ROAD RACE RESULTS 2004
Twickenham CC Winter Series Hillingdon - Round 2 11/12/04George Olive took part in the second round of the
Hillingdon winter series. There was surprisingly a very good turn out of
riders, over 80 in total (for a race in the middle of December that is
alot). The race was 1 hour plus 5 laps of the short flat circuit. The
pace was fast but steady; 55km in 1 hour 14 minutes works out to be an
over 27mph average speed. All breaks were unsuccessful and a bunch
gallop was the result. George managed to get in a good position on the
penultimate lap but unfortunately got boxed in coming into the finishing
straight and could only start sprinting with around 30 meters to go; he
crossed the line in 8th place. This result puts him in 16th place
overall after 2 rounds LAST CHANCE POINTS GRABBER (HERTS WHEELERS) London Colney - Sun 26th SepFour North Roaders (Roger Bishop, Frank Rawlins, George Olive, new member John Turton) made the start of the Herts Wheeler's Last Chance Points Grabber for 105km on the South Mimms circuit. On a fairly flat course, the pace was steady and averaged 25mph. An immediate early break instigated by Ron Hewes
(Harlow) was easily reeled in but after a couple of laps the field split
again. Roger Bishop smoothly bridged across to the front group as the
road gradient steepened through the finish line. As the gap closed, 2 (or 3) riders jumped again, one of which was Dan Martin, the new national junior champion. Although the fast course and the ideal weather conditions did not really offer a tough challenge to the chasing riders, this break proved successful. For the remaining 3 laps the rest of the field stayed together. A twitchy last lap saw the 40 surviving riders line up for a sprint for third place? A slight headwind and the large, nervous group made for a dangerous and tightly packed finale. Unfortunately, the well placed John and Roger went down in the rush for the line. John, in his first outing for the club, was quite nastily grazed and suffered bike and head gear damage. Frank and George made no impression in the sprint, having chosen the safer option of staying on the right flank but exposed to the wind and longer run in. VICTORIA CC RR 3/4/J - Sun 20th SepFrom John Turton Rode
the Victoria 3/4/J with Frank Rawlins - 100k and change, on the
"Newport" circuit. Not feeling a million dollars myself, so
had to switch to plan 'B' - sit-in sprint for the lesser
places.....(14th...again)! LVRC,
Staffordshire Oatcake Road Race, final event in Percy Stallard Series -
Sunday 12th Sep
Group 1, A(40 – 44y) & B(45-50y) riders.
55 miles round an 11 mile circuit (five laps) starting at Swynnerton near Stafford. The course described as undulating had one main hill, long but not too steep, its short steeper sections either side of the finish. Fortunately it ran mainly North/South as there was a strong Westerly wind. The current standings in the Percy Stallard series were posted with Roger in 3rd place behind Nick Yarworth and Brian Davison. Brian (LVRC National Champion) was on 27 points and Roger on 24. Nick had an unassailable lead and wasn’t riding. Chris Bishop (Knaresborough RT) was due to ride in the C/D race but decided to ride in the “youngsters’” race to work for Roger. We decided on a tactical race going with any B riders. I suggested sitting tight for a couple of laps as it would be hard getting away on such a windy day. Paul Freeman (Alpha RC), a B rider put in an early attack and got a considerable gap. The Bishop's tried to organise a chase but no one else was interested. Chris eased up and Roger rode hard off the front to catch the lone rider (so much for race plans but it was too exciting). They worked well but after about 4 miles were joined and after a short time dropped by two A riders. Meanwhile, Chris was policing the bunch and chasing down any B attacks. Roger and Paul Freeman continued but were caught at the end of the first lap. The next time the A riders were seen was at the race Headquarters! Other than the two A riders down the road the race stayed together for the next three laps mainly thanks to Chris doing long turns when chasing any “B” attacks with Roger doing shorter turns. As usual there were only a few riders prepared to work. Brian Davison was quite active so Roger followed any attacks he made. On the last lap Nick Giles got a gap, Roger chased and was joined by Chris, they caught Nick Giles but he couldn’t increase his pace and was dropped. Almost immediately another rider joined the Bishop's but he too was dropped on a long drag. Now on their own they established a decent gap but it was along the back straight partly into the wind. Chris did long hard turns with Roger coming through for short turns while Chris recovered. They were caught just after the final turn with about 3 miles to go, attacks started straight away, and Chris’ legs were at last getting heavy. Roger managed to go with several attacks from Davison and worked with Freeman again until the pair were caught by three A riders. Roger managed to keep in as Freeman was dropped, and the four got a good gap. Roger was dropped with about ½ a mile to go but had sufficient time on the chasers and strength to stay well clear and cross the line as first B. Roger got 10 points for being 1st and Brian Davison came in 3rd getting 8 points. Percy
Stallard Final Positions, B cat. 1st Nick Yarworth 40 points 2nd Brian Davison 35 points 3rd Roger Bishop 34 points
EASTERLEY RC FALLING LEAVES ROAD RACE - UGLEY- 110km - Sun 5th Sep
Tony Bradford and Frank Rawlings rode in
the Easterley CC Falling Leaves Road Race this Sunday. The 70
mile race was run off over 9 laps of the very hilly Littlebury
course. Whilst the name of the race suggested autumnal weather
the sun was shining and boy was it hot.
