Matt Macdonald (Hargroves Cycles) overcame a last lap scare when with over half a lap to go his rear mech let go making him run to the pits for a spare bike, he had nearly a two minute lead when the mechanical happened and won the race by 16secs on the line to a hard charging Joe Hickerton.
The final round of the Wessex League was promoted by Fareham Wheelers CC and held in the superb setting of Fairthorne Manor just east of Southampton. The venue is normally used as a teaching venue for children to learn about the country side and is part of the YMCA. Early morning frost gave way to very slushy parkland and lots of muddy technical wooded sections which cut up throughout the day. In order to use as much of the venue as possible the club even constructed a bridge across the river on the lead up to the race. While heavy rain was forecast along with strong winds we race only had a light shower throughout the day.
Report by Graham Robins
Photo Gallery by Graham Robins here
Full results are now available below after the report.
At the start of the senior race it was James Cotty (i-ride.co.uk) who was making the early running as the course wound its way around the venue and onto the river crossing before entering the woods for the first time. A longish lap in soggy conditions soon split the bunch and by the end of the opening lap Macdonald had gained the lead and was clear by nearly 30secs. Chasing Matt was Joe Hickerton, Richard Lewis (CC Basingstoke), James Brett (Wightlink Offshore) and Karl Norfolk (Pedalon.co.uk).
Matt was making the best of the conditions and increasing his lead, and by the second lap he was over a minute clear of Hickerton and Cotty with Lewis another 20secs back. The remaining laps didn’t see any changes of position but Matt increased his lead to over two minutes.
Then on the bell lap disaster struck the Hargroves rider as on the second climb into the wooded section the rear mech let go forcing him to shoulder the bike to the pits. He now had Hickerton breathing down his neck as his large lead slipped away. Once on the spare bike Matt picked up the speed again and managed to hold on for the win by 16secs on the line. Joe Hickerton managed to break away from James Cotty finishing 20secs clear.
below: Aaron Collins (Cotswold Veldrijen) in the Senior race
The combined vet/junior/women’s race was also not without its share of last lap problems as winner Sean Williams (Wightlink Offshore) lost all his front brakes forcing him to finish the race on his spare mountain bike. At the start of the race Sean was the quickest away along with Keith Sheridan (Cotswold Veldrijden), Tim Hyde (GS Henley), Robin Wilmott (Cotswold Veldrijden) and junior rider Joseph Andrews (Fareham Wheelers). Claire Smith (Cotswold Veldrijden) was the leading women on the opening laps.
On the second lap Williams led by 12secs from Sheridan with Tim Hyde, Graham Rogerson (Army CC) and Stuart Pickering (Cyclologic) with all riders fairly close together. It then started to rain and gaps started to appear once the course cut up and William lead increased to 30secs with Sheridan ahead of Rogerson by another 30secs. Wilmott was getting the better of the conditions to get past Pickering. The remainder of the top ten included junior rider Andrews, Hyde and a charging Tim Costello (Southdown Velo) who was picking off places as he climbed into the top places.
At the bell Williams led by 47secs from Sheridan with Pickering another minute down but he had Wilmott on his wheel closely followed by Rogerson. Sean had the time to take the spare bike and complete the race even managing to extend his lead over Sheridan. Wilmott got the better of Pickering to take third with Rogerson, Hyde, Andrews and Costello closing out the leader board. Claire Smith won the women’s race with Zoe Sheehan (Cotswold Veldrijden) the first junior girl.
below: action from the Vets/Women/Junior race
Edward Gronbech (Oxford City RC) (photo right) continued his good run of form by winning the youth race in a commanding pace as he set off quickly opening up a lead on the first lap of over a minute and a half over Charlie Cooper (Chapel Tri-Stars). Angus Hawkins (PPV) was third and in turn he had a lead of over a minute from Erin Baker (Southdown Velo). The young ladies race was led by Abbie Manley (Chapel Tri-Stars) from Alderney Baker (Southdown Velo) although the gap on the early laps was only a handful of seconds.
While Edward increased his lead at the front the minor places didn’t change just the time gaps increased, and at the finish he won by 2mins 44secs from Cooper. Abbie had a strong last lap and increased her lead over Alderney to 20secs and she finished sixth overall.
