Premier MTB Series # 1 - E2

Newnham Park, UK, April 16, 2005

Results

Beckingsale in hot form in chilly Devon

Oli Beckingsale (Scott)
Photo ©: British Cycling

Oli Beckingsale made the best possible start to the British Cycling Premier Mountain Bike Series with a smooth and controlled win at Newnham Park, near Plymouth in Devon. On a heavy and wet course, in extremely chilly conditions, the experienced Scott pro was able to ride off the front of the Elite Men's field at the top of the first climb and, after the first lap, the rest of a talented field never saw him again.

At the finish, after just over 2 hours of racing, Oli was four minutes clear of runner-up Adrian Lansley, who had Trek UK's Phil Spencer hard on his heels. National Champion Jody Crawforth was leading the chase behind Beckingsale for the first couple of laps, but was sidelined by a puncture.

After the race, Oli Beckingsale was in understandably good spirits. Asked about the race, he seemed surprised at the ease with which he won, "I was fifth or sixth at the end of the long, flat start straight," he said. "I knew I was going well and I planned to be at the front and ride my own race - everyone makes mistakes on this kind of course when they ride in a group, so I was keen to get a bit of space. In the event, I was able to ride clear on the two climbs on lap one.

"Jody Crawforth and Ian Bibby were able to get back to me after the climbs, but on the next climb I got away again and had about 30 seconds at the end of lap one. From then on I was stretching the lead every lap: there were a lot of tired legs out there at the end, though I felt pretty good myself."

Jenny McCauley (Bray Wheelers)
Photo ©: British Cycling

Jenny Copnall, often dominant in the Elite Women's category since Caroline Alexander's retirement, had to settle for second spot this time, behind Irish visitor Jenny McCauley. However, Copnall was far from downhearted. "It was a great race, wasn't it?" she said. "I really enjoyed it, though I was struggling at times. I guess we all struggled with the mud. Actually, I've been feeling really good recently. I've ridden a couple of NORBAs and done well in them, but I was going to feel tired at some point and it seems to be this week."

For Irish Olympic rider Jenny McCauley, her win was somewhat unplanned, though very welcome. " I was over in Germany talking to my new team, Biking Cyprus, during the week, when I decided to take in this race on the way home," she said. "I had no helmet and had to pop out last night to buy one - I got a great one for £20! I had no mud tyres either, but it didn't seem to be a problem. I'm really pleased and surprised at the result, especially considering I only decided to ride last night!"

In the Junior Men's race, Alex Atkins produced a really outstanding ride. The Evans Cycles rider was better than 90 seconds a lap faster then the rest of the field and finished some five minutes clear of runner-up, Andy McCullogh, at the end of three laps when the course was at its heaviest. Mark Thwaites was third.

Asked how the race had panned out for him, Alex said, "I got away on the first climb. I went hard for the first lap then settled down my pace. There was a long section of climbing where we had to run and the 'Cross running I've been doing during the winter helped me, though I've actually been a little bit ill with a cold this week."

In the Youth categories, Marie Stuart and David Fletcher had convincing wins, Fletcher's by the huge margin of 6 minutes 53 seconds. Michael Butler was the Juvenile boys category winner, coming in some 93 seconds clear of Luke Gray. However, the Juvenile women's category was a lot closer, with Rebecca Thompson just getting the better of Rebecca James in the closing stages.

The Master Men's race was always going to be one of the most intriguing of the day, with several riders making their debut in the category. And it was one of these riders, Geoff Beetham, who took the win, from Jason Emery, though the gap between them was no more than a handful of seconds until well into their third and final lap. Ben Dale, a habitual winner last season, was third, whilst Paul Lasenby - one of the country's leading riders in the nineties - made a successful racing come-back in fourth. Keep an eye on the Masters this season, it looks like it could produce some classic racing.

The event marked the start of Trek second year of sponsorship of the series and with over 400 riders competing, it looks like the weekend combination of NPS racing on the Saturday and 6,4 and 2 hour enduro options on the Sunday is what the punters want.