Sixty riders started the event and the
pace soon became intense as the race neared the first climb. As
the season is drawing to a close a number of the participants had
travelled some distance and were hunting points to upgrade their
licences. The first two laps were without a hitch for the two
North Roaders. A minor incident which left two riders sprawled on the
floor prompted some conversation in the bunch and in the lull Tony
took off with two other riders. This pack were having none of it and
pulled them back after a lap. Two more laps on and a group of
eight went off the front and gained a significant lead, stretching the
gap to 1 minute. With two and a half laps remaining Tony
Bradford and Ron Hewes (Harlow CC) left the bunch behind with a soft
attack which stuck. One lap on and the two had joined the lead
group, upping the tempo as soon as they joined. The gap between
break and chasers fluctuated but some hard work by Frank Rawlings in
disrupting organised work or following small breaks made a real
contribution in keeping the break away. Final time up the climb
to the finish line and Tony took 7th place despite suffering cramp
in the uphill sprint. Frank rolled across the line in a
creditable 29th despite the hard work done to protect his
team mate's lead.
EDGWARE RC RR (Percy
Stallard Series Event 8) - SUNDAY 15th Aug
CIRCUIT OF MENTMORE - 59 MilesBy Roger Bishop The
A/B category race had a small field of about 25 riders at the start. Between
sporadic attacks and chases, the pace was quite sedentary, with the
following C/D race passing on the penultimate lap. The Hillingdon CC had
a team of three riders who took it in turns to attack. The few riders
prepared to chase, including Steve Thomas (Stevenage CC) and myself had
a hard time while the other two Hillingdon riders sat in. After many unsuccessful attempts on the last lap with a kilometre to go one rider got away and did well to hold on into the wind up a drag for the win. I chased but came in 8th in the sprint for second place.
don't know what category the
seven riders ahead of me were but more Percy
Stallard points for being in the first ten “B” riders
Vets Criterium Racing on North Weald Air Field - Thursday 29th JulyBy Tony Bradford
On Thursday evening I tried my hand at Vets Criterium
Racing on North Weald Air Field. This turned out to be some of
the best fun to be had on a bike.. With no cars around and great
expanses of tarmac to ride on this is the ideal type of racing for
everyone from novice to more experienced rider. The League of
Vets Racing Club runs the events and if you are new to racing you can
opt for a higher age category, allowing you to gain experience and
fitness without the embarrassment of loosing contact with the bunch.
I took part in the ABC age group and raced for an hour. With a
rising wind the pack began to break up with 3 laps to go. With a
lap remaining I had had several digs off the front but went again and
got a sufficient gap to stay away. Unfortunately I had one
serious chaser who caught me with 200m to go and robbed me of the win.
Never mind there will always be next week.
SHAFTESBURY RR- UGLEY - 133km 1/2/3 - Sun 18th July (ERRL)
Tony Bradford and Phil Moon represented the North Road
Cycling Club on Sunday in the Shaftsbury CC Summer Road Race.
