ROAD RACE RESULTS 2006
Eastway Finale - Evans Cycles - Saturday 21st September
3/4 event - Trevor Burke - 8th
Ciclos Uno Summer Series, Eastway - Sunday 1st Oct
Photos
It was a wet and disappointing day for the seven North Road members who
participated in the latest round of the Ciclos Uno Summer Series at Eastway.
With rain falling just after the start of the one hour plus five laps Veterans
event, Chris Glithero and Nick Harris were in for a damp race. Chris soon pulled
out but Nick persevered and hung on in the bunch until a puncture caused his
retirement.
The rain had stopped for the third and fourth cat race but the track surface was
very wet. From a total of only twenty five riders, five North Roaders lined up:
Richard Somerset, Mike Bridge, Jonathan Appleby, Ian Coles and Glynn Teare, so
hopes were high that the North Road could achieve a high placing.
On a circuit where bike handling is at a premium at the best of times Jonathan
and Mike soon decided that on such a creasy surface the day was not worth a
crash and soon packed. A break of three got away early in the race and Ian and
Richard made a few attempts to chase but without success. After forty-five
minutes and with the group reduced to about fifteen riders Richard was
optimistic of a good result but his hopes were quickly dashed when he punctured
and without any spare wheels had to retire. Glynn hung on until three laps to go
and Ian managed eighth in the sprint for eleventh overall.
Richard Somerset
The Last Chance Points Grabber
Road Race Sun 24th Sept 2006 - Promoted by Hertfordshire Wheelers
2,3,4 cats - Whitwell circuit, 7 laps - 108k / 67.1miles.
Report from Roger Bishop
The North Road was represented by Ian
Coles, Trevor Burke, Frank Rawlins, Tony Bradford and Roger Bishop.
The weather forecast proved to be correct as I cycled out from Hertford in a
light shower but it appeared to be moving away and brightening up as we prepared
for the race. Unfortunately a large black cloud waited for the moment we set off
to unload its heavy downpour and soon the country lanes were awash with mud and
shingle. Undaunted we pressed on and after Codicote for the first time I had a
little dig off the front, joined by one other, mainly to get warm again. The
bunch responded and soon pulled us back. Unfortunately Frank had already
punctured by this time and with no supporting car with spare wheels he
abandoned.
The race seemed to follow the pattern
of small attacks and a few riders working to pull them back.
After about three laps a break formed which the North Road missed, it finished
up with four strong riders who soon put two minutes into the bunch. Again most
of the bunch the bunch seemed happy to race for fifth place, but to be fair the
pace up the mile long hill to St Paul’s Warden was brisk, over twenty mph at
times, and perhaps a lot of riders were happy just to stay in. Ian was dropped a
few times and after working hard to get back on each time eventually climbed
off.
With two to go Tony Bradford got away with Matt Palmer (Verulam) and were soon
out of sight. Trevor and I got to the front to upset the chase and sit on any
counter attacks, and although Daniel Patten got away to finish on his own,
judging by the comments of the other riders this was working well. Unfortunately
Tony punctured with a lap to go and on passing the line we saw Tony calling for
his dear wife Ruth!
Trevor and I had to resort to plan B or were we on C or D by now? I was to have
a go the last time up to St Paul’s Warden with Trevor saving himself for the
sprint. I was at the front on the climb with a couple of other riders trying to
get a gap but it didn’t happen. Knowing that riders often clip off the front on
the flat before the last hilly few kilometres, I got on the front on the descent
and with Trevor on my wheel wound it up. Nobody came past until the final climb
where Trevor held his position to finish at the front of the bunch sprint for
sixth place. After a long deliberation Trevor was awarded eighth in the tight
finish.
Result:
1. Steve Nunn Arctic RC
2. Brett Harwood Peterborough CC
3. Ben Thompson Glendene CC
4. Matt Palmer Veralum CC
5. Daniel Patten BC Private Member
6. Andy Wylde St Ives CC
7. Dan Fentiman Team Economic Energy
8. Trevor Burke North Road CC
9. Mark Gibbs VC Meudon
10. Chris Osment BC Private Member
11. Nigel Brooks Essex Roads CC
12. Lee Harvey Colchester Rovers
The Victoria CC Road Race, ERRL, Sunday 17 Sept 06, 96k,
3,4cats
Newport, Clavering, Rickling Green, Quendon circuit 6 laps x 10miles
The North Road was represented by Jonathan Appleby, Ian Coles, Trevor Burke,
Frank Rawlins and Roger Bishop.
