Tom Sewell (Cotswold Veldrijden) the eighteen year old from Swindon claimed his maiden senior win in the Wessex League after finishing fourth last week making the step up from junior last season look seamless. Tom made a good start from the front row of the grid after last week’s lower position due to the jump up to seniors.

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Photographs by Graham Robins  HERE

Report by Graham Robins

The days racing held on a disused golf course to the west of Swindon and promoted by the local Cotswold Veldrijden club. The course mainly on grassland weaved and twisted its way around in all directions as course designer Andy Smith had lost his straight edge. Despite a couple of showers the day remained dry and the course held up well. With numbers high again a day’s racing was eagerly anticipated.

As the senior race started on a tarmac strip before turning into field it was Jamie Norfolk (PedalOn) who had the better start ahead of Sewell, closely followed by Michael Cotty (Cannondale Racing), Tom Budden (Sotonia CC) and Richard Lewis (CC Basingstoke).

After the first full lap Cotty had found a way through but Sewell was close by and soon found space to pass, Sam Allen (PedalOn) had made a couple of places with Joe Hickerton (Eden Veranda) also making up several places in the early stages.

As the laps ticked away Sewell held a lead of around 25secs from Hickerton and Cotty, then Allen at just over a minute, then Norfolk and Budden. This lead group of six stayed the same throughout the remainder of the race. At the bell Sewell held a ten second from Cotty and Hickerton who were locked together, Allen had dropped further back at a minute and Norfolk at 1min 40secs.

With The two chasing riders having a tussle Sewell held his lead for the final lap and crossed the line clear and then we waited as Cotty and Hickerton to sprint out the podium positions.

Earlier in the morning Helen Pattinson (Solent Pirates) came from behind to win the women’s race after initially leading the race. Kara Perryman (Team Montezuma’s Hargroves) was leading but the slippery conditions just after it rained allowed Pattinson to catch up and pass while Harriet Guest (Cotswold Veldrijden) was keeping pace with the leaders just 10secs down while Tamina Olivier making a return to cross was in fourth.

The vet 50+ race was won by Steven Davies (Hargroves Cycles) but he was pushed all the way by a fast charging Keith Sheridan (Cotswold Veldrijden) and Kevin Holloway (GS Vecchi).

Dan Guest (Cotswold Veldrijden) ran out winner of the vet 40+ race after an early tussle with junior Callum Macleod (PPV) who then quickly found Will Cooper (Team Montezuma’s Hargroves) closing in on him. In the middle of their race junior riders Erin Baker (Team MK) had Archie Scott (Cotswold Veldrijden) for company. The next vet 40+ rider behind Guest was Owen Pattinson (Owens Cycles) at just over a minute followed by Graham Rogerson (Cotswold Veldrijden) over 90secs down on Guest.

With last week’s winner not on the start sheet, Barney Clacy (Eden Veranda), Matt Coulson (Palmer Park Velo) and a host of others would have been fancying their chances for the top spot this week. On a very different course with lots of tight and technical riding it was Clacy who led from the start dragging Coulson, Sam Bishop (Charlotteville CC) and Euan Macleod (Palmer Park Velo) out into a small leading group. As Clacy powered ahead, Coulson disappeared having snapped his chain, leaving Bishop and Macleod in pursuit. With each passing lap the gap between Clacy and his pursuers opened up with Clacy certain of the win baring any technical difficulties. Meanwhile, Bishop seemed to be happy to let Macleod sit in with the dual for 2nd and 3rd looking very likely to come down to a sprint. Macleod had other ideas crucially nipping in front of Bishop before the final technical turn into the home straight giving himself a gap that held to the line. A fine with for Clacy with Macleod in second and Bishop third. In the girls race, Katie Scott (Cotswold Veldrijden) started as she finished last week moving into the lead in front of Abbie Manley (Solent Pirates), Maddie Wadsworth (Beeline Bicycles RT) and Amy Perryman (Solent Pirates) with U14 Anna Wadsworth (Beeline Bicycles RT) in close attendance. As the race unfolded, Scott vanished having suffered the same fate as Coulson, leaving Manley to forge on for the win with Wadsworth in 2nd and Perryman in 3rd.

Provisional Results

Seniors

1^st Tom Sewell Cotswold Veldrijden 1hr 01min 32secs

2^nd Michael Cotty Cannondale Racing @8secs

3^rd Joe Hickerton Eden Veranda @st

4^th Sam Allen PedalOn @1min 13secs

5^th Jamie Norfolk PedalOn @1min 42secs

Women

1^st Helen Pattinson Solent Pirates 48mins 50secs 1^st Vet

2^nd Kara Perryman Team Montezuma’s Hargroves 1^st Junior

3^rd Harriet Guest Cotswold Veldrijden

4^th Tamina Oliver

5^th Lindy Larkin Dame Cycling – Quidne IT

Vet 40+/Junior

1^st Dan Guest Cotswold Veldrijden 40mins 22secs

2^nd Callum Macleod PPV 1^st Junior @37secs

3^rd Will Cooper Team Montezuma’s Hargroves @38secs

4^th Erin Baker Team MK

5^th Archie Scott Cotswold Veldrijden

Vet 50+

1^st Steven Davies Hargroves Cycles 42mins 46secs

2^nd Keith Sheridan Cotswold Veldrijden @3secs

3^rd Kevin Holloway GS Vecchi @6secs

4^th Mitch Purvis Rides On Air

5^th Clive Evans

In the under 12’s races there were wins for Jed Smithson (Hillingdon Slipstreamers) and Melissa Cooper (Eden Veranda Racing). In the under 10’s race there were wins for Daniel Phillips (Cotswold Veldrijden) and Anna Patterson (PM)