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by British Cycling

Oli Beckingsale (Scott) on the way to winning elite men
Jenny McCauley (Bray Wheelers) stopped off on her way home to Ireland and nabbed a win
Jenny Copnall (Subaru/Gary Fisher) was two minutes down on McCauley
Geoff Beetham (Shokwave/661/H5) landed the win in Masters
Alex Atkins (Evans Cycles RT) - the junior winner

Results

Women Elite

1 Jenny McCauley (Bray Wheelers)                     1.57.57
2 Jenny Copnall (Subaru/Gary Fisher)                    2.15
3 Beth McCluskey (Raleigh/ERV)                          3.29
4 Hazel Wakefield (Raleigh/ERV)                         5.13
5 Kate Potter (Specialized)                             6.11
6 Katy Middlehurst (Giant Racing)                       6.38
7 Rebecca Webb (justridingalong.com)                   14.01
8 Nicola Duggan                                        14.50
9 Sophie Johnson (Raleigh/ERV)                         15.49
10 Ruth Macgavigan (Raleigh/ERV)                       20.31
DNF Caroline Jackson (Massi-abarth)
DNF Nicola Macleod (Raleigh/ERV)
DNF Caroline Goward (Evans Cycles RT)
DNF Dr Kim Hurst (RAF Cycling)
DNF Jenn  O'Connor (Specialized)
DNF Jodi Vickery (Don't Push It)

Men Elite

1 Oli Beckingsale (Scott UK)                         2.01.38
2 Adrian Lansley (Pedalon.co.uk)                        4.09
3 Phil Spencer (Trek UK)                                4.33
4 William Bjergfelt (Saracen)                           5.06
5 Ian Bibby (Trek UK)                                   5.47
6 Stu Bowers (Hargroves-Trant/Next)                     5.48
7 Paul Oldham (Giant Racing)                            6.30
8 Duncan Jamieson (Leisure Lakes RT)                    8.03
9 Richard Wood (Extreme Endurance)                      8.14
10 Gareth Montgomerie (Stewartry Wheelers/C)            9.17
11 Rab Wardell (Sandy Wallace Cycles)                   9.48
12 Jamie Norfolk (Giant Racing)                         9.52
13 Jamie Newall (Evans Cycles RT)                      10.50
14 Ian Field (Trek UK)                                 11.03
15 Jonathan Pugh (Merida/John Lloyds)                  12.13
16 James Fraser-Moodie (Pedal Power RT/SCU)            13.30
17 Ian Wilkinson (Giant Racing)                        14.33
18 Wayne Bennett (Twigden Homes)                       15.23
19 Ross Adams (Red Kite Cycles)                        16.30
20 James McCluskey (Team Worc)                         17.58
21 Ian Legg                                            18.19
22 Sam Humphrey (TF Tuned Shox)                        19.38
23 Matthew Barrett (Websters Cycles.co.u)              21.25
24 Steve  Hambling (VC Deal/Activ)                     21.51
25 Oli Cox                                             22.12
26 Matt  Spurgin (Evans Cycles RT)                     22.24
27 Glenn Kinning (Castlereagh CC Matte)                23.33
28 Mansour Youssef (Bikelab)                           24.59
29 Kieron Mills (Caesarean CC)                         27.34
30 Ben Oliver (Leahrhys.co.uk)                         37.30
DNF Iain Nimmo
DNF Andrew Howett (SWCC/Station Fitness)
DNF Jody Crawforth (Evans Cycles RT)
DNF Lewis Ferguson (Team BMB)
DNF Marcos Schier (Foska.com/Torq Bar)
DNF Andreas Perrakis (Mid Devon - Colin Le)
DNF John Veness (Evans Cycles RT)
DNF Daniel Duguid (Evans Cycles RT)
DNF Zak Toogood (Paligap Kona)
DNF Matt Holmes (Arctic RT)
DNF Steven Roach (Trek UK)
DNF James Ouchterlony (MASSI)
DNF Greg Altham (Shokwave)
DNF Adrian Scott (Leisure Lakes RT)
DNF Paul Newnham (Glentress Riders)
DNF Nick Craig (Scott UK)
DNF Dave Collins (Scott UK)
DNF Nigel Martin
DNF Richard Mardle (Team Saracen)
DNF Simon Ernest (Commencal UK)
DNF Giles Bett (Weaver Valley CC)
DNF Richard McCauley (Bray Wheelers)