With initial doubts that Frank and Roger would get a ride being 12th and13th
reserves, it was great to end up with five North Road starters. The forecast had
changed for the good and the race was run in dry conditions, a light breeze and
sunny spells.
After a long neutralised section the race got underway with a quiet start.
During the first two laps there were a few attempts to get away including one
lone break of over a lap but although the bunch showed no real activity the pace
increased each time to pull the breaks back.
Approaching three laps to go there was a "team decision” that a good attack
should stay away. Roger jumped near the top of finishing climb, passing the
group of half a dozen riders who had contested the prime, thinking they may be
interested in forming a break but they weren’t. He soon got a good gap and was
out of sight for a lot of the course but was pulled back after about 8 miles. He
managed to get back in the bunch and recover.
With one lap to go two riders got away, were joined by a third and eventually a
fourth. A big gap soon developed and with little enthusiasm for the chase from
the bunch this looked like the winning break. The North Road got on the front en
masse and started to wind up the pace, with the bunch strung out and riders
being dropped it ended up with monster turns by Frank and Roger, aided by John
and two other riders. Trevor did a couple of short turns against orders but
mainly sat tight.
With a mile to go the break had been caught. Trevor got in a great position up
the final climb but was pipped at the line in a very close finish to get fifth
place.
Result:
1. Barry Neal Api-Metrow
2. Anthony Miller BC Private Member
3. Ronald Crawley Crest CC
4. Hugo Robbins Team Economic Energy
5. Trevor Burke North Road CC
Roger Bishop
Glendene ERRL Road Race - Sunday 10th September
A veritable host of North Road Riders started the Glendene RR on the 10th of
September. After much goading I donned North Road racing kit for the first time
for the 65K race in company with Richard Somerset, Tom Holmes, Jonathan Appleby
and Ian Coles, while Tony Bradford, Frank Rawlings and Trevor Burke entered the
‘big boy’ 101K event. The course was based in rolling, twisting Essex
countryside with only one steady drag of any note. With a multitude of well
meaning advice ringing in my ears I settled into the race during a frenetic
first lap of a three. Despite all intentions I gradually ended up at the back
end of the bunch with fleeting views of Richard and Ian up ahead. On the final
lap I attempted to move up the bunch a little and even managed a little
conversation with Richard. However, the longish drag on the third lap was my
undoing as the pace wound up and I suddenly went from feeling fine to, er….not
feeling fine. The bunch moved away serenely as I settled into a ride back to the
finish line. A big bunch sprint decided the finish with Jonathan Appleby
finishing about twelfth helped by his lead out domestique Ian ‘I was riding
tempo’ Coles. No placing for any NR rider in either race but an impressive turn
out and some lessons learnt by myself.
John McDowall
Southend Wheelers Circuit Race - Eastway, Sunday 28th
August
It’s been about eight years since I last raced at Eastway and with the
imminent demise of the famed East London cycle circuit I thought I should do a
race there for ‘old time’s sake’. In the past I have finished about half of the
races I have raced at Eastway so with a diet of testing and track racing this
year my hopes of a finish this time were not high.
I picked up Roger Bishop and we drove to Stratford to take part in the Southend
Wheelers circuit race for 3rd and 4th cat riders over 32 laps (miles). The warm
up consisted of three laps, nearly eighty riders lined up we were off.
Eastway is all about the bends and getting round them without losing your
position. I have never been great at cornering and without starting a road race
for sixteen months I was soon braking on some of the bends and losing several
places each time. The first laps were hard and I was convinced that I would be
dropped each time we went up Oxo hill but after ten laps I began to get back
into the groove of staying on a wheel, holding my line and keeping off the
brakes. Soon it was ten laps to go and I knew I would have no trouble finishing;
in fact I felt stronger as the race went on although I had no intention of
launching some sort of attack off the front. I kept an eye on Roger as I knew I
had no chance of a top ten but at least I could beat him.
On the last few laps I was cornering so well now I was actually making up
places. The last lap and I spotted former member John Turton and got on his
wheel. In the sprint Roger came alongside me, I got past him but he beat me by
half a wheel. We finished in the middle of the bunch.
