Race report by Jaymi Dooley & friends

Another Sunday, another new venue and today a new race reporter (this is my first one so be kind folks). North Hants Road Club and PedalOn took their turn this week to host a Wessex round. This got off to a great start with an amazingly well attended (76 riders!) Under 10s race follow by an equally full field for the Under 12s, following on from this sensational start the Youth riders once again proved that they can provide spectacular racing and entertainment for the watching crowds, and so the bar was set extremely high for the rest of the day with some gutsy racing by our younger contingent!

The V50 and women’s races took place at an earlier time than usual, proving little problem for the enthusiastic and dedicated racers. A swift and punchy race was hard fought with Kevin Holloway (GS Vecchi) coming out on tops ahead of Gary Barlow (Reading CC) and Owen Patterson (Owens Cycles) in respective places on the following steps. It often feels to me that’s the hare’s are released to chase the hounds when the women’s combined race takes off. Lydia Brookes (Les Filles Queen Of The Mountains RT) was fastest off the start, taking a slender lead over the line for the first time, followed by a chasing group that included Cam Powell (PedalOn) and eventual Junior winner Ella Freeman (Hargroves-Ridley-Montezuma’s). Slow starting Sarah Barber (North Hants RC) gradually overhauled the opposition to move into the lead by the end of the first full lap. The gap then grew steadily to give her nearly a minute winning margin over Lydia Brookes by the finish, with Cam Powell coming in another half minute down (and winning the Veteran Women category).

The V40s was won in stylish fashion by the ever smiling and fresh from yesterday’s nationals race Paul Lloyd, who took a commanding lead right from the start and never faltered,  he was joined on the podium by William McDonald (Banjo Cycles/Raceware/Specialized) and Anthony Turner (Cotswold Veldrijden) who took the race right to the line with a powerful sprint finish.  Junior riders Liam Sewell (Cotswold Veldrijden) & Angus Hawkins (Palmer Park Velo) were followed by Mathew Coulson (Palmer Park Velo) to snap up the junior podium spots.

The Cyclocross Gods were smiling on joint sponsors PedalOn today, not only did the sun come out just in time for the start of the senior race but Adrian Lansley (PedalOn) took an early lead, his cool calm racing persona meant he could control the race from the gun finishing ahead of team mate Sam Allen (PedalOn). The high-speed course meant this apparently comfortable win was by only a 16 second margin over Sam.

With these two clear of the rest of the field, it was the hard-fought race for third that made the more compelling viewing. Following some shuffling and a few crashes on the opening laps, a group containing Jamie Norfolk (PedalOn), Tom Budden (Sotonia CC), Tom Sewell (Cotswold Veldrijden) and Joe Hickerton (Spokes BPC racing) were locked together for much of the race,  A chasing group of Alex Forrester (www.Zepnat.com – Lazer Helmets), Michael Guilford (VC Meudon), Karl Norfolk (PedalOn) and David Spencer (VC Venta) closed to within 5 seconds of them with two laps to go before a blistering attack from Jamie Norfolk then blew the race apart, snapping up the final podium spot to complete the lock-out for team PedalOn. Jamie pulled out a 13 second gap over Tom Budden, Joe Hickerton, and Tom Sewell, who all finished within seconds of each other, followed quickly by Alex Forrester & Michael Guilford who completed the race almost together with a 0.1 second time difference! The top 10 was rounded out by Karl Norfolk (PedalOn) and David Spencer (VC Venta).

All in all a brilliant days racing!

Results

(full results here)

Seniors

1^st Adrian Lansley PedalOn 61mins 10secs

2^nd Sam Allen Pedal On @16secs

3^rd Jamie Norfolk PedalOn @1min 17secs

4^th Tom Budden Sotonia

5^th Joe Hickerton Spokes BPC Racing

6^th Tom Sewell Cotswold Veldrijden

7^th Alex Forrester Zepnat.com

8^th Michael Guilford VC Meudon

9^th Karl Norfolk PedalOn

10^th David Spencer VC Venta

Women’s

1^st Sarah Barber North Hants RC 46mins 11secs 1^st Senior

2^nd Lydia Brookes Les Filles 2^nd Senior

3^rd Cam Powell PedalOn 1^st Vet

4^th Lindy Larkin Sarum Velo 3^rd Senior

5^th Rachael Clay VC Meudon 2^nd Vet

6^th Susan Parker North Hants RC

7^th Ella Freeman Hargroves Ridley Montezuma’s 1^st Junior

8^th Caroline Goward Scott Racing 3^rd vet

Vet 50+

1^st Kevin Holloway GS Vecchi 42mins 18secs

2^nd Gary Barlow Reading CC

3^rd Owen Pattinson Owens cycles

4^th Steven Davies Hargroves Ridley Montezuma’s

5^th Andrew Cracknell PedalOn

Vet 40+

1^st Paul Lloyd PM 40mins 49secs

2^nd Liam Sewell Cotswold Veldrijden @50secs 1^st Junior

3^rd Angus Hawkins Palmer Park Velo 2^nd Junior

4^th William McDonald Banjo Cycles 2^nd vet

5^th Anthony Turner Cotswold Veldrijden 3^rd vet

6^th Matthew Coulson Palmer Park Velo 3^rd Junior

Youth

Male Freddie Horner Behind The Bikeshed

Female Madeline Grace Cooper Spokes BPC Racing