Luke Gray (Trek Cross Collective) out sprints Scott Chalmers (Dream CC) to win his first Wessex round of the new season. Having had to settle for two second places Luke went one better at the lovely Cotswold Airport near Cirencester. A hard working course was laid out by the promoting club Cotswold Veldrijden using many parts of the airport including the woods and tarmac runway on what turned out to be a warm sunny day.
Report by Graham Robins
Photo Gallery by Graham Robins
From the start Luke, Scott and rounds one and two winner Ben Sumner (Beeline Cycles) got away with Crispin Doyle not too far away. As they exited the woods close to the start line on lap one Ben hit a banking and rolled a tub which in turn shipped him from his bike. After a quick inspection and only a few yards from the pit he shouldered the bike and ran to the pits for a new bike. This allowed the two leaders to get away and he fell behind Crispin Doyle (Hargroves Cycles).
The order after a couple of laps saw Luke and Scott locked together followed by Crispin 30secs back followed by Ben one minute behind the leaders. The next few riders were together and included Dan Lewis (RAF), Matt Hargroves and Matt Woods (Hargroves Cycles) running one minute thirty back.
At the bell the two leaders could not be split and this remained and this was the same throughout the lap. As they approached the infield parallel to the finish line they were neck and neck, at the final turn onto the tarmac Luke was quicker in and exited first and slowly eased away to take the win on the line.
below: Luke Gray takes the win
Earlier in the day Crispin Doyle (Hargroves Cycles) continued his 100% start to the season making it three from three rounds in the veterans race. This in fact Crispin’s fifth win in three weeks as he has won both mid week races at the floodlight races in Swindon.
The first two laps saw Crispin just behind team mate and national vet champion Steve Davies, but whilst Steve was quicker in the technical sections Crispin was quicker on the fast flat sections. Having watched Steve’s lines Crispin made his move on lap three and got away. There was a tough battle behind with Keith Sheridan (Cotswold Veldrijden) ,Mike Simpson (GS Henley), Will Girvan (North Hants RC) and David Hobbs (Cotswold Veldrijden) running very close together.
As the laps ticked away Doyle was now 32secs ahead of Davies, Sheridan was one minute down and now Will Girvan was third and clear of Sean Williams (Wightlink Offshore) in fourth. Also picking up places was Robin Wilmott (Cotswold Veldrijden).
The women’s race was won for the third round running by Claire Smith (Cotswold Veldrijden) who took time off from organising the race to ride. She was pushed hard by Spanish Rider Merce Pacios (Blue Motors) who was riding her first Wessex round. The gap between the two women never got too close as Claire was able to judge her position on the open sections of the course, Anna Cipullo (MB Swindon) was third. In the youth section Joseph Andrews (Fareham Wheelers) was another 100% winner taking his third series win of the season, Cameron Thompson (Andover Wheelers) was second and Jack Saunders (Cotswold Veldrijden) was third. Zoe Sheehan was the first junior girl.
Elliott Lassiter (Cotswold Veldrijden) won the youth race after a tough battle with team mate Tom Sewell. The two mates were running close for a couple of laps until Elliott attacked and stretched his lead.
Rowan Turner (Poole Wheelers) was first in the under 12’s race with Anna Wadsworth (Beeline Cycles) the first girl. Madeline Cooper (Chapel Tri Stars) was first under 10 girl and Sam Graham (NHRC) the first under 10 boy.