I had actually enjoyed the race which I hadn’t expected and it make me slightly
sad that Eastway is soon to be demolished for the Olympics. Let’s hope the
replacement is just as good.
Finchley Road Club Criteriums - Hillingdon - 20th August
Trevor Burke represented the North Road Cycling Club in the Finchley RT
Criteriums at Hillingdon. He participated in the 3/4 category race and came in
tenth. The winner was Marton Moncrieffe (Agiskoviner.com) in 1:00:39.
LVRC/Ciclos Uno Summer Series - Sunday 20th August
I'd convinced myself that it would rain heavily on Saturday morning so I
didn't venture out on my bike. But in the event it remained mostly dry so to
punish myself for this poor judgement I hatched a plan to resume campaigning at
Eastway the following day. For various reasons I have taken my foot of the gas
cycling-wise in recent weeks so it was with some trepidation that I drove to
East London. I wasn't sure how many if any North Road compardres I would see on
a cool breezy morning that threatened rain but on pulling into the car-park I
spotted Roger Bishop and Tony Bradford followed shortly afterwards by Rod
Kelson. So we had a team of four but would we be able to make it count? The
short answer is "sort of". Whilst I decided discretion was the better part of
valour, Roger, Tony and Rod got into some promising breaks and Roger was just
edged out of a prime towards the end. Despite the absence of some of the
stronger vets the pace seemed consistently higher than usual (or perhaps it was
my lack of fitness) and a particularly fast few laps saw me losing contact with
a somewhat reduced bunch some three laps from the finish but on a much brighter
note Tony grabbed third and Roger finished tenth which was a just reward for two
of the main animators. I'd like to describe the finish in more detail but I was
still trolling round the circuit and I suspect I was the last finisher. All in
all although it was a little disappointing not to be able to hang on to the end
or support my team-mates in any meaningful way, the race went better than I had
feared and served to rekindle my flagging enthusiasm. I'll be back.
Blackmore Viper Road Race - Sunday 23rd July
Report from Nick Harris
This race was once known as the Antiques Road Show but presumably the
organisers thought that whilst self deprecating humour has it's place, they
wanted a title didn't inspire images of old codgers trading on past glories.
Incidentally, The Viper is a pub (highly recommended if real ale's your thing)
on the circuit.
The race was billed as 56 miles or almost 7 laps and I guess that 50 riders took
the start at 9.30. My main concern at this point was whether I would have enough
drink to last a 2 1/2 hour race on a scorching day but I needn't have worried.
Read on to find out why. Relative success at Eastway and some encouraging times
round Brickendon led me to believe that I could at least replicate my
performance in this race some years ago when I managed to fight out a bunch
sprint and generally put myself about.
It was a gentle roll-out to the start proper but once the race was
de-neutralised it was pretty much flat out all the way. The trickiest part of
the circuit was a twisty descent just after the Viper; strangely I don't recall
any real climbs - just a small number of relatively short rises. The main
difficulty was the high speed and the increasingly desperate sprinting out of
the corners which after about 35 miles finally took it's toll and I was
jettisoned from a fast shrinking bunch. Since my age old back problem was by now
adding to the discomfort I decided not to roll round for a lap or two (although
had I done so I would have had plenty of company) and instead rode straight back
to the headquarters. Since I was the only North Roader in the race I didn't stay
to see the finish and returned home to lick my wounds.
LVRPA/Ciclos Uno Summer Series - Sunday 23rd July, Eastway
Novice
1st Rod Kelson North Road CC
2nd Ian Rainbird, Team JD Cycles
3rd Sean Combrind, PM
4th Richard Barnes Webb, Finsbury Park CC
5th Ant Evans, unattached
6th Alan Mowat, unattached
7th Number not seen
8th Paul Fredericks, unattached
9th Steve Green, Lee Valley Velo
10th Gareth Batson, unattached
North Road Summer Road Race - Whitwell, 110km 1/2/3 cat -
Sunday 16th July
North Road Cycling Club held their annual Summer 110 kilometre road race,
another event in the Eastern Road Race League for 1/2/3 category riders. A full
field of 60 riders started from Whitwell, taking in Codicote and St. Paul’s
Walden with seven laps of the circuit and very hot conditions this was a fast
race, averaging about 25 mph. The race kept together around the course, with no
more than a 15 second gap. The first prime was won by Vince Devine from Finchley
RT and the second was won by the London Dynamo rider Richard Simmonds. At the
finish line there was a two-man sprint between David Mclean (Heron Cyclesports)
who just pipped Digby Symons from the Cambridge CC). North Road Cycling Club was
represented by Frank Rawlins, Roger Bishop, Tony Bradford and George Olive. Tony
finished in the top half of the mass bunch sprint, Trevor, cramped on the last
climb to the finish line, George unfortunately slipped his chain and came in 10
minutes behind the bunch.
