[report by Graham Robins]

On a bright sunny day there were wins for Callum Macleod (Pedal On) and Abbie Manley (Hargroves- Montezuma’s) at the sixth round held at the Southampton Sports Centre. Whilst 17 year old Abbie led her race front the start for the second week running Callum had to wait until the last lap to claim his win.

Our hosts Sotonia CC made the most of the grass land as it twisted around several cricket pitches and a small wooded section. The good weather in the build up to the weekend meant the course was dry and firm making for some very fast racing.

The senior race got underway with the sun still shining and the first rider to make the move was Alex Forrester (Zepnat.com) and he quickly had Callum and Sam Allen (Pedal On) for company as the riders wound their way around the course.

After the opening lap there was a lead group of four as Tom Budden (Sotonia CC) joined in, and soon we had Oscar Hutchings (VC Venta) and Matthew Wakefield (Team Wakies) all within close contact. As the race settled down positions became defined and lap times started to tumble as our leaders started to stretch each other.

The leaders headed out on lap four with a 30secs lead over Budden, but it was Forrester who was feeling the pace as the two Pedal On riders Allen and Macleod began to pull away dropping the Zepnat rider. Behind our leaders and Forrester Budden was a comfortable fourth. Hutchings and Karl Norfolk (Pedal On) were locked together 1min 27secs down with the remainder of the top ten now two minutes plus down.

As the remaining few laps ticked away our two leaders were now looking at each other trying to work out where they could make their final attack. Other places further down the order pretty much remained stable with the only change came for ninth and tenth as Callum Hughes (Banjo Cycles) and Alex Watkins (Sarum Velo) finally settled their tussle in favour of the Pedal On rider.

At the bell Allen and Macleod could not be separated and the race was only decided as the pair came back into the twisty in field and Macleod pulled away and on the line his winning margin was a slender 3.5secs. The remaining places stayed locked with times gaps now set.

Following on from her win in difficult conditions last weekend seventeen year old Abbie Manley made easy work of the lovely conditions at today’s round. The Hargroves-Montezuma’s rider pulled out a lead on the opening lap and soon the gap was 30secs. Team mate vet rider Helen Pattinson made quick work of a trio of more team mates as did Alison Rothnie (Spokes BPC Racing) and Jennifer Forrester (Zepnat.com). After the third lap Abbie had a lead of 35secs over Helen, Jennifer was at 37secs, Alison was at 49secs while Lindy Brazier-Larkin (Sarum Velo) was beginning to work her way up the leader board.

With two laps to go Abbie was 48secs clear of Helen, Jennifer was a further 8secs back with Alison at 1min 25secs and Lindy at 1min 45secs. At the chequered flag Abbie celebrated her second win in successive rounds sending her to next week’s trophy race in good form.

Barney Clacy (Hargroves-Montezuma’s) was another rider following on from last week’s success but this time he did it without too much trouble. The junior rider had Paul Lloyd (Banjo Cycles) for company over the first three laps, but once he managed to pass the vet rider he quickly built up a lead of around 15secs.

Dan Guest (Cotswold Veldrijden) was on his own in third while there was a lovely mid order race going on between Jamie Norfolk (Pedal On), Matthew Coulson (PPV), Euan Macleod (Pedal On) and Phillip Bowley (Owen’s Cycles).

In the combined race the junior positions were Clacy, Macleod, Jay Allen (Pedal On), Coulson and Harry Dridge (Hargroves-Montezuma’s).  The vet 40+ order was Lloyd, Norfolk, Guest, Bowley and William McDonald (Banjo Cycles).

At the finish Clacy won the overall race from Lloyd and Guest while Bowley won the mid field battle over Macleod and Allen.

The vet 50+ race saw another win for Owen Pattinson (Owen’s Cycles) also his second win on the spin. Phillip Boarer (GS Vecchi) had better luck this week to take the second step on the podium, a position he should of had last week. Rob Waller (Banjo Cycles) claimed the final step on the podium after he managed to overcome a mid race dice with Chris Hutchings (VC Venta) and Rich Collins.

Provisional Results

(full results)

Seniors

1^st Callum Macleod Pedal On 59mins 13secs

2^nd Sam Allen Pedal On @3.5secs

3^rd Alex Forrester Zepnat.com @1min

4^th Tom Budden Sotonia CC

5^th Oscar Hutchings VC Venta

6^th Karl Norfolk Pedal On

7^th David Bone RC Revenna

8^th Matthew Wakefield Team Wakies

9^th Callum Hughes Banjo Cycles

10^th Alex Watkins Sarum Velo

Women

1^st Abbie Manley Hargroves-Montezuma’s 43mins 48secs

2^nd Helen Pattinson Hargroves- Montezuma’s

3^rd Jennifer Forrester Zepnat.com

4^th Alison Rothnie Spokes BPC Racing

5^th Lindy Brazier-Larkin

6^th Lauren Cracknell Pedal On

7^th Lydia Brookes

8^th Melanie Smith Cotswold Veldrijden

9^th Amy Perryman Hargroves-Montezuma’s

10^th Ella Lawrence Hargroves-Montezuma’s

Vet 40+

1^st Paul Lloyd Banjo Cycles 39mins 01secs

2^nd Jamie Norfolk Pedal On

3^rd Dan Guest Cotswold Veldrijden

4^th Phillip Bowley Owen’s Cycles

5^th Rich Collins

Juniors

1^st Barney Clacy Hargroves-Montezuma’s 38mins 53secs

2^nd Euan Macleod Pedal On

3^rd Jay Allen Pedal On

4^th Matthew Coulson PPV

5^th Harry Dridge Hargroves-Montezuma’s

Vet 50+

1^st Owen Pattinson Owen’s Cycles 40mins 25secs

2^nd Phillip Boarer GS Vecchi

3^rd Rob Waller Banjo Cycles

4^th Chris Hutchings VC Venta

5^th Rich Collins