Andy Hargroves (Felt Colbourne Hargroves RT) piped Steve James (Hargroves Cycles) by a couple of seconds on the line after the two young riders had been wheel to wheel all race all race. The Thruxton Motor Racing circuit in Hampshire hosted today’s racing; the course was laid out on the spectator car park with loads of tight twisty turns as they made their way up and down the grassy hill side.
Report by Graham Robins
Photo Gallery by Graham Robins
Full results below after the report.
below: action from the Under 12s race
The Senior race got underway after a minutes silence in memory of Wessex League Chairman Geoff Shergold who died last weekend, and soon it opened up into a race Geoff would have loved to watch. A group of six riders soon eased out a gap and started working to extend the gap. Along with Hargroves and James was Michael Cotty (Wheelbase Cannondale), Joe Griffiths (Strada), Matt Macdonald and Matt Hargroves of Hargroves Cycles.
below: the Senior race gets underway
The gaps were beginning to appear between these leaders as the rest tried to keep pace with the fast start. The lead changed several times on the first couple of laps with Cotty leading at the start of lap two. The three leaders were Hargroves, James and Cotty and as the small chasing group formed they started to lose time. At this point Cotty started to slip away and was now 21seconds down on the leading pair of Hargroves and James. The chasing trio of Griffiths, Matt Hargroves and Macdonald were now 42sec back and running together. At the front the leaders began to extend their grip on the race as it twisted its way around the sea of yellow and black tape.
The leaders were now comfortable with a couple of laps to go as the chasers slipped further back, Cotty was now over a minute back with the Macdonald lead trio were at 1min 35secs. These three looked like they were on for a sprint finish until Griffiths rolled a tub and slipped back as he limped his way towards the pit, and at this point Macdonald decided to put some distance between himself and Matt Hargroves.
The last lap didn’t see any changes to the order as Andy Hargroves and Steve James were locked as they went up and down the hill side, however it was Hargroves who arrived at the planks first and without a mistake he was first to re mount and lead into the last corner and with his arms aloft and looking skywards he took and emotional win on a special day for the League.
below: action from the Veteran/Women/Junior race
The combined vet/junior women race was won by Lewis King (Beeline Cycles) after hard fought race as the league’s four strongest riders were locked together on the first few laps. Along with King was Crispin Doyle (Hargroves Cycles), Mike Simpson (GS Henley) and Sean Williams (Wightlink Offshore). The race order didn’t change too much until just over a lap to go as King and Simpson found a couple of seconds over Doyle and Williams started to drop back. At the finish King outsprinted Simpson by a second Doyle finished twelve seconds further back and Williams was at twenty seconds.
Anna Cipullo Dames Cycling was first women (photo right) ahead of Tracy Cornell (North Hants RC) with Caroline Goward (Cotswold Veldrijden). The junior race was won by Joe Andrews ahead of Dan Tuley (Chapel tri Stars) and Zoe Sheehan (Cotswold Veldrijden) was first junior girl.
The earlier youth race saw Chris Rothwell (SCRA) take a fairly comfortable win of 1min 23 seconds over Edward Gronbech (Oxford City RC) and Tom Sewell (Cotswold Veldrijden) who was at 2mins 19secs.
Results below, any queries please email organiser Bernard Baker bernard@behindthebikeshed.co.uk
Senior Results
1 11 Andy Hargroves Felt Colbornes Hargroves 23
2 12 Steve James Hargroves Cycles 23
3 17 Mike Cotty Wheelbase Cannondale
4 32 Matt Macdonald Hargroves Cycles
5 5 Matt Hargroves Hargroves Cycles Jn
6 21 Joe Griffiths Strada Jn
7 10 Christopher Minter Pedalon.co.uk
8 15 Jamie Norfolk Pedalon.co.uk
9 9 Richard Lewis CC Basingstoke
10 31 James Cotty iride.co.uk
11 19 Gavin Spiers GS Henley
12 6 James Brett Wight Mountain At 1 Lap(s).
13 24 Hugh Knudsen Dream RC At 1 Lap(s).
14 26 Dan Atkins Didcot Phoenix CC At 1 Lap(s).
15 16 Fraser Macdonald Cotswold Velrijden At 1 Lap(s). 23
16 27 Phil Wilks Hargroves Cycles At 1 Lap(s).
17 14 Aaron Collins Swindon RC At 1 Lap(s). 23
18 22 Matt Wakeford Wyndymilla At 1 Lap(s).
19 30 Alex Mcintosh Swindon RC At 1 Lap(s).
20 7 Start Waite Not Known At 1 Lap(s).
21 18 Darren Lewis Reading CC At 1 Lap(s).
22 8 Peter Beisty GS Henley At 1 Lap(s).
23 29 Ben Darnton Not Known At 1 Lap(s).
24 20 Darren Sell Not Known At 1 Lap(s).
25 2 Alec Broome Wight Mountain At 1 Lap(s).
26 34 Andrew Harris Cowley Rd Condors At 1 Lap(s).