Photos
1. David McClean - Heron Cyclosport
2. Digby Symonds - Cambridge CC
3. Simon Lawn - Sigma Sport
4. Dan Crawley - Crest CC
5. Phil Hetzel - Ipswich
6. Costa Pierides - Finchley
7. Mark Daly - Kingsnorth International
8. Mark Sussex - Wildside RT
9. Paul Londers - Team Mylton Keynes
10.Steven Griffiths - Interbike RT
11. Mark Jervis - Python RT
12. Neil Linford - VC Meudon
13. Richard Law - PM
14.Simon Warren - Norwood Paragon
15.Dean Shannon - Heron Cyclesport
Ciclos Uno Summer Series - LVRC - Eastway - Sunday 2nd July
For those of you who read my previous race report my
preparation was a little more measured than it had been two weeks ago in that
I took it easy on Saturday. Having said that, curiously I'm not sure it made
much difference to the end result. Anyway, mindful of the first lap break
that accounted for the leading finishing places last time, I took off from
the gun in the hope that others would join me but sadly that didn't happen and
after a lap of solo freedom and with oxygen creeping in I sat up to wait the
bunch were I resumed my accustomed position at the back from where two laps
later I spotted a group drifting off the front. It was now or never I thought
to myself and took off in an attempt to catch them but as anyone who has
dabbled in road racing knows, it's much, much harder on your own and after
chasing for a lap or so I realised that the birds had flown for good. So it
was back to the back so to speak and some recovery time. After a few more
laps I tried again, I'm not sure why exactly, the break was long gone and
would later lap my group. But I guess I thought it would stir things up and
would be good training for a future week. With about a ten minutes to
go Chris dropped out, possibly a victim of the heat. I should here add that
the North Road started with four riders - in addition to Chris and myself, Del
Evans and Glyn Teare found themselves at a loose end on Sunday and although it
was difficult to keep track of how they were doing, they looked at home in the
bunch and I think they are keen to give it another go. In a change of tactics
from last time I decided not to make a last lap bid for freedom but to wait
for the final sprint (for about tenth place I think). It seems to me
that like good comedy part of the secret to successful sprinting is timing and
I placed about sixth knowing a further 50 yards would have enabled me to reel
in some of the five in front had I started my effort earlier. Even at 46
you're never too old to learn and I hope to be back next week to put some hard
learned lessons into practice - watch out for another riveting instalment
soon.
Nick Harris
LVRC Region 9 Championships Sunday 25th June
The London region championships consisted of separate races at
Eastway for each age category. This sounds like it should be easier than the
usual All Categories race but in fact it isn't. Fewer riders means there's
less place to hide and when the hammer goes down (about half way around the
first lap!), it's a very short distance out the back of the field, if you're
not careful. A break of 6 riders developed within about 15 minutes, leaving
the remnants of the bunch, including me. I got away for half a lap with 3
laps to go and, of course, was too shattered to respond to an attack on the
penultimate time up the hill and came in 11th. All good fun. Winner was
Roger Hargreaves of Kingsnorth RT.
Chris Glithero
Eagle Summer Road Race - Sunday 18th June, Cat 3/4, 100km,
Ugley
As the North Road team made there way to the Eagle Road Club HQ the sun was
shinning and we were all looking forward to competitive team performance.
We had time for a quick car park meeting and agreed that we would try and ride
as close together and as near to the front as we could and try to cover any
attempted breaks in the early part of the race.
We saw a brisk start to the race with early action from Ron Hewes (Harlow) and
Alan Lawrence (Angliasport) but with Jonathan, Frank and Trevor at the front we
were able to go with any attempted breakaways.
