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National Trophy Series #2 - C3
Pitville Park, Cheltenham, United Kingdom, October 20, 2002
George Richardson best in Round 2 of National Series
Report by Pat Alexander
Four riders from the organizing Cheltenham & County C. C. Club were brave enough to attempt to uphold local honours against class opposition from around the U.K. in the final race of the day, for Elite and Under 23 male competitors. Benoit Davies, also sponsored by Cheltenham Cycles, rode a consistently fast race to finish in 37th place, lapped by the leading riders in his final time around the 3km course. Mid-way through the exhausting hour long race, he broke clear of Anthony Bailey and Nic Burridge who were the other representatives for Cheltenham. That was after Nic had paced the trio early on, finding the slippery conditions to his slight advantage until a lack of top form saw him succumb to the persistent harrying of his team mates. So first Benoit then Anthony came past, together with Royal Sutton CC rider Andrew Grier, and that was how it finished for them. Brave souls for enduring a fast pace and increasingly inhospitable conditions as the cold rain worsened every minute of the race.
At the head of the field, a tactical battle of strength and endurance was being fought between what was, initially, a five man lead group of George Richardson (MI Racing/Peugeot/Thule/Extran), Stuart Wearmouth (Science in Sport.com), Barrie Clarke (Helly Hansen/Giant), Shaun Snodden (JE James RT) and Daniel Alexander (Matlock CC/Wards Shoes/Clarks). Richardson looked the strongest in the early laps, causing a split in that group to develop, with only Clarke able to stay in contact. In spite of the raw wintry conditions, it was enlightening to watch these athletes master the slippery climbs and descents of the park, made more difficult by their impaired vision which mud thrown up by bikes close in front had resulted in.
Clarke, the reigning National Series champion, moved ahead of Richardson and into first spot, a position he had become accustomed to over his long career as a professional cyclo-cross and mountain bike racer. However, despite a persistent 15 minute bid to make some advantage over Richardson, all that he succeeded in doing was tiring himself to such an extent that he could not offer any resistance when Richardson caught and passed him with 13 minutes remaining to race, opening a 12 second advantage at the finish, a race time of 59 minutes and 26 seconds. Meanwhile, Stuart Wearmouth was in the process of recovering ground that had been lost to the leading pair early in the race. But he was too far back to cause Clarke any concern, finishing in a time of 1 hour & three seconds. Shaun Snodden won the U23 event in a time of 1 hour and 53 seconds.
In contrast to that final event of the day, the earlier races were held in more hospitable weather conditions, cool and cloudy, but most importantly dry. The Women's event continued to demonstrate Isla Rowntree's domination of the discipline which took her to the Series title last season. The Stourbridge CC rider finished 45 seconds ahead of her nearest rival, Victoria Wilkinson, in a time of forty minutes and 23 seconds. Mick Rowson (Rutland CC) won a closely contested Veteran's event, beating first round winner Mick Bell (London Fire Brigade CC) by a single second. Top of the Junior Men's category came Richard Kipling (Merlin / Rock Lobster) in a time of 36 minutes and 29 seconds, proving that it's a wide open series in this event since the positions of the occupants of the first four places in round one had been reversed here. The youth race victory went to Alex Atkins of VC Meudon, his race time being 28 mins 50 seconds.
Organisers of the Cheltenham & County CC promoted event, Pat Alexander and Don Muir, were indebted to the efforts of 40 volunteers from the Club, as well as John & Alison Rowland of Cheltenham Cycles, for supporting the event with sponsorship and an impressive cycle exhibit stand. Red Cross First Aiders from Bishops Cleeve, the Charlton Kings Scout Group and Gerry McGarr of Year 2000 mountainbiking came in for praise after their contributions during the day.
Photography
Images by Stefan Wyman
- The James Hay racing team assemble pre-race (note whiteness of kit)!
- Helen Saunders of the James Hay team placed fourth on the day.
Images by Cat Knowles-Fitton
- Hurdles action, early in the Elite race.
- This climb was rideable - just! Dave Collins (Science in Sport.com)
- Steve Knight (MI Racing/Peugeot/Thule/Extran) moved up the field throughout the race to finish fifth.
- The wheels still spin when the bike is shouldered.
- Keeping out of the way can be a challenge when bikes are being thrown around!
- George Richardson (MI Racing/Peugeot/Thule/Extran) stalks Barrie Clarke (Helly Hansen/Giant).
- Much of the course was still quick despite the wet weather, as Peter Middlehurst (Eastern Region Velo/Bianchi) shows.
- The grit and determination of a rider approaching the finish line for the last time.