below: The Under 12s race gets underway
Full results now available below
Seniors
| 1st | Luke Gray | Trek CycloCross Collective | Senior | |
| 2nd | Scott Chalmers | Dream Cycling | Senior | |
| 3rd | Crispin Doyle | Hargroves Cycles | Senior | |
| 4th | Ben Sumner | Beeline RT | Senior | |
| 5th | Dan Lewis | RAF CC | Senior | |
| 6th | Matthew Hargroves | Hargroves Cycles RT-Specialized-Trant-Next-Elliott’s | Senior | |
| 7th | Daniel Bell | Ellmore Factory Racing | Senior | |
| 8th | Richard Lewis | CC Basingstoke | Senior | |
| 9th | Matthew Woods | Hargroves Cycles RT-Specialized-Trant-Next-Elliott’s | Senior | |
| 10th | David Barnaville | Bristol CX | Senior | |
| 11th | Matt Steven | Zappi’s Cycling Club | Senior | |
| 12th | James Cotty | Cannondale Racing | Senior | |
| 13th | William Corvan | NHRC | Senior | |
| 14th | Joe Hickerton | 0 | Senior | |
| 15th | Charles Coleman | Dream RT | Senior | |
| 16th | Richard Doyle | Team Buff UK | Senior | |
| 17th | Aaron Tayler | Cotswold Veldrijden | Senior | |
| 18th | Tom Underhill | Hackney G. T | Senior | |
| 19th | Jorge Millan Cid | Vectis Roads CC | Senior | |
| 20th | Gavin Spiers | G.S. Henley | Senior | |
| 21st | Martyn Green | Bristol CX | Senior | |
| 22nd | James Britton | Bristol CX | Senior | |
| 23rd | Karl Norfolk | Pedalon.co,uk | Senior | |
| 24th | Mike Brunsdon | VC Montpellier | Senior | |
| 25th | James Coleman | Cadence RT | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 26th | Andrew Burridge | 0 | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 27th | Rory Gilling | Performance Cycles | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 28th | Aaron Preece | Team Slinkries Bikes | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 29th | Callum Haseler | Cotswold Veldrijden | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 30th | Niel Dunnage | Cotswold Veldrijden | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 31st | Stuart Thompson | Andover Whls | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 32nd | Michael Holborow | Cotswold Veldrijden | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 33rd | Fraser McDonald | Cotswold Veldrijden | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 34th | Max Hale | Ystwyth Cycling Club | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 35th | Tim McDowell | BJW | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 36th | Alex McIntosh | Swindon RC | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 37th | Sam Butler | Severn RC | 0 | at 1 lap |
| 38th | Stuart Waite | 0 | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 39th | Peter Beisty | G.S. Henley | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 40th | Graham Dance | Southdown Velo | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 41st | Jason Blann | Team Rose Blann | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 42nd | Andy Laycock | Suffernova | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 43rd | Matthew Barker | 0 | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 44th | Steve Stroud | Reading CC | 0 | at 1 lap |
| 45th | Craig Scott | Cotswold Veldrijden | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 46th | Alec Broome | Wight Tri | 0 | at 1 lap |
| 47th | Joseph Walsh | Zappi’s Cycling Club | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 48th | Sandy Legge | Zappi’s Cycling Club | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 49th | Phillip Neale | Army | Senior | at 2 laps |
| 50th | Peter Halliwood | Fareham Wheelers | Senior | at 2 laps |
| DNF | Aaron Collins | Swindon RC | Senior | DNF at 4 laps |
| DNF | Chris Linney | 0 | 0 | DNF at 2 laps |
| DNF | Owen Jeffries | Northern CC/Dave Kane Cycles | Senior | DNF at 1 lap |
| DNF | Tom Clark | 0 | Senior | DNF at 1 lap |
| DNF | Tom Carlton | 0 | Senior | DNF at 1 lap |
Veteran/Junior/Women
| 1st | Crispin Doyle | Hargroves Cycles RT-Specialized-Trant-Next-Elliott’s | Vet 40-49 | |
| 2nd | Steven Davies | Hargroves Cycles RT-Specialized-Trant-Next-Elliott’s | Vet 50+ | |
| 3rd | Keith Sheridan | Cotswold Veldrijden | Vet 40-49 | |
| 4th | William Girvan | NHRC | Vet 40-49 | |