With the rising temperature and the long drag to Clavering beginning to tire
riders we saw Roger coming to the front and making a number of attempts to form
a split and get away, all of which were pulled back.
At the bell Phil Hersey (Eagle RC) jumped clear gaining 30sec advantage. A chase
group had formed which Frank made a lone bridge across to worked hard to pull
the lead rider back. But with half a lap to go the bunch had the chase group and
leader in site and a bunch finish looked inevitable.
The Eagle riders led the reformed bunch into the final bend with Trevor managing
to get amongst them, a lone rider attacked with 2 KM to go.
Trevor went off the front at the bottom of the final drag passing the lone rider
and finishing 40m clear of the chasing bunch.
Once we had all regrouped back at the HQ you couldn’t wipe the smile off of all
our faces as this had been a genuine team effort with all North Road rider
playing there part on the day.
Foot note
Just a word of personal thanks to all those who were welcoming to a fat bloke on
a bike 3 years ago who turned up at Brickendon, couldn’t have done it without
your help and encouragement.
Result
1 Trevor Burke North Road CC
2 Damien Foy Eagle RC
3 David Farrow Eagle RC
4 Savas Anibal Team Economic Energy
5 Brad Lamb Victoria-Ciclos Uno-Plowman Craven Assoc CC
6 Thomas Burman Team Economic Energy
7 Tom Starmer Angliasport
8 Ronald Crawley Crest CC - Ilford
9 Simon Hewins Eagle RC
10 Paul Rennie St Ives CC
NICK CLARK/GINGER SMALLWOOD MEMORIAL ROAD RACE - Sunday
11th June
Trevor Burke and Frank Rawlins took part in the Nick
Clark/Ginger Smallwood Memorial Road Race, over 90 kilometres, four laps of the
Mentmore circuit. It was a blisteringly hot day and 80 riders lined up to start.
From the gun, a five-man break went away and managed to stay at 30 seconds for a
lap and a half. The field was reluctant to chase due to a combination of the
heat and too many people taking part. Frank managed to team up with another
handful of riders to bring the break back. The race remained nervous and twitchy
for the remainder of the morning. With half a lap to go Richard Prebble, of
national time-trialling fame, soloed away to win by 30 seconds from the bunch
sprint. Trevor came in a frustrated twelfth place with Frank rolling in behind.
Ciclos Uno Summer Series - LVRC - Eastway - Sunday 18th June
Report from Nick Harris
It wasn't until I stopped at the Higgletea-Piggle tea on Saturday that I began
to contemplate racing at Eastway for the first time in 4 years and if I had
thought about it earlier I probably wouldn't have been so gung ho during the
ride. But hey-ho, I'm sure there will be longer term benefits. Anyway, Chris
Glithero and I hatched a plan to ride the vets 1 hour plus 5 laps event and it's
probably fair to say it's unlikely that either of us would have made the trip to
Eastway without the other's encouragement. Fortunately the weather remained good
on Sunday and we arrived at Eastway in good time for a 10am kick-off where we
met Del Evans. Del decided to gain more road racing experience by opting to
start in the second race half a lap down on Chris and I so I didn't see too much
of him until the finish.
In an ideal world I guess I wouldn't have chosen Eastway as a
come-back race since I'm easily spooked by the fast corners but it was too late
to worry about that as I manoeuvred myself near to the front before the off.
Eventually the flag dropped and we rolled away, or at least most of us did but a
group of about half a dozen stars shot off down the home straight and that was
the last we saw of them. So all of a sudden we were racing for seventh at best.
This didn't seem to deter a lot of attacks which were all brought back (no
thanks to me - I was lurking near the back trying to reacquaint my self with
Eastway's twists and turns).
It's funny how time seemed to accelerate as the race progressed, the
first ten minutes took for ever but in no time at all it was five laps to go. I
had spent most of the intervening time moving up and down the bunch but Chris
had been more canny and had maintained his place which was almost always in
front of me. He used this to good effect by breaking away but probably five laps
to go was a bit far out and he was reeled in. I thought that since I was still
in the race I ought to try some thing similar and attempted to sneak down the
side of the bunch in the home straight with two laps to go; sadly I was baulked
and only made up a few places. This was as near the front as I had been
throughout the race and I did my best to hold my place with a view to trying
something at the bell where fortunately I was able to nip between the front of
the bunch and some lapped riders just before the gap closed. I suppose I
committed the cardinal sin of looking back but for most of the lap the bunch
were some way behind. I began to count the money and saw the headlines -
Comeback Kid takes the Glory - "it was like he'd never been away gushed his
adoring fans". But just then I rode through the stickiest treacle I have ever
experienced and was caught no more than 150m from the line by a strung out
bunch. Hold the front page!