The race for First, Second and Third category riders was run off
over 6 laps of the Littlingbury course a total of 133 km or 82
miles. Tony accelerated out of the bunch straight from the gun
and rode a couple of miles on his own before a group of 5 caught up
and began to work together. They stayed away until the first time
up the climb when the pace of the bunch ate up their lead.
Several other attacks went in the subsequent 2 laps but
were chased down. As the clouds delivered their promised rain a
significant break appeared in the bunch and the inevitable group of
first and second cat. riders started to distance themselves from the
main group. In total 11 bore away as the rain increased and Phil
Moon decided to head for the showers.
The pack, slowly diminishing with punctures, fatigue
and the occasional tumble, continued to give chase but to no
avail. With two laps to go Tony made a big effort to get away
from the pack but with no help was pulled back in several miles later
and 'sat in' to recover. With points available to 20th
place the bunch got more and more twitchy in the final lap and Tony
took advantage of this with 5 miles to go. Striking out with a
couple of other riders he began the Littlington climb clear of
the bunch with a margin of 10 seconds. As the climb went on the
bunch closed on them and Tony took 17th place in the gallop for the
line.
KEIR MARIS MEMORIAL (Percy Stallard LVRC Round 6) - Sun 18th JulyMy brother Chris (Knaresborough
Racing Team) and I took part in the Keir Maris Memorial RR. The 13.5
mile course started in Daventry with a fast section downhill on the A45
for about 3 miles. After a sharp left the road wound through some lanes
for 3 miles before a left turn that took us up Park Hill the first of
two climbs. At the top of the second climb it was a flat mile and a half
before the uphill finish. The pace was high for most of the
race with any potential escapees from the bunch quickly brought back,
having many quality riders meant there was always someone ready to
organise the chase and I was spinning my 53 x 13 on the fast sections.
The hills thinned out the bunch each lap and Peter Greenwood, the
eventual winner, got away the fourth time up Park Hill. Although they
were hard, especially when attacks were going, I felt I still had a bit
more on both climbs, I kept
near the front of the bunch on the climbs and avoided getting caught
behind riders who were finding the pace up the hill too much. On the last lap Chris and I had thought about trying to get away on the lane but Phil Bayton had the same idea and it took a concerted effort to get him and his companion back. At the start of the last time up Park Hill, with five miles to go, I went to the front and put the pressure on. I soon had a gap but expected to be joined by the fast boys but thinning the bunch. At the top of the hill I was still alone and had about 20 secs. I continued hard downhill, still expecting to be caught and rode hard on the second climb. Just before the top I felt I was going backwards but focused on the motorbike escort and drove on. Meanwhile, on the second climb, Nick Yarworth, who has won most of the races I have been in, attacked and Chris sprinted to take his wheel. Two more riders soon joined them and the chase was on with Chris sitting in and trying to upset their rhythm. As Chris and I are not in the same colours the other three thought he was tired or waiting to sprint for a place. Not cricket? Blood/water and all that. I was dying on the drag up to the finish, but after a shout from Chris, I managed to hold them off other than Nick Yarworth who beat me by a bike’s length, so finishing third overall and second to Nick in the “B” category. Chris came through in fifth place and second “C” to Pete Greenwood.