| 5th | Sean Williams | 0 | Vet 40-49 | |
| 6th | Robin Wilmott | Cotswold Veldrijden | Vet 40-49 | |
| 7th | Tim Carpenter | 3 Sixty Performance RT | Vet 40-49 | |
| 8th | Dave McMullen | Cotswold Veldrijden | Vet 50+ | |
| 9th | Peter Scott | Cotswold Veldrijden | Vet 40-49 | |
| 10th | Mike Simpson | G.S. Henley | Vet 40-49 | |
| 11th | Steven Dance | Andover Whls | Vet 40-49 | |
| 12th | Pat Alexander | Cheltenham & County CC | Vet 40-49 | |
| 13th | Peter Hutchinson | Cotswold Veldrijden | Vet 40-49 | |
| 14th | Martyn Dymond | 0 | Vet 50+ | |
| 15th | David Phillips | Cotswold Veldrijden | Vet 50+ | |
| 16th | Chris Hutchings | Velo Club Venta | Vet 40-49 | |
| 17th | Niel Dunnage | Swindon RC | Vet 40-49 | |
| 18th | Joseph Andrews | Fareham Wheelers | Junior | |
| 19th | Gary Barlow | Reading CC | Vet 40-49 | |
| 20th | Cameron Thompson | Andover Whls | Junior | |
| 21st | Ian Threadgold | Cheltenham & County CC | Vet 40-49 | |
| 22nd | Nick Walmsley | Cotswold Veldrijden | Vet 40-49 | |
| 23rd | Tim Hyde | Pendragon | Vet 40-49 | |
| 24th | TOM CLARK (SENIOR) | 0 | 0 | |
| 25th | Stuart Gough | VC Venta | Vet 50+ | |
| 26th | Jason Hawkins | Coventry Road Club | Vet 40-49 | |
| 27th | Claire Smith (F) | Cotswold Veldrijden | Vet 40-49 | |
| 28th | Duncan Mellish | Zappi’s Cycling Club | Vet 40-49 | |
| 29th | Robin Akers | Oxonian CC | Vet 50+ | |
| 30th | Paul Crossley | Velo Club Montpellier | Vet 40-49 | |
| 31st | Rob Carter | VC Venta | Vet 40-49 | |
| 32nd | Merce Pacios (F) | 0 | 0 | |
| 33rd | Richard Moss | 0 | Vet 40-49 | |
| 34th | Jack Saunders | Swindon RC | Junior | |
| 35th | Gareth Dridge | Southdown Velo | Veteran | |
| 36th | Peter Langworthy | I-Team Cyclists’ Club | Vet 40-49 | |
| 37th | James Pilgrim-Morris | G.S. Henley | Vet 40-49 | |
| 38th | Keith Allam | Velo Club Venta | Vet 50+ | |
| 39th | Alan Millard | Westbury Wheelers | Vet 50+ | |
| 40th | Richard Bremner | North Hampshire RC | Vet 50+ | |
| 41st | Peter Kimber | Cotswold Veldrijden | 0 | at 1 lap |
| 42nd | Steve Robinson | NHRC | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 43rd | Simon Hudson | Oxford City RC | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 44th | Mark Bemand | Weston Wheelers | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 45th | Colin Murphy | North Hampshire RC | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 46th | Anna Cipullo (F) | MB Swindon | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 47th | Roger Chamberlain | Dursley RC | 0 | at 1 lap |
| 48th | Harjinder Obhi | North Hampshire RC | 0 | at 1 lap |
| 49th | Kieran Woods | Charlotteville CC | Junior | at 1 lap |
| 50th | John Philips | Sotonia | Vet 50+ | at 1 lap |
| 51st | Neal Britnell | 0 | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 52nd | Gareth Walker | Cotswold Veldrijden | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 53rd | M Allen | John Ibbotson | Vet 50+ | at 1 lap |
| 54th | Harry Hailwood | Fareham Wheelers | Junior | at 1 lap |
| 55th | Charlie Elsey | Newbury RC | Vet 50+ | at 1 lap |
| 56th | Kim Lassiter | Cotswold Veldrijden | 0 | at 1 lap |
| 57th | Paul Loosemore | Team Striking | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 58th | Steve Clarke | 0 | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 59th | Jim Wood | Fareham Wheelers | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 60th | Adam Gardner | G.S. Henley | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 61st | David Jones | Oxonian CC | 0 | at 1 lap |
| 62nd | Tim Sluman | Cheltenham & County CC | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 63rd | David Linsell | 0 | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 64th | Tony Richardson | 0 | Vet 50+ | at 1 lap |
| 65th | Rob Collins | 0 | 0 | at 1 lap |
| 66th | Paul Hailwood | Fareham Wheelers | Vet 50+ | at 1 lap |
| 67th | Zoe Sheehan (F) | Cotswold Veldrijden | Junior | at 1 lap |
| 68th | Barry Thompson | 0 | Vet 40-49 | at 1 lap |
| 69th | Mark Adams | Hargroves Cycles CC | 0 | at 2 laps |
| 70th | Paul Eden | 0 | Vet 50+ | at 2 laps |
| 71st | Hannah Gibbs (F) | Cotswold Veldrijden | Junior | at 2 laps |