At the time of writing I have no idea where I was placed other than it
was two or three riders behind Chris. Despite this minor disappointment I had a
fantastic time and I hope to be more active in future races before I really do
become too old and decrepit.
LVRC National Crit Championships - Eastway - Sunday 4th
June
Tony Bradford competed in the
40 – 44 age group criterium National Championships on Sunday the 4th
June on the Eastway Circuit. With Colin Roshier and Kevin Chambers competing
it was clear from the start the pace would be high. Kevin broke away on the
first lap and was soon joined by Roshier and 4 others in a fast moving break.
Tony tried to go with them but was out gunned.
After a further 4 laps and
with 30 miles to go Tony jumped away again and grouped with Simon Cope and a
Thames Velo rider who had been out in front for a lap. Tony drove the group of
3 forward for 2 laps before the others saw they were leaving the pack behind
and began to work. The next 28 laps continued with all 3 taking equal pulls
on the front.
With 10 laps to go the trio
were lapped by the leaders and then another mile on they in turn lapped the
chasing group.
With 2 laps to go and on the
climb Tony put in a medium effort up hill to test the others out, ready for a
full on effort on the final lap. Tony repeated the effort on the final lap
and, fully committed, left the others chasing across an increasing gap. Tony
took 7th overall 100m ahead of his break away partners at the
finish.
Tony Bradford
LVRPA/Ciclos Uno Summer Series - Sunday 28th May, Eastway
Roger Bishop and Derek Evans competed in the Ciclos Uno
Summer Series at Eastway. In his first ride at Eastway, Del Evans managed to
stay in the 4th cat bunch for an hour. He dropped off the pace as it heated up
with five laps to go but enjoyed his ride, has learned a lot and is looking
forward to the next race.
Roger Bishop and John Turton (Finchley Racing Team, NRCC
member) rode in the all cats handicap. Roger was busy on and off the front for
fifty minutes but then punctured while sitting in ready for the final attack.
Soon after, John who had been well placed throughout the race, had a mechanical
fault which was unfortunately just inside five laps to go so he could not have a
lap out. However they were first and second in the tea queue!
Ixworth Criteriums Monday 1st May - Event 1, Masters - 30mins and 5 laps.
As this was my first experience of a crit I approached the start line with
some trepidation but once we were off I soon got into the swing of it. Two of
the bends were really nasty, one sharper than 90° with a reverse camber and the
best line was hampered by drain covers and poorly patched road works, and
another was 90° after funnelling between two buildings. I remembered to look
ahead and if the wheel I was on left a gap to move up. I kept doing this and at
about half way was surprised to look round to see just two riders behind and
about a dozen in front, this soon ended up with just twelve of us. I felt
comfortable with a couple to go having moved up and sitting in the first four
but with half a lap to go lost my back wheel and a few seconds. I managed to
make up some places but not enough, came in 7th.
A good experience though and a few more BC points.
The Bish
ECCA Senior Road Race - Cat E/1/2 - Leaden Roding - Sunday
30th April
In typical Spring weather - cold and wet - I took the start line for the
Eastern Counties Cycle Assn championship road race.
The event is part of the ECCA cycling festival and covers a 15 mile course 5
1/2 times, 82 miles. The start sheet showed 51 starters including 6 Elite
riders and 25 1st Cat - with a further 4 Elites signing one it was clearly
going to be a tough race.
Although the course is not particularly hilly an inevitable head wind split
the field early on with some 18 riders forming a hard working break away. I
worked in the chase on the less wind impeded sections of the course but the
group continued to develop its lead. With two laps to go more of the riders
joined in with the chase and for a full 15 miles a group of 20 or so worked
'though and off', me included, and whittled the lead down to a mere 10
seconds.
