The latest round saw the riders massing at the Southampton Sports Centre for the Sotonia CC event. Despite the rain yesterday as the club were setting up the course they arrived bright and early to be greeted by a lovely day and bright blue skies. Sotonia had made good use area as they laid a course with climbs, flat sections a fashionable spiral and a small wooded section but overall the ground remained firm to ride.

Race Results will be on the results website HERE

All queries about results should be emailed to blacksheepsportsltd@gmail.com

Photo Gallery by Graham Robins HERE 

Race Report by Graham Robins

Continuing his dominance this season Adrian Lansley (PedalOn) laid down another marker as he continues his charge towards winning the League overall. Taking the race lead on the first lap he was able to ride away from his chasers as they were locked in a tussle for the entire race.

With the sun slowly dropping away the seniors took to the course for an hour of racing. Sam Allen (PedalOn) led the riders through the early sections and into the woods for the first time but his lead was short lived as Lansley quickly took control. Behind the two PedalOn riders were Alex Forrester (Zapnet.com) and Michael Cotty (Col Collective). The only rider within the same full minute of the four leaders was Joe Hickerton (Eden Veranda).

By the third lap, Lansley had a lead of 20secs over Forrester, Cotty and Allen as these three were locked together. Not wanting to wait Forrester decided to make a move and managed to pull out 10secs but Cotty was attentive and quickly closed the gap whilst Allen looked like he was beginning to lose ground. The next couple of laps saw Lansley hold station while the chasing three were within a wheel of each other.

On lap six Forrester finally broke away from Cotty but a slowly deflating tub let him down and Cotty and Allen were quick to capitalise on the Zapnet rider’s misfortune and closed the gap. With Lansley within sight of the finish eyes were turned towards the three chasers who were swapping places as each looked for a gap. Forrester was the first across the tarmac section onto the finish section followed by Cotty with Allen trailing in fourth and just off the podium.

In the Women’s race Susan Parker (North Hants RC) put in a commanding effort as she took full advantage of team mate Sarah Barber’s puncture losing her nearly two minutes but once on a fully functioning bike Barber soon set about chasing down the deficit. Parker seemed to find this course to her liking and she would have given anyone a good run for their money today.

The combined vet, junior and senior women’s race saw Claire Smith (Cotswold Veldrijden) climb quickly into second place with Lindy Larkin (Dame Cycling) riding well and gaining time over Fareham Wheeler rider Carly Hughes. Caroline Goward (Scott) was second vet but back in 8^th place and on the final place on the vet podium was Mandy Hibberd (PedalOn). Back on a new bike Barber was closing down the riders in front of her but she ran out of time and was only able to rise through the field to fourth senior and fifth overall. Ella Freeman (Team Montezumas Hargroves Cycles) was first junior followed by Jamie Kimber (Cotswold Veldrijden)

In the vet 50+ race Kevin Holloway (GS Vecchi) also decided he wasn’t going to hang around and he soon eased out a large lead over team mate Tim Costello, and on the opening lap after Costello had pitted Holloway lead by 50secs. Running behind was Malcolm Cross (VC Venta) and the third GS Vecchi rider Phillip Boarer. Just outside the leading group was Chris Hutchings (VC Venta) and Mike Williams (Fareham Wheelers). Over the remainder of the race the order did not change but Holloway managed to extend his lead over Costello to 1min 24secs.

In the combined vet 40+ and junior race it was Ed Gronbech (Oxford City RC) who took the lead along with Nick Onslow (PedalOn), Charlie Cooper (Hargroves Cycles) and Owen Pattinson (Owens Cycles).

In the vet race Pattinson held a lead over Tim Hyde (PedalOn) and Graham Rogerson (Cotswold Veldrijden) by 22secs and 41secs respectfully. Erin Baker (Team MK) found today’s slippery conditions to his liking and he just rode away from Gronbech at half way point leaving the two Cotswold Veldrijden riders Archie Scott and Liam Sewell in his wake.

In the youth race Matthew Coulson (PPV) made light work of the course as he put in a commanding performance to win the u16 male category with also wins for Max Edgington (Solent Pirates, Madeline Grace Cooper (Eden Veranda) and Alderney Baker (Matrix Fitness)

Jed Smithson (Hillingdon Slipstreamers) was first u12 male and Melissa Eve Cooper (Eden Veranda) was first female.

Provisional Results

Seniors

1^st Adrian Lansley PedalOn 58mins 34secs

2^nd Alex Forrester Zepnat.com @48secs

3^rd Michael Cotty Col Collective @50secs

4^th Sam Allen PedalOn @51secs

5^th Joe Hickerton Eden Veranda

6^th Kean Wytrykowski PedalOn

7^th Jamie Norfolk PedalOn

8^th Ryan Smith HR Owens

9^th Tom Budden Sotonia CC

10^th Daniel Atkins Didcot Phoenix CC

Women seniors

1^st Susan Parker North Hants RC

2^nd Lindy Larkin Dame Cycling

3^rd Carly Hughes Fareham Wheelers

4^th Sarah Barber North Hants RC

5^th Lauren Cracknell PedalOn

Vets

1^st Claire Smith Cotswold Veldrijden

2^nd Caroline Goward Scott

3^rd Mandy Hibberd PedalOn

Junior

1^st Ella Freeman Team Montezumas Hargroves Cycles

2^nd Jamie Kimber Cotswold Veldrijden

Vet 50+

1^st Kevin Holloway GS Vecchi 40mins 21secs

2^nd Tim Costello GS Vecchi @1min 24secs

3^rd Malcolm Cross VC Venta

4^th Phillip Boarer GS Vecchi

5^th Mike Williams Fareham Wheelers

Vet40+

1^st Owen Pattinson Owens Cycles

2^nd Tim Hyde PedalOn @22secs

3^rd Graham Rogerson Cotswold Veldrijden

4^th Nick Onslow PedalOn

5^th Roger Prior

Juniors

1^st Erin Baker Team MK

2^nd Edward Gronbech Oxford city RC

3^rd Archie Scott Cotswold Veldrijden

4^th Liam Sewell Cotswold Veldrijden

5^th Charlie Cooper Hargroves Cycles