Report by Graham Robins

Adrian Lansley (PedalOn) was crowned South of England champion for the fourth time today after leading the race from start to finish and winning with a comfortable 25secs margin over Chris Rothwell (BW Cycles) with Sam Allen Adrian’s team mate taking the third step of the podium.

Other winners today were Dan Guest (Cotswold Veldrijden) in the vet 40+ races and Owen Pattinson (Owens Cycles) in the vet50+ race. Whilst in the women’s races there were wins for junior Abbie Manley (Hargroves Ridley Montezuma’s), Senior Kara Perryman (Hargroves Ridley Montezuma’s) and Claire Smith (Cotswold Veldrijden) won the vet category.

Today’s host were North Hants RC and they even managed to find a new venue never used for a Wessex League round. The venue was in the field adjacent to Popham airfield which even included a small wooded copse. The course was firm and rode really quickly. Despite a chilly start to the morning it remained dry throughout the racing.

Lansley made a quick start on the opening lap leading into the twisty in field section before passing the pits and heading towards the woods. On the exit of the woods the riders had even more twists and turns before completing a lap.

Behind our leader they were beginning to queue up with Sam Allen ahead of Rothwell and Alex Forrester (Zepnat.com), whilst Michael Guilford, Tom Budden (Sotonia CC) and Tom Sewell (Cotswold Veldrijden) were already locked together.

With several laps completed there were no changes in the leaders until Rothwell finally managed to dispatch Allen, but by now he was already too far behind to Lansley to make a difference.

At the bell Lansley had a lead over Rothwell of 24secs with Allen now at 48secs. Forrester was in no man’s land behind the leading trio whilst Sewell had finally pulled away from Budden. Karl Norfolk (PedalOn) was next with Glyndwr Griffiths (72Degrees CC) finally climbing into the top ten as Guilford started to slip away.

In the combined Women’s races junior Abbie Manley and team mate Amy Perryman (Hargroves Ridley Montezuma’s) were setting the pace at the front along with senior Kara Perryman first senior and Katie Scott the third junior in the race making the front of the race all red and yellow. Claire Smith (Cotswold Veldrijden) was leading the vet women’s race with team mate Jessica Connor second.

Beginning to come through the field in the senior’s race was Iwona Szmyd (Royal Dean Forrest CC) running just ahead of Jennifer Forrester (Zepnat.com) and Lindy Larkin (Sarum Velo).

Manley continued her run of fine from last Sunday’s trophy race to take the junior crown with Kara Perryman the senior and Claire Smith the vet honours.

Dan Guest (Cotswold Veldrijden) was in imperious form in the vet 40+ race leading from start to finish winning by 43secs ahead of Jamie Norfolk (PedalOn) with Peter Kench (Ride 24/7) on the final step of the podium.

Alton based rider Owen Pattinson (Owens Cycles) won the vet50+ race but he had to wait a couple of laps as Mike Williams (Fareham Wheelers) made a strong start. Tim Costello (GS Vecchi) struggling with a bruised rib for racing at the masters in Belgium earlier in the week was slowly being caught by Anthony Dyment (North Hants RC) but the Basingstoke rider had left his charge a little late and finished only 15secs behind Costello.

Barney Clacy (Hargroves Ridley Montezuma’s) won the junior male race from Sam Smith (Cheltenham &County RC), with Harry Dridge Clacys team mate third.

photos

Results

(full results here)

Seniors

1^st Adrian Lansley PedalOn 59mins 05secs

2^nd Chris Rothwell BW Cycles +25secs

3^rd Sam Allen PedalOn +50secs

4^th Alexander Forrester Zepnat.com

5^th Thomas Sewell Cotswold Veldrijden

6^th Tom Budden Sotonia CC

7^th Karl Norfolk PedalOn

8^th Glyndwr Griffiths 73 Degrees CC

9^th Michael Guilford VC Meudon

10^th Oscar Hutchings VC Equip/Flix

Women

Junior

1^st Abbie Manley Hargroves Ridley Montezuma’s

2^nd Amy Perryman Hargroves Ridley Montezuma’s

3^rd Katie Scott Hargroves Ridley Montezuma’s

Seniors

1^st Kara Perryman Hargroves Ridley Montezuma’s

2^nd Iwona Szmyd Royal Dean Forest CC

3^rd Jennifer Forrester Zepnat.com

4^th Alison Rothnie Spokes BPC Racing

5^th Lindy Larkin Sarum Velo

Vets

1^st Claire Smith Cotswold Veldrijden

2^nd Jessica Connor Cotswold Veldrijden

3^rd Rachael Clay VC Meudon

4^th Harriet Guest Cotswold Veldrijden

5^th Miriam Whitehurst Radeon-Bike Science RT

Vet 40+

1^st Dan Guest Cotswold Veldrijden

2^nd Jamie Norfolk PedalOn

3^rd Peter Kench Ride24/7

4^th Benoit Davies

5^th Ben Anstie 73 Degrees CC

Vet 50+

1st Owen Pattinson Owens Cycles

2^nd Mike Williams Fareham Wheelers

3^rd Tim Costello GS Vecchi

4^th Anthony Dyment north Hants RC

5^th David Coghill Dream Cycling