27 23 Steve Stroud Reading CC At 2 Lap(s).
28 13 Greg Anderson Dulwich Paragon At 2 Lap(s).
29 3 Gordon Bushell Wight Mountain At 2 Lap(s).
30 25 Laurence Hawkins Not Known At 2 Lap(s).
31 28 Alistair Moody Not Known At 2 Lap(s).
32 1 Richard Bennett Cotswold Velrijden At 3 Lap(s). 40
Veteran/Women/Junior Results
1 64 Lewis King Beeline RT 40
2 37 Mike Simpson GS Henley 40
3 73 Crispin Doyle Hargroves Cycles
4 30 Sean Williams Wight Mountain 40
5 21 Tim Hyde GS Henley 40
6 47 Robin Wilmott Cotswold Velrijden 40
7 24 Keith Sheridan Cotswold Velrijden 45
8 13 Dave Mcmullen Cotswold Velrijden 60
9 17 David Phillips Cotswold Velrijden 50
10 51 Pete Hutchinson Cotswold Velrijden 45
11 46 Tim Costello Southdown Velo 50
12 31 Joseph Andrews Fareham RC Jn
13 58 Pete Scott Cotswold Velrijden 40
14 16 Philip Boarer Southdown Velo 45
15 12 Andy Roberts Cotswold Velrijden 55
16 56 Gary Barlow Reading CC 45
17 25 Edward Gurney VC Venta 40
18 7 Chris Hutchings VC Venta 65
19 5 Graham Rogerson Army CU 40
20 43 Martyn Dymond Wight Mountain 45
21 55 Craig Hay Dark Star Brewery 40
22 42 Nigel Brown Westbury Wheelers 45
23 14 Garry Clark Banjo Cycles 50
24 27 James Pilgrim Morris GS Henley 45
25 40 Martin Tuckey Not Known 40
26 22 Steve Mead Didcot Phoenix CC 45
27 83 Dan Tuley Chapel Tristars Y
28 68 Philip Connell Sotonia CC 40
29 36 Anthony Dyment North Hants RC 50
30 60 Andy Smith Cotswold Velrijden 45
31 59 Paul Titcombs VC Venta 45
32 79 Alan Collins Portsmouth North End 40
33 53 Rob Carter VC Venta 40
34 69 Jez Hart Sotonia CC 40
35 71 Gareth Dridge Southdown Velo 40
36 67 Andre Posthuma North Hants RC 40
37 80 Mark Shepherd Banjo Cycles 40
38 34 Rob Ford Beeline RT At 1 Lap(s). 45
39 81 Graeme Sirzaver Not Known At 1 Lap(s). 45
40 76 Dave Wrey Oakley Pedalers At 1 Lap(s). 50
41 19 Richard Bremner North Hants RC At 1 Lap(s). 45
42 78 Simon Hudson Oxford City RC At 1 Lap(s). 40
43 26 Keith Allam VC Venta At 1 Lap(s). 55
44 35 Mark Wimes Didcot Phoenix CC At 1 Lap(s). 40
45 74 Anna Cipullo (W) Dame Cycling At 1 Lap(s).
46 18 Tracy Cornell (W) North Hants RC At 1 Lap(s).
47 20 Harjinder Obhi North Hants RC At 1 Lap(s). 40
48 39 Rex Pennington Not Known At 1 Lap(s). 45
49 3 David Lindsell Not Known At 1 Lap(s). 45
50 49 John Phillips Sotonia CC At 1 Lap(s). 55
51 54 Phill Chinn Fareham RC At 1 Lap(s). 45
52 10 Pete Warwick Didcot Phoenix CC At 1 Lap(s). 40
53 38 Chris Miles VC Venta At 1 Lap(s). 40
54 66 Adam Garder GS Henley At 1 Lap(s). 40
55 9 Gareth Walker Cotswold Velrijden At 1 Lap(s). 40
56 50 Jim Wood Fareham RC At 1 Lap(s). 45
57 6 Caroline Goward (W) Cotswold Velrijden At 1 Lap(s).