There was another large entry from the under twelve’s and they enjoyed splashing around in the mud and they all went hope happy with their ‘goody bags’ vowing to come back again.
below: start of the Under 12s race
Full Results
Revised results posted on Tuesday 7th Jan 2014 at 11:00pm.
Any queries about the results should be sent to race organiser Phillip Chin phillipchinn@hotmail.com
Senior
|
1st |
Matt MacDonald | Hargroves Cycles CC | S | |
|
2nd |
Joe Hickerton | N/A | S | |
|
3rd |
James Cotty | i-ride.co.uk | S | |
|
4th |
Richard Lewis | LC Basingstoke | S | |
|
5th |
James Brett | Wightlink LCM | S | |
|
6th |
Karl Norfolk | Pedalon.co.uk | S | |
|
7th |
Aaron Collins | Cotswold Veldrijden | S | |
|
8th |
Jason Burkinshaw | Blazing Saddles Cycles | S | |
|
9th |
Michael Miach | Pretorius Bikes | S | |
|
10th |
Stuart Thompson | Andover Wheelers | S | |
|
11th |
Chris Dobson | Hargroves RT | S | |
|
12th |
Alex Forrester | Hargroves RT | S | |
|
13th |
Phil Wilkes | Hargroves Cycles CC | S | |
|
14th |
Darren Lewis | Reading CC | S | |
|
15th |
Nathan Marks | N/A | S | at 1 lap |
|
16th |
Barry Harvey | Blazing Saddles Cycles | V40? | at 1 lap |
|
17th |
Tom Treages | Hargroves Cycles CC | S | at 1 lap |
|
18th |
Darren Sell | Sotonia CC | S | at 1 lap |
|
19th |
Joseph Andrews | FWCC | S | at 1 lap |
|
20th |
David Belcher | Sotonia CC | S | at 1 lap |
|
21st |
Gordon Bushell | Wight Mountain | S | at 1 lap |
|
22nd |
Ashley Morris | FWCC | S | at 1 lap |
|
23rd |
Peter Hailwood | FWCC | S | at 2 laps |
|
24th |
Paul Osborne | N/A | S | at 2 laps |
|
DNF |
Steve Kirk | Sotonia CC | S | DNF at 3 laps |
|
DNF |
Matthew Wakeford | Windy Millar | S | DNF at 2 laps |
Veteran/Women/Junior
|
1st |
Sean Williams | Wightlink/ Offshore | V40 | |
|
2nd |
Keith Sheridan | Cotswold Veldrijden | V40 | |
|
3rd |
Robin Wilmott | Cotswold Veldrijden | V40 | |
|
4th |
Stewart Pickering | www.cyclelogic.co.uk | V40 | |
|
5th |
Graham Rogerson | Army Cycling Union | V40 | |
|
6th |
Tim Hyde | G.S.Henley | V40 | |
|
7th |
Joseph Andrews | FWCC | JM | |
|
8th |
Tim Costello | Southdown Velo | V50 | |
|
9th |
Gary Barlow | Reading CC | V40 | |
|
10th |
Chris Hutchins | VC Venta | V40 | |
|
11th |
Martyn Dymond | WIGHT Mountain/ Red Funnel | V50 | |
|
12th |
Pete Hutchinson | Cotswold Veldrijden | V40 | |
|
13th |
Craig Hay | Dark Star Brewery | V40 | |
|
14th |
Edward Gurney | VC Venta | V40 | |
|
15th |
Anthony Dyment | North Hampshire RC | V50 | |
|
16th |
Alan Collins | Portsmouth North End CC | V40 | |
|
17th |
Robert Carter | VC Venta | V40 | |
|
18th |
Martin Winter | Twickenham CC | V40 | |
|
19th |
Paul Thomas | VC Venta | V40 | |
|
20th |
Gareth Dridge | Southdown Velo | V40 | |
|
21st |
Andy Smith | Cotswold Veldrijden | V50 | |
|
22nd |
Mark Shephard | Banjo Cycles | V40 | |
|
23rd |
Jez Hart | Sotonia CC | V40 | |
|
24th |
Duncan Schwier | Twickenham CC | V50 | |
|
25th |
James Pilgrim-Morris | G.S.Henley | V40 | |
|
26th |
Stewart Gough | VC Venta | V60 | |