Results
Elite Men 1 George Richardson (MI Racing/Peugeot/Thule/Extran) 59.26 2 Barrie Clarke (Helly Hansen/Giant) 0.12 3 Stuart Wearmouth (Science in Sport.com) 0.37 4 Paul Oldham (Helly Hansen/Giant) 0.42 5 Steve Knight (MI Racing/Peugeot/Thule/Extran) 1.17 6 Oli Beckingsale (MBUK/Scott) 1.18 7 Shaun Snodden (JE James RT) 1.27 8 David Collins (Science in Sport.com) 9 Daniel Alexander (Matlock CC/Wards Shoes/Clarks) 2.07 10 Darren Atkins (MI Racing/Peugeot/Thule/Extran) 2.20 11 Daniel Booth (James Hay RT) 2.23 12 Steven Roach (James Hay RT) 2.30 13 Noel Clough (Caygill Frames RT) 2.58 14 Stuart Blunt (Team Corridori/Specialized) 3.11 15 Peter Middlehurst (Eastern Region Velo/Bianchi) 3.57 16 Stuart Bowers (Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next) 4.06 17 Tim Davies (CC Abergavenny/Owen/Doleq) 4.16 18 Robert Hunt (Eastern Region Velo/Bianchi) 4.24 19 Paul Byatt (Cyclone Cycles) 4.39 20 Chris Skinner (Cyclone Cycles) 4.46 21 Keith Murray (Science in Sport.com) 5.05 22 Sam Gardner (Evans RT/Specialized) 5.15 23 Russell Parkins (X RT/Elmy Cycles) 5.28 24 Mikkeli Godfree (Individual Member) 5.55 25 Andrew Naylor (Ashfield RC) 6.02 26 Nathan Miller (Ipswich BC) 6.07 27 William Bjergfelt (Saracen) 6.17 28 James Furniss (Matlock CC/Wards Shoes/Clarks) 6.29 29 Marcos Schier (Individual Member) 6.49 30 Ben Saunders (Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next) 7.19 31 Ben Eedy (Team Bradgate) 8.05 32 Mark Russell (VC Meudon/Evolution/Cycle Kingdom) 1 lap 33 Carl Davey (X RT/Elmy Cycles) 34 Greg Simcock (X RT/Elmy Cycles) 35 Gavin Hardwicke (James Hay RT) 36 Vin Cox (Cyclo-Cross.com) 37 Benoit Davies (Cheltenham Cycles) 38 Anthony Bailey (Cheltenham & County CC) 39 Andrew Grier (Royal Sutton CC) 40 Nic Burridge (Cheltenham & County CC) 41 Joe Lally (CC Abergavenny/Owen/Doleq/Grist) 42 Lee Allen (Cyclo-cross.com) 43 Ben Oliver (Leisure Lakes RT) 44 Hugo Hocknell (St Ives CC/Richardsons/Watts) 45 Linde Smith (Team Biogen) 46 Paul Welsby (Zodiac CRC) 47 Graham Lee (Cycleweb.co.uk/Synergy) 48 Alistair Milner (Stourbridge CC) Women 1 Isla Rowntree (Stourbridge CC) 40.23 2 Victoria Wilkinson (Science in Sport.com) 0.45 3 Nikki Harris (Pearce Cycles RT) 1.57 4 Helen Saunders (James Hay RT) 2.08 5 Amy Hunt (Helly Hansen/Giant) 2.21 6 Lydia Gould (Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next) 2.55 7 Susan Carter (Team Powerbar) 3.31 8 Gabriella Day (VC Lincoln/TMS/Impsport) 4.31 9 Caroline Goward (Individual Member) 5.16 10 Sarah Collins (Private Member) 1 lap 11 Claire Lines (Abergavenny RC/Mimo) 12 Karen Stuart-Smith (Red Kite Cycles) 2 laps Veterans 1 Mick Rowson (Rutland CC) 44.15 2 Michael Bell (London Fire Brigade CC) 0.01 3 Nigel Hay (De Montfort Rage On) 0.04 4 Steve Barron (VC Lincoln/TMS/Impsport) 0.15 5 Barry Kipling (Science in Sport.com) 0.42 6 Chris Remnant (VC Meudon/Evolution/Cycle Kingdom) 0.51 7 Andy Reid (De Montfort Rage On) 1.05 8 Roy Hunt (Rock Lobster) 1.08 9 Martin Eadon (Ace RT/TerryDolan/Impsport) 1.11 10 Paul Gilbert (Universal CC/Obar) 1.19 11 Robert Wood-Anderson (Matlock CC/Wards Shoes/Clarks) 1.33 12 Geoffrey Brightmore (Matlock CC/Wards Shoes/Clarks) 1.37 13 Peter Hargroves (Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next) 1.40 14 David Garrett (Rugby Velo) 1.44 15 Adrian Rochford (Mildenhall CC) 2.28 16 Ian MacDonald (Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next) 2.29 17 Andrew Roberts (Evans Cycles RT) 2.32 18 Malcolm Cross (Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next) 19 Stephen Bennett (Pearce Cycles RT) 20 Mike Johnson (De Montfort Rage On) 21 Philip Roach (Rugby Velo) 22 Adge Last (Matlock CC/Wards Shoes/Clarks) 2.48 23 Peter Harris (Pearce Cycles RT) 2.54 24 Geoff Bores (Basildon CC) 3.17 25 Vic Barnett (Welland Valley Wheelers) 3.34 26 Mick Ives (MI Racing/Peugeot/Thule/Extran) 3.35 27 Graham Edwards (Abergavenny RC/Mimo) 3.47 28 Peter Mooney (Rugby Velo) 3.55 29 Chris Jillings (Ipswich BC) 4.12 30 Chris Davies (Ogmore Valley Wh) 4.19 31 Adrian Elson (Coventry RC) 4.24 32 Chris Gooch (Team Clean/Impsport) 4.54 33 David Smith (Individual Member) 5.01 34 Malcolm Wilson (Wolverhampton Wheelers CC) 5.20 35 Trevor Brown (Eastern Region Velo/Bianchi) 5.43 36 Michael Webb (Royal Sutton CC) 5.53 37 Peter Parkes (Coventry RC) 6.09 38 Mike Adams (Red Kite Cycles) 6.15 39 Lester Young (Cornwall BMX RC) 6.43 40 Geoff Booker (Oxonian CC) 6.44 41 Chris Blount (Derby Mercury RC) 7.34 42 Robert Smith (Ipswich BC) 1 lap 43 Paul Eveleigh (Peterborough CC) 44 Greg Elson (Coventry RC) 45 Mike Parkins (Fenland Clarion) 46 Phil Norfolk (Leeds Mercury RT) 47 John Holmes (Derby Mercury RC) 48 Ian Poole (Mildenhall CC) 49 Tony Weeks (Bristol RC) 50 Robert Griffiths (Lee Valley Youth CC/Crest) 2 laps Juniors 1 Richard Kipling (Merlin Cycles/Rock Lobster) 36.29 2 Adam Gascoigne (Team Kona) 0.37 3 Ian Field (San Fairy Ann CC) 0.57 4 Ian Bibby (Science in Sport.com) 0.58 5 Chris Bartlett (Ipswich BC) 2.47 6 Andrew Gough (Portswood Cycles RT) 3.16 7 Matthew Pritchard (MI Racing/Peugeot/Thule/Extran) 3.26 8 Joseph Edge (Stourbridge CC) 3.35 9 Matt Lee (Cycleweb.co.uk/Synergie) 3.41 10 Richard Kent (Oldham Ruffyeds) 4.11 11 Matthew Roach (Rugby Velo) 4.46 12 Melvinder Basra (Eastern Region Velo/Bianchi) 4.55 13 Andrew Bramham (Seacroft Wheelers) 5.43 14 Euan Adams (Red Kite Cycles) 6.33 15 Paul Wilson (Wolverhampton Wheelers CC) 6.50 16 James Shaw (VC Lincoln/TMS/Impsport) 6.56 Youth 1 Alex Atkins (VC Meudon/Evolution/Cycle Kingdom) 28.50 2 Ian Stannard (Team Keyne/Trek) 0.38 3 David Wood (VC Deal) 0.41 4 Jon Mozley (Cratoni Helmets) 0.54 5 Sam Thorne (Matlock CC/Wards Shoes/Clarks) 1.47 6 Kristian Downs (API Bikes/Specialized/Metrow Foods) 1.58 7 Adam Blythe (Sheffield Phoenix CC) 2.12 8 Tom Last (Matlock CC/Wards Shoes/Clarks) 2.15 9 William Goulbourne (Bromsgrove Olympique/Action Bikes) 2.22 10 Philip Gough (Portswood Cycles RT) 11 Nick Stacey (Catford CC) 2.25 12 Ben Swift (Sheffield Phoenix CC) 3.10 13 William Thompson (Bike Plus) 3.16 14 Robert Whenman (Team Darenth) 15 Andrew Griffiths (Lee Valley Youth CC) 3.20 16 Amy Thompson (Bike Plus) 3.47 17 Thomas Shaw (VC Lincoln/TMS/Impsport) 3.58 18 Paul Cox (Melton Olympic CC) 4.04 19 Alex Wise (Welland Valley Wheelers) 4.35 20 Jamie Harris (Pearce Cycles RT) 4.56 21 Abbie Thorrington (Ipswich BC) 5.05 22 Jack Hibberd (Halesowen ACC) 5.25 23 Luke Allen (Cyclo-cross.com) 5.30 24 Ben Roach (Rugby Velo) 5.45 25 Billy-Joe Whenman (Team Darenth) 26 Philip Bramham (Seacroft Wheelers) 7.21 27 Peter Banham (Bromsgrove Olympique/Action Bikes) 7.33 28 Thomas Hibberd (Halesowen ACC) 1 lap 29 Jack Delman (Lee Valley Youth CC) 30 Timothy Rowson (Sheffield Phoenix CC) 31 Bethan Edwards (VC Lincoln/TMS/Impsport)
Past winners
Men 2001 Matt Ellis (Ace RT/Hanson/Dolan/Impsport) Women 2001 Isla Rowntree (Stourbridge CC)
