Report by Graham Robins

On a very cold day there were wins for Sam Allen (PedalOn) and Claire Hall (Cotswold Veldrijden) at the latest round a week ahead of the regional Championships.

Today’s race was hosted by Didcot Phoenix on a bumpy very flat course near to Wantage in South Oxfordshire. The temperature barely got above freezing point all day and seemed to get colder once the sun went down during the senior men’s race. Despite being flat the course was very technical single track wooded section which also included a lot of twists and turns.

Allen made a quick start from the middle of the front row and was first onto the course building a lead over a chase group including Joe Hickerton (Spokes BPC RT) and Alex Forrester (Zepnat.com). After the first full lap Allen had a lead of nearly 20secs as all the action was going on behind him. Michael Guilford (VC Meudon) seemed to find the nature of the course to his liking and on the third lap he had moved up to second albeit 38secs down on Allen. The was a three way tussle for third between Tom Sewell (Cotswold Veldrijden), Tom Budden (Sotonia CC) and Forrester, although the latter was to succumb to a puncture which dropped him outside the top ten before a fight back over the remaining laps.

In the closing laps with Allen now with a minute lead and Guilford secure in second all the action was for third as it had been all race. With Forrester on a spare bike he was quickly picking of riders as he fought his way from tenth to rejoin Budden and Sewell. At the bell Forrester had finally broken clear of duo and held on until the chequered flag.

Claire Hall (Cotswold Veldrijden) came through from a slow start where she had dropped to fifth on the opening lap to take the lead during the second lap. Making a strong start was Lindy Larkin (Sarum Velo) who in turn had Carly Hughes (Service de Velo/Fareham Wheelers) and Jessica Connor (Cotswold Veldrijden) for company as the twisted their way to the far end of the course before turning back to head into the woods.

By mid race the top three Hall, Larkin, Connor and now Jennifer Forrester (Zepnat.com) were pulling clear although there were gaps of around 20secs between each of them. Carly Hughes was still within striking distance and still with sights on a podium spot in the senior race. With Hall and Connor secure on the podium in the vets race it was Cam Powell (PedalOn) now running in 7^th just behind Charlotte Sampson (Hargroves Ridley Montezuma’s) who was going to take the final vet position.

Owen Pattinson (Owens Cycles) led the vet50+ race from the start pulling out a large lead of nearly 30secs within the opening two laps as Tim Costello (GS Vecchi), Gary Barlow (Reading CC) and Dave McMullen (Cotswold Veldrijden) set about chasing him down. The pace throughout the race was fast and soon McMullen started to slip away and he soon had Malcolm Cross (VC Venta) snapping at his back wheel.

With a lap to go Pattinson’s lead was 41secs over Barlow and 46secs to Costello with the next rider McMullen now 1min 48secs down and managing to hold off a late charge from Cross.

Paul Lloyd was too strong in the vet 40+ race taking the lead from the start and never looking back. On the opening lap and Lloyd clear there was a scrap between Lewis King (Beeline Bycycles RT), and the junior pairing of Matthew Coulson and Angus Hawkins (Palmer Park Velo), although Hawkins retired towards the end of the lap.

There was a four way race behind the leaders as Will McDonald (Banjo Cycles), Nick Onslow (PedalOn), Jonathan Hall (Sotonia CC) and Anthony Turner (Cotswold Veldrijden) were covered by 10secs as the junior Jay Allen (PedalOn) slipped away. Thomas Clarke (PPV) was the third junior down in 25^th place.

photos

Results

(full results)

Seniors

1^st Sam Allen PedalOn 58mins 48secs

2^nd Michael Guilford VC Meudon @1min 17secs

3^rd Alexander Forrester Zepnat.com @1min 43secs

4^th Tom Budden Sotonia CC @1min 53secs

5^th Tom Sewell Cotswold Veldrijden @2mins 10secs

6^th Matthew Wakefield Derwent Valley ATC @2mins 33secs

7^th Joe Hickerton Spokes BPC Racing @3mins 16secs

8^th Robert Spragg Worcester Cycle Centre @3mins 29secs

9^th Ken Wytrykowski PedalOn @3mins 43secs

10^th Daniel Atkins Didcot Phoenix @ 4mins 08secs

Women

1^st Claire Hall Cotswold Veldrijden 42mins 58secs and 1^st vet

2^nd Jessica Connor Cotswold Veldrijden and 2^nd vet

3^rd Lindy Larkin Sarum Velo and 1^st Senior

4^th Carly Hughes Service de Velo/Fareham Wheelers and 2^nd senior

5^th Jennifer Forrester Zepnat and 3^rd senior

6^th Charlotte Sampson Hargroves-Ridley Montezuma’s

7^th Cam Powell PedalOn and 3^rd vet

8^th Melanie Smith Cotswold Veldrijden

9^th Sophie White PM

10^th Alison Rothnie Spokes BPC Racing

Vet 50+

1^st Owen Pattinson Owens Cycles 38mins 18secs

2^nd Gary Barlow Reading CC @58secs

3^rd Tim Costello GS Vecchi @1mins 13secs

4^th Dave McMullen Cotswold Veldrijden @2mins 10secs

5^th Malcolm Cross VC Venta @2mins 22secs

Vet 40+/junior

1^st Paul Lloyd PM38mins 26secs

2^nd Matthew Coulson PPV and 1^st junior

3^rd Lewis King Beeline Bycycles

4^th William McDonald Banjo Cycles

5^th Nicholas Onslow PedalOn

9^th Jay Allen PedalOn and 2^nd junior

25^th Thomas Clarke PPV and 3^rd junior