|
27th |
Will Solomon | BJW | V40 | |
|
28th |
Andre Posthuma | North Hampshire RC | V40 | |
|
29th |
Claire Smith | Cotswold Veldrijden | W | |
|
30th |
Robert Tutt | G.S.Europa | V40 | |
|
31st |
Kieran Woods | Charlottesville CC | JM | at 1 lap |
|
32nd |
Richard Bremmer | North Hampshire RC | V50 | at 1 lap |
|
33rd |
Phillip Clacy | Chapel Tristars | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
34th |
Alex Johnson | N/A | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
35th |
Shaun Smart | Southdown Velo | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
36th |
Kim Cassiter | Cotswold Veldrijden | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
37th |
Tracy Comell | North Hampshire RC | W | at 1 lap |
|
38th |
Dean Prosser | Hargroves Cycles CC | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
39th |
Harjinder Obhi | North Hampshire RC | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
40th |
Geoffrey Booker | Oxonian CC | V50 | at 1 lap |
|
41st |
Paul Banner | Kingston Wheelers | V50 | at 1 lap |
|
42nd |
Solveig Findley | Twickenham CC | W | at 1 lap |
|
43rd |
Harry Hailwood | FWCC | JM | at 1 lap |
|
44th |
John Phillips | Sotonia CC | V50 | at 1 lap |
|
45th |
Andy Tucker | Newbury Road Club | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
46th |
David Wilkinson | BTA | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
47th |
Andy Stevenson | N/A | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
48th |
Mark Allen | Jay’s Pit Crew | V50 | at 1 lap |
|
49th |
Murray Quiney | Southdown Velo | V50 | at 1 lap |
|
50th |
Zoe Sheehan | Cotswold Veldrijden | JW | at 1 lap |
|
51st |
Sly Jennings | FWCC | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
52nd |
Dave Sekington | FWCC | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
53rd |
Dave Jowett | Hargroves Cycles CC | V50 | at 1 lap |
|
54th |
Steve Cook | Southampton Tri Club | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
55th |
Mark Adams | Hargroves Cycles CC | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
56th |
Stephen Roche | FWCC | V40 | at 1 lap |
|
57th |
Angus Fileman | FWCC | V50 | at 2 laps |
|
58th |
Joseph Giret | G.S.Henley | V50 | at 2 laps |
|
DNF |
Phillip Chinn | FWCC | V40 | DNF at 2 laps |
|
DNS |
Sean Bolton | Swindon RC | V40 | DNF at 1 lap |
|
DNF |
Simon Meadwell | Bournemouth Jubilee WHIS | V40 | DNF at 1 lap |
Youth
|
1st |
Edward Gronbech 57 | Oxford City Road Club | U16 | |
|
2nd |
Charlie Cooper 60 | Chapel Tristars | U16 | |
|
3rd |
Angus Hawkins 52 | Palmer Park Velo RT | U14 | |
|
4th |
Erin Baker 63 | Southdown Velo | U14 | |
|
5th |
Ieuan Woods 54 | Charlotteville CC | U14 | |
|
6th |
Abbie Manley 56 | Chapel Tristars | U14G | |
|
7th |
Alderney Baker 62 | Southdown Velo | U14G | |
|
8th |
Jay Allen 59 | PPV | U14 | |
|
9th |
Barney Clacy 51 | Chapel Tristars | U14 | |
|
10th |
Harry Dridge 66 | Southdown Velo | U14 | at 1 lap |
|
11th |
Rebecca Hurst 53 | Poole Wheelers | U16G | at 1 lap |