58 61 Ian Mcdonald Hargroves Cycles At 1 Lap(s). 55
59 23 Steve Longman Andover Whs At 1 Lap(s). 45
60 65 Steve Clarke Not Known At 1 Lap(s). 40
61 41 Jamie Pope Hargroves Cycles At 1 Lap(s). 45
62 29 Steve Dines Wight Mountain At 1 Lap(s). 55
63 75 David Martin Hargroves Cycles At 1 Lap(s). 50
64 4 Kim Lassiter Cotswold Velrijden At 1 Lap(s). 40
65 11 Steve Warwick Didcot Phoenix CC At 1 Lap(s). 50
66 70 Murray Quiney Southdown Velo At 1 Lap(s). 50
67 63 Paul Langdon Hargroves Cycles At 1 Lap(s). 45
68 72 Tweeks Twig Racing At 1 Lap(s). 50
69 2 Mark Allen Jays Pit Crew At 1 Lap(s). 40
70 82 Zoe Sheehan (W) Cotswold Velrijden At 1 Lap(s). Y
71 77 Terry Beisty Scunthorpe Polly At 1 Lap(s). 60
72 48 Danielle Burry Poole Wheelers At 2 Lap(s). Jn
73 62 Mark Adams Hargroves Cycles At 2 Lap(s). 45
74 8 Dave Jowett Hargroves Cycles At 2 Lap(s). 50
75 28 Martin Ward Sotonia CC At 2 Lap(s). 60
76 52 Caroline Stewart (W) Not Known At 2 Lap(s). 40
77 15 Rhianna Jones (W) Cotswold Velrijden At 2 Lap(s). Y
78 32 Hannah Gibbs (W) Cotswold Velrijden At 2 Lap(s). Jn
79 1 Mandy Scott (W) Cotswold Velrijden At 2 Lap(s). 40
80 44 Richard Bennett Cotswold Velrijden At 2 Lap(s). 40
Youth Results
1 101 Christopher Rothwell Swindon CRA 14
2 105 Edward Gronbech Oxford City RC 14
3 115 Tom Sewell Cotswold Velrijden Y
4 125 Elliot Lassiter Cotswold Velrijden 14
5 104 Angus Hawkins Palmer Park Velo 12
6 107 Erin Baker Southdown Velo 14
7 124 Alex Cross Oakley Pedalers 14
8 117 Charlie Cooper Chapel Tristars 14
9 118 Archie Scott Cotswold Velrijden 14
10 109 Ieuan Woods Charlotteville Rascals 14
11 130 Ciara Hutchinson Cotswold Velrijden Y
12 106 Alderney Baker (W) Southdown Velo 12
13 116 Liam Sewell Cotswold Velrijden 14
14 126 Jamie Ellis Swindon RC 14
15 103 Jay Allen Palmer Park Velo 12
16 108 Abbie Manley (W) Chapel Tristars At 1 Lap(s). 12
17 129 Conor Hutchinson Cotswold Velrijden At 1 Lap(s). 12
18 127 Jamie Kimber Cotswold Velrijden At 1 Lap(s). 14
19 123 Barney Clacy Chapel Tristars At 1 Lap(s). 12
20 114 Kara Perryman Solent Pirates At 1 Lap(s). 14
21 111 Rebecca Hurst Poole Wheelers At 1 Lap(s). 14
22 128 Ben Churchill Not Known At 1 Lap(s). Y
23 113 Amy Perryman Solent Pirates At 1 Lap(s). 12
24 121 Rachel Thompson Palmer Park Velo At 1 Lap(s). 12
25 112 Natalie Moore Swindon RC At 1 Lap(s). 12
26 120 Seren Jones Cotswold Velrijden At 2 Lap(s). 14
Under 12 Results
1 2 Jed Smithson Oxonian CC 10
2 4 Anna Wadsworth (W) Beeline RT 10
3 3 Ben Fox Charlotteville Rascals 12
4 16 Finn Hawkins Palmer Park Velo 10
5 18 Sam Graham NHRC 10
6 1 Freddie Horner Behind The Bikeshed At 1 Lap(s). 12
7 15 Alexa Hawkins (W) Palmer Park Velo At 1 Lap(s). 10
8 74 Ethan Spiers Not Known At 1 Lap(s). 10
9 7 MorGan Whitham Andover BGT BMX At 1 Lap(s). 10
10 11 Liam O Donnell Charlotteville Rascals At 2 Lap(s). 10
11 29 Jack Cromie iTeam At 2 Lap(s). 10
12 31 Hayden Gray Not Known At 2 Lap(s). 10
13 28 James Brown Palmer Park Velo At 2 Lap(s). 10
14 8 Oliver Hill Cotswold Velrijden At 2 Lap(s). 10
15 33 Leo Strzaker Solent Pirates At 2 Lap(s). 10
16 30 Adam Potter iTeam At 2 Lap(s). 10
17 72 Lewis Jones Swindon RC At 2 Lap(s). 10
18 32 Rohan Gray Not Known At 2 Lap(s). 10
19 75 Jamie Whitcher Solent Pirates At 3 Lap(s). 10
20 73 Lewis Seaward Poole Wheelers At 3 Lap(s). 10
21 13 Ellen Phillips (W) Team Fatboy At 3 Lap(s). 10
22 25 Amy Canfelo (W) SPY CC At 3 Lap(s). 12
23 27 Boston Sorenson Not Known At 3 Lap(s). 12
24 35 Ollie Walker Cotswold Velrijden At 3 Lap(s). 12
25 78 Simon Thompson Pedalon At 3 Lap(s). 10
26 21 John Mcconker Not Known At 3 Lap(s). 10
27 71 Ella Shaftoe (W) Cotswold Velrijden At 4 Lap(s). 12
28 26 Daisy Pattinson (W) SPY CC At 5 Lap(s). 10
29 6 Not known At 6 Lap(s). 14