With 1/2 a lap to go 4 riders jumped clear of the break just as the rest were
caught. I made some rash attempts to join small groups away from the main
field but these were fruitless for me. Ex NRCC rider Dave Staff did have
success though and managed 9th place as a result. I on the other hand came in
with a fast sprinting bunch and could have been placed between 25 and 40 as we
all streamed in front of the judges.
My speedo showed 82 miles at an average of just below 25mph; I was pleased to
have finished such a tough race (made tougher by the 4 mile cycle from the
finish to the HQ).
The Metropolitan Police Road Race - 16 April 2006. cat 3,4 -
Hatfield Heath, 50miles (5 x 10 miles)
Photos
A bright and warmer morning gave us the chance to race in shorts for the
first time this season. The North Road members were Trevor Burke (aka Big’un),
Ian Coles (IanC!), John Turton (Heffalump) riding in his Finchley Racing Team
colours and myself (The Bish).
All of us were unsure of our potential, suffering with colds or post illness,
including Big’un who has just had scarlet fever, he did clash with the team kit.
The race got under way and straight away there were individual attacks that
didn’t amount to anything. After about half a lap I joined a couple of riders
trying to get away and we worked well for a while before being swept up by the
bunch before the first lap was over. After two laps a group of five riders
looked like getting together and I jumped to join them, Alan Lawrence (Anglia
Sport) joining me. The group did get together and worked well, it took us half a
lap to get on and Lawrence’s turns getting shorter, we were suffering after our
effort and hung onto the group before starting to do our turns. The group stayed
together and approaching one lap to go we were a minute and twenty seconds up.
On the hill approaching the bell I was on the wrong wheel as a gap grew. I tried
with Rob Bryant of the Shaftesbury CC to catch the leading four riders but
failed into the wind. We managed to stay ahead of the bunch for the last lap
with Bryant beating me in the sprint by the width of a tyre. The other North
Roaders finished comfortably near the front of the bunch with Trevor practicing
his sprint by leading out Richard Ellis (Team Sirius).
Thanks to the lads for their work blocking on the front, helped by the Cambridge
and Glendene who had riders in the break.
Results
Matthew Thurston API - Metrow
Robert Cox Cambridge CC
Ben Thompson Glendene CC / Bike Trax
Stuart Main Velo Club Baracchi
Robert Bryant Shaftesbury CC
Roger Bishop North Road CC
Richard Ellis Team Sirius
Kevin Ibbetson Icknield RC / Compomotive Wheels
Adam Dawson Crest CC - Ilford
Nicholas Esser Velo Club Baracchi
Roger Bishop
Essex Roads Road Race (ERRL) - Sun 2nd April
Report from Jonathan Appleby
The North road pair of Jonathan Appleby and Ian Coles rolled out for their
1st road race of the year in the Essex Roads RR at East Hanningfield on Sunday
the 2nd of April. There were 2 hills on an interesting course with a 1km climb
leading up to the finish line. This road was to be closed by the police at the
end of the race, which was a good move by the organisers. The second climb,
although less steep was to become the most gruelling as a stiff headwind built
throughout the race.
Immediately the pace felt quick on the first of the four and a half ten mile
laps and after just one lap a breakaway started to build with gradually more and
more riders jumping away. This eventually turned out to be a strong group of 10
who pulled away from the rest of the participants.
The remaining group were unlikely to close the gap, and the North Road duo were
not strong enough to bridge to minimise the time loss despite several painful
attempts. At one stage of the race, with the break at about 2 minutes it looked
as if the chasing group were going to organise and seriously set about getting
back into the competition, but there were sadly too many riders intent on
getting a tow and one or two riders that appeared to be deliberately breaking up
the rythym.
As the chasing group approached the final climb to the finish the gap between
the groups stood at about 3 minutes. Ian tried a desperate attack with 3 miles
to go and bridged across to a couple of other riders, but the pace was high and
the attempt was doomed to failure. Several riders broke away whilst Jon was at
the front in the last mile but with the accumulation of a lot of work earlier in
the race he could not hold his position on the final climb to finish in the
points. At the end of the climb Jon finished 20th and Ian was close behind in
23rd.
Thanks to the organisers, who put on the event. With some half dozen police
closing major junctions and about 10 other marshals on the course this had been
a very safe road race.