NORTH ROAD SUMMER ROAD RACE - WHITWELL - SUN 11TH JUNE - 100km, 1/2/3/4North
Road Cycling Club held their second road race of the season over a
distance of 100km on a circuit taking in Codicote, Langley, St Paul’s
Walden and Whitwell. Because of the road closure at Whitwell scheduled
for 12 noon the race had to be cut by one lap. Tony Bradford was the
representative from the club in a field of 55 riders. In
a very fast race Ashley Holdings (Tunbridge Wells RC), John Scripps (VC
Londres), former North Roader Shaun Aldous, now riding for Eastern
Region Velo and Michael Merralls (Anglia Sports) broke away and
proceeded to ride the fastest lap ever recorded on the Whitwell circuit;
a time of 20 minutes for the 9.8 miles. After a further lap nine other
riders caught the leaders to make a strong thirteen rider group that
opened up a 2:15 minute lead on the bunch. The last time up the hill
from Langley to St. Paul’s Walden Peter Watson (Cambridge University)
was dropped. The twelve riders then put the hammer down and on the last
climb with one kilometre to go Merralls broke away from the other 12
riders and won the race. Llewellyn Byrne (J. E. James) took second from
James Holland-leader (Principia RT). Aldous took the first prime and
Nick Hastler (Essex Roads CC) took the second. Tony finished in the
bunch. 100km in 2:12:00 1. Michael Merralls Angliasport/Condor 2. Llewelyn Bryne JE James Cycles 3. James Holland-Leader Principia RT 4. John Scripps VC Londres 5. Ashley Holding T Wells RC 6. Simon Lawn Sigma Sport Cycles 7. Nick Hasler Essex Roads 8. Shaun Aldous ER Velo/Bianchi 9. Nathan Spurling Finsbury Park 10. Kevin Chambers Api 11. David Maclean Sherwood 12. Simon Howes Sigma Sport Cycles 13. Steve Nunn Arctic Shorter/Rochford 14. Edgar Medellin Team Sport And Publicity 15. Campbell Noon Team Milton Keynes
Ken Hill Memorial (LVRC Percy
Stallard Series, Event 5) - Sunday 4th July
ABC cats. 50 miles
Denbigh, North Wales “Undulating”
By Roger Bishop Surrounded
by beautiful Welsh mountains and after driving down a 1 in 4 hill on the
way to the start I was surprised to find that this was the flattest
course I have ridden so far, with just a moderate climb at the end the
circuit. Five ten mile laps with just over a mile extra on the last lap
up hill to the finish. The
race started at the same time as the rain but after a short shower the
race continued in sunshine. The
winning break formed at about half way and a pattern soon developed in
the bunch. Riders worked to close any further attempts to get away but
only five or six riders were keen to pull the break back. I tried on my
own and later joined a couple of riders to bridge the gap but to no
avail. My brother Chris was riding and he advised me to sit in more to
save energy as not enough riders were contributing and we were not going
to catch the break of six. On
the last lap there were more attacks, riders going for seventh place,
and four escaped, we are not sure how or when! It may have been when we
were misdirected and the front of the bunch had to turn and catch up. I was in the bunch the last time up the climb and managed to finish somewhere at the front after the uphill drag for a mile and a half, but I am waiting for confirmation of the positions, overall and in my age group. TOM SIMPSON MEMORIAL RR (Percy
Stallard Series Event 4)- SUNDAY 27th JUNE
LVRC A and B cat -100k, Harworth near Doncaster.
"Undulating"’
By Roger Bishop It was great to see so many riders at the HQ at Harworth, the town where Tom Simpson grew up. Anyone needing inspiration could look in the clubhouse where there is a large cabinet with the bike he won Paris Nice on, the jersey he wore on "that fateful day" and many other photos and memorabilia, there is a replica of the Ventoux Memorial at the entrance. There were 60 riders for the A/B event and a similar number for both the C/D and E/F races, even eight entered the G cat 30 mile RR for the over seventies. The race started with the descent from the mine entrance at Harworth, a familiar site from the A1, a left turn then a couple of miles before the next left and another couple of miles along the wind assisted back straight. The final left to complete the triangle took the riders back up the climb to the finish and completing the 6 mile circuit. The
pace was brisk from the word go, with any attempts to get away quickly
brought back. At around half way I managed to join a couple of riders
off the front but we were caught after less than half a lap. From then
on I was amazed at the pace of the bunch as riders tried to escape, at
times I felt I was at my max and wouldn’t even be finishing with the
bunch. I managed to stay in and my thanks go to anyone whose wheel I was
on. At some point six or seven riders got away and once they had a gap
the pace eased to give a slower last lap. I attacked on the final climb
and passed three of the breakaway but faded into the wind on the flat
approaching the finish and was caught by half a dozen riders before the
line. After 60 miles in about two and a quarter hours (approx 26.7mph) I was pleased to finish close behind the winners but I am waiting to see where I finished and if I got any more points in the series.
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Must mention Frank's performance though; he got away in a small break
that was off the front for over 60k. Really good effort on a blustery
day across the not-so flatlands of Essex. Unfortunately Zak Carr (API),
entered on the line and decided to motor across to the break on his own,
rip that to bits and tow Kristian Downs and Adam Norris to the finish 