|
12th |
Lou Otway 66 (Orange) | N/A | N | at 1 lap |
|
13th |
Fletcher Adams 64 | Hargroves Cycles | U14 | at 1 lap |
|
14th |
Paul Frisby 62 (Orange) | Southdown Velo | N | at 1 lap |
|
15th |
Patryk Ruck? 69 (Orange) | N/A | N | at 1 lap |
|
16th |
Martin Pegler 67 (Orange) | QECP Trail Collective | N | at 1 lap |
|
17th |
Rachel Thompson 65 | PPV | U14G | at 1 lap |
|
18th |
Lucy Gadd 61 | Poole Wheelers | U14G | at 1 lap |
|
19th |
Gordon Richardson 61 (Orange) | PNECC | N | at 1 lap |
|
20th |
Jennifer Forrester 63 (Orange) | N/A | N | at 1 lap |
|
21st |
Amy Perryman 58 | Solent Pirates | U14G | at 1 lap |
|
22nd |
Ashley Winton 65 (Orange) | N/A | N | at 1 lap |
|
23rd |
Natalie Moore 55 | Swindon RC | U14G | at 1 lap |
|
24th |
Jonathan Plummer 68 (Orange) | VC Venta | N | at 2 laps |
|
25th |
Charlotte Winton 64 (Orange) | N/A | N | at 2 laps |
|
DNF |
Jon Taylor 60 (Orange) | N/A | N | DNF at 3 laps |
Under 12
|
1st |
Rowan Turner | Poole Wheelers | U12 | |
|
2nd |
Gabriel Banner | Hillingdon Slipstreamers | U12 | |
|
3rd |
Jed Smithson | Oxonian CC | U10 | |
|
4th |
Alexa Hawkins | PPV | U12G | |
|
5th |
Madeleine Cooper | Chapel Tristars | U10G | |
|
6th |
Finn Hawkins | PPV | U10 | |
|
7th |
Sam Graham | NHRC | U8 | |
|
8th |
Ben Fox | Charlotteville Rascals | U12 | |
|
9th |
Adam Potter | iTeam | U10 | |
|
10th |
Tyler Smith | Cotswold Veldrijden | U12 | |
|
11th |
Felix Clacy | Chapel Tristars | U10 | |
|
12th |
Poppy Pattinson | SPYCC | U12G | |
|
13th |
Amy Canteld | SPYCC | U12G | |
|
14th |
Eli Pickering | One and All | U8 | |
|
15th |
Ethan Spiers | Thatcham | U12 | |
|
16th |
Jamie Tutt | G.S.Europa | U12 | |
|
17th |
James Brown | PPV | U8 | |
|
18th |
Flynn Taylor | SPYCC | U12 | |
|
19th |
Pascal Giret | G.S.Henley | U10 | at 1 lap |
|
20th |
Melissa Cooper | Chapel Tristars | U8G | at 1 lap |
|
21st |
Callum Robins | Solent Pirates | U8 | at 1 lap |
|
22nd |
Jamie Whitcher | Solent Pirates | U10 | at 1 lap |
|
23rd |
Leo Sttrzakkr | Solent Pirates | U10 | at 1 lap |
|
24th |
Niamh Murphy | Cotswold Veldrijden | U10G | at 1 lap |
|
25th |
Freya Richardson | PNECC | U12G | at 1 lap |
|
26th |
George Mahone | BCS Tri | U8 | at 1 lap |
|
27th |
Alexander Winton | BCS Tri | U8 | at 1 lap |
|
28th |
Annabelle Cooke | Chapel Tristars | U12G | at 1 lap |
|
29th |
Isabella Cooke | Solent Pirates | U12G | at 1 lap |
|
30th |
Elise Hawkins | PPV | U8G | at 1 lap |
|
31st |
William Dunn | Thatcham | U12 | at 1 lap |
|
32nd |
Ellen Phillips | Team Fatboy | U10G | at 1 lap |
|
33rd |
Jonny Pickering | One and All | U10 | at 1 lap |
|
34th |
Thomas Johnson | Chapel Tristars | U10 | at 2 laps |
|
35th |
Douglas Forrester | Toothill Hardriders | U8 | at 2 laps |
|
36th |
Zoe Nicholls | Solent Pirates | U8G | at 2 laps |
|
37th |
Daisy Pattinson | SPYCC | U8G | at 2 laps |
|
DNF |
Ben Nicholls | Solent Pirates | U8 | DNF at 3 laps |
|
DNF |
Massie Winton | BCS Tri | U8G | DNF at 2 laps |
|
DNF |
Billy Winton | BCS Tri | U8 | DNF at 2 laps |