Atherton and Ross Tomblin. Phil Atherton and Ross were probably put in the wrong group on the day and would have been able to compete better in group 1. They both found the going tough in group 2 and dropped off the pace after 3 laps with a small group of other riders. Phil managed to get on the back of group 3 when it came through and finished within their bunch but Ross let a gap go round a sharp left turn and his race was done. Phil Etches, the Witham Wheelers very own supervet, worked well within the group containing many riders half his age and all intent on keeping a constant high pace. As the final bend beckoned, Phil had got some recovery in his legs, and was looking for wheels to follow up the long drag of the finishing straight. His experience enabled him to choose the right wheels and, as the bunch thinned out, Phil was able to kick off the last wheel with 300 yards to go and was never challenged and crossed the line metres clear with what seemed like a comfortable victory to win group 2.
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