LVRC Early Starters Road Race Debden / Thaxted circuit, 5 x
10 miles - 19th March
A good turnout of North Roaders started this 50 mile road race on a breezy,
chilly but dry Sunday morning. The “Blue Army” consisted of; A cat (40 – 44
years old) Trevor Burke, Tony Bradford, Frank Rawlins, B cat (45 – 49) John
Turton and C cat (50 – 54) myself. The field was quite strong with one
exceptional rider, Colin Roshier, who is a top Elite rider.
The race got of to a hesitant start but after only a couple of miles it looked
like a group of six was forming a few seconds from the bunch. I jumped, joined
them and rode through but nobody seemed interested in upping the pace. I rode
alone but was soon joined by Costa Pierides. I was glad to have the help and
also with Costa having a couple of Finchley team mates in the bunch and the
North Roaders we had plenty of riders trying to block the chase. We managed to
stay away for two and a half laps before being caught, the chase having been
boosted by Roshier doing a long hard turn on the front.
Tony and I sat in near the front for half a lap letting others take up the chase
while Costa made another attempt to stay clear. With two laps to go Costa was
swept up and Colin Roshier started to put in some serious attacks, jumping and
riding hard in thirty second bursts, seriously thinning the bunch. After a
further half a lap the elastic broke and there was a group of eight riders away,
myself included, managing to hold the wheels. The pace was high but I was
determined to stay in, missing a few turns before getting into the rhythm of
through and off. With half a lap to go Roshier jumped hard and the group was
instantly strung out. As he disappeared down the rode the rest of us got back
together and most of the group worked well together again. With about a mile to
go a rider attacked and I led the chase, unfortunately everyone else was happy
for him to take second and I was stuck on the front. I slowed until the last
small drag up to the finish and increased the pace hoping no-one would pass up
hill and into the wind but they all did, my legs starting to turn to lead.
I finished eighth overall and took second C cat.
Frank was second in bringing in the remains of the field with Trevor and Tony
not far behind. Unfortunately John had a “mechanical” and had to abandon after a
little over one lap but it was good to see his smiling face at the top of the
last climb.
Cat A/B/C
8th Roger Bishop
10th Frank Rawlins
Team Milton Keynes race series Round 1 - Sat 18th March
With the rest of the North Road team either riding the LVRC event or the
Brickendon 2-Up on the Sunday I lined up as the sole North Roader in the round
one of the Team Milton Keynes race series on the 18th March for 2/3/4 cat
riders. The circuit at the National Bowl was pretty mundane but led to a fast
pace from the start and the 51km plus 5 laps was soon to become a race of
attrition on a cold windy day.
I tried to learn from my first road race mistakes at Eastway and kept moving
towards the front of the field, and this benefited me half way through the race
when the field of 50 plus riders split and I managed to bridge the gap to the
front part of the bunch.
For the final part of the race there was a continual series of small breaks and
the field whittled down to smaller groups. I luckily moved myself higher up the
field than I hoped to and tried to instigate a chase for the leading riders in
the last 7 laps but found no assistance so sat up and tried to recover as it had
been hard on the lungs in the cold. I finished the race in a group of around 8
riders just off the leaders to take 12th place. The winner was Andrew Fenn from
team agiskoviner.com.
Simon Hook Memorial - Eastway - Sat 11th March
With some anxiety I lined up in the
Simon Hook Memorial (ERRL) for my first road race alongside Roger Bishop and
Frank Rawlings. It was cold and windy and the pace was fast from the start.
Roger and Frank were always well placed in the large bunch of 70 plus riders,
and I tried to heed their advice and keep moving up through the field. With 10
laps gone though, my attention waned and a gap opened in some riders ahead of
me, therefore soon finding myself dropped. After riding 8 laps more I was lapped
and was glad to see my fellow North Roaders still going strongly as I managed to
get back on the wheels in the main field.
With 9 laps to go Roger made a valiant
attempt at getting clear of the bunch, but unfortunately the pace was very high
and he was unsuccessful. With 5 laps to go I was pulled out from the pack as I
had been lapped and got a good vantage point to see the finish. With each lap I
could see Frank riding well to the front and he was rewarded with 11th
place that had finished in a sprint won by Matt Thurston (VC Norwich). Roger
finished further down the field in the main pack
Ian Coles
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