| 72nd | Paula Loughlin (F) | Cheltenham & County CC | Vet 40-49 | at 2 laps |
| 73rd | Andy Gibbs | Cotswold Veldrijden | Vet 50+ | at 2 laps |
| DNF | Steve Mead | Dicot Phoenix | Vet 40-49 | DNF at 5 laps |
| DNF | Paul Shaftoe | Cotswold Veldrijden | Vet 40-49 | DNF at 2 laps |
| DNF | Adama Newlove (F) | Fareham Wheelers | Vet 40-49 | DNF at 2 laps |
| DNF | Joseph Giret | G.S. Henley | Vet 50+ | DNF at 1 lap |
| DNF | Simon Meadwell | Bournemouth Jubille | Vet 40-49 | DNF at 1 lap |
| DNF | Paul Wood | Swindon Wheelers | Vet 50+ | DNF at 1 lap |
Women
| 1st | Claire Smith (F) | Cotswold Veldrijden | Vet 40-49 | |
| 2nd | Merce Pacios (F) | 0 | 0 | |
| 3rd | Anna Cipullo (F) | MB Swindon | Senior | at 1 lap |
| 4th | Zoe Sheehan (F) | Cotswold Veldrijden | Junior | at 1 lap |
| 5th | Hannah Gibbs (F) | Cotswold Veldrijden | Junior | at 2 laps |
| 6th | Paula Loughlin (F) | Cheltenham & County CC | Vet 40-49 | at 2 laps |
Junior
| 1st | Joseph Andrews | Fareham Wheelers | Junior | |
| 2nd | Cameron Thompson | Andover Whls | Junior | |
| 3rd | Jack Saunders | Swindon RC | Junior | |
| 4th | Kieran Woods | Charlotteville CC | Junior | at 1 lap |
| 5th | Harry Hailwood | Fareham Wheelers | Junior | at 1 lap |
Youth
| 1st | Elliot Lassiter | Cotswold Veldrijden | Y | |
| 2nd | Tom Sewell | Cotswold Veldrijden | Y | |
| 3rd | William Crofts | Performance Cycles | Y | |
| 4th | Angus Hawkins | Palmer Park Velo RT | Y | |
| 5th | Charlie Cooper | Chapel Tri-Stars Junior Triathlon Club | Y | |
| 6th | Ieuan Woods | Charlotteville CC | Y | |
| 7th | Ciara Hutchinson | Cotswold Veldrijden | Y | |
| 8th | Jay Allen | PPV | Y | |
| 9th | Alderney Baker | Southdown Velo | Y | |
| 10th | Liam Sewell | Cotswold Veldrijden | Y | |
| 11th | Harry Dridge | SDV | Y | |
| 12th | Luke Morgan | Cotswold Veldrijden | Y | |
| 13th | Jamie Kimber | Cotswold Veldrijden | Y | |
| 14th | Conor Hutchinson | Cotswold Veldrijden | Y | |
| 15th | Abbie Manley | Chapel Tri-Stars Junior Triathlon Club | Y | at 1 lap |
| 16th | Fletcher Adams | Hargroves Cycles RT-Specialized-Trant-Next-Elliott’s | Y | at 1 lap |
| 17th | Barney Clacy | Chapel Tri-Stars Junior Triathlon Club | Y | at 1 lap |
| 18th | Harleigh Jackson | CCCC | Y | at 1 lap |
| 19th | Emily Blount | Chapel Tri | Y | at 1 lap |
| 20th | Seren Jones | Cotswold Veldrijden | Y | at 1 lap |
Novice
| 1st | Phil Clacy | 0 | Novice | |
| 2nd | Fiona Hawkins | PPV | Novice | at 1 lap |
| 3rd | Richard Robinson | NHRC | Novice | at 1 lap |
| 4th | Elizabeth O’Connor | PPV | Novice | at 1 lap |
Under 12
| 1st | Rowan Turner | Poole Wheelers | U12 | |
| 2nd | Anna Wadsworth | Beeline Bicycles | U12 | |
| 3rd | Jed Smithson | Oxonian CC | U10 | |
| 4th | Max Meadwell | Bournemouth Jubille | U12 | |
| 5th | Alexa Hawkins | PPV | U12 | |
| 6th | Madeline Cooper | Chapel Tri | U10 | |
| 7th | Sam Graham | NHRC | U10 | |
| 8th | Thomas Wadsworth | Beeline Bicycles | U10 | |
| 9th | Mack Mellish | Zappis | U8 | |
| 10th | Ella Shaftoe | Cotswold Veldrijden | U12 | |
| 11th | Tyler Smith | Cotswold Veldrijden | U12 | |
| 12th | Boston Sorensen | 0 | U12 | |
| 13th | Ben Fox | Charlottevill Rascals | U12 | |
| 14th | Ethan Spiers | 0 | U12 | at 1 lap |
| 15th | Sam Yates | 0 | U12 | at 1 lap |
| 16th | Harrison Philips | Cotswold Veldrijden | U12 | at 1 lap |
| 17th | Ollie Walker | Cotswold Veldrijden | U8 | at 1 lap |
| 18th | Melissa Cooper | Chapel Tri | U8 | at 1 lap |
| 19th | Lewis Jones | Swindon RC | U8 | at 1 lap |
| 20th | Sam Morgan | Cotswold Veldrijden | U10 | at 1 lap |
| 21st | Marshall Thompson | Andover Wheelers | U8 | at 1 lap |
| 22nd | William Blount | Chapel Tri | U8 | at 1 lap |
| 23rd | Daisy Taylor | Cotswold Veldrijden | U8 | at 1 lap |
| 24th | Oliver Hyman | Bath | U10 | at 1 lap |
| 25th | Simon Thompson | Pedalon.co.uk | U10 | at 1 lap |
| 26th | Andrew Loosemore | Team Striking Bikes | U12 | at 1 lap |
| 27th | Lucy Shaftoe | Cotswold Veldrijden | U10 | at 2 laps |
| 28th | Aidan Scott | Swindon RC | U8 | at 2 laps |
| 29th | Oscar Hancock | Cotswold Veldrijden | U8 | at 2 laps |
| 30th | Peterson Murphy | Zappis | U8 | at 2 laps |
| 31st | Thomas Hancock | Cotswold Veldrijden | U8 | at 4 laps |