Women Junior

1 Abi Greenaway (Team Saracen)                         48.29

Men Junior

1 Alex Atkins (Evans Cycles RT)                      1.42.45
2 Andrew McCullough (XMTB)                              4.51
3 Mark Thwaites (Kinesis UK)                            5.36
4 Ross Creber (Sandy Wallace Cycles)                    6.52
5 Martyn Brookes (Yeti, Goldtec)                        7.10
6 Sam Thompson (Kinesis UK)                             7.41
7 Paul Cox (webasters Cycles)                           8.21
8 Keir McKenna (Kinesis UK)                             8.46
9 William Thompson (Pacific Racing)                     9.32
10 Connor McConvey (XMTB)                              14.29
11 Anthony O'Boyle (Newport Phoenix CC)                15.07
12 Tom Hooper (All Terrain Cycles)                     15.52
13 Tom Last (Matlock CC)                               16.54
14 Peter Banham (Wyre Forest CC)                       17.26
15 Tim Baldwin (Paul Milnes RT)                        17.26
16 Matthew Ferguson (Team BMB)                         17.34
17 Steve O'Neil                                        22.45
18 Scott Chalmers (Chippenham Wheelers)                27.15
19 Chris Cowling (AC Cowling Repairs)                  27.41
20 Karl Troth (HACC)                                   32.30
21 John Smedley (Bikinmotion)                          42.55
DNF Jamie Harris (Pearce Cycles)
DNF Josh Ibbett (Team Synergy)
DNF James Carling (Guernsey Velo)
DNF Scott Clipstone (Army CCU)
DNF Hal Fade (North Devon Wheelers)
DNF David Sinclair (I-team.co.uk)
 
Expert Female 
 
1 Paula Moseley (Climb On Bikes RT)          2.10.14
2 Nicky Hughes                                  4.09
3 Pippa Lansdown                                4.20
4 Jules Toone (Climb on Bikes RT)              16.42
5 Cara Macmanus                                20.52
 
Expert Male 
 
1 Adam Broyad (VC Deal)                      2.21.32
2 Tim Edgar (XMTB)                              2.06
3 Philip Smith (GA Cycles)                      4.07
4 Luke Smith (Marin UK)                         5.00
5 Nick Collins (VC Deal/Activ)                  5.16
 
Master Female 
 
1 Michelle Bergstrand (Raleigh/ERV)          1.21.30
2 Renell Bartlett (John Lloyd Race Even)        6.59
3 Jane Steele (Port Sunlight Wheele)            9.15
4 Jean Limpitlaw (Team mk)                     12.24
5 Julie Barrett (Ride-On)                      16.46
 
Master Male 
 
1 Geoff Beetham (Shokwave/661/H5)            1.33.52
2 Jason Emery (pedalon.co.uk)                   0.42
3 Ben Dale (Climb On Bikes RT)                  1.44
4 Paul Lasenby (Marin uk)                       5.59
5 Paul Hopkins (Hambledon Wheelers)             6.04
 
Veteran Female 
 
1 Lydia Gould (Hargroves)                    1.26.16
2 Kate Wheeler                                 18.17
3 Tracy Miles (Climb On Bikes)                 22.53
4 Carol Tilley (Ride Cycleworks)               30.53
5 Alison Wall (Royce UK)                       32.22
 
Veteran Male 
 
1 Mark Cracknell (AW cycles.co.uk)           1.43.38
2 Paul Hinton (Saracen)                         2.36
3 David Nelson (Beyond MTB/WDMBC)               3.04
4 Paul Ashby (API Metrow)                       3.32
5 Peter Turnbull (M&D Cycles Specializ)         5.10
 
Grand Vet Male 
 
1 Clive Powell (Team Dirty Weekend)          1.14.21
2 Norman Butler (bikeguatemala.com)             0.44
3 Andy Roberts (Evans Cycles RT)                5.07
4 John Lloyd (Merida)                           5.45
5 Steve Collen (NWMBA Bike Factory)            17.59
 
Juvenile Men
 
1 Michael Butler (VC Deal)                     38.52
2 Luke Gray (Dorset Rough Riders)               1.34
3 William Verney (Shockwave)                    3.06
4 Jonny Beers (XMTB)                           11.11
5 Peter Robinson                               12.25
 
Juvenile Women
 
1 Rebecca Thompson (Bike Plus)                 49.32
2 Rebecca James (Abergavenny CC)                0.22
3 Jessica Laird (XMTB Cycling Ulster)           7.12
 
Youth Women
 
1 Marie Stuart (Raleigh/ERV)                 1.31.08
2 Amy Thompson (Bike Plus)                      2.48
3 Annabel Simpson (Marie Curie)                 4.27
4 Annie Last (Matlock CC)                      12.26
5 Ella Hopkins (Bikinmotion)                   29.18
 
Youth Men
 
1 David Fletcher (Sherwood Pines Cycle)      1.10.14
2 Jake Moxham (Dysons Cycles)                   6.53
3 Jay Spetch (Team Torq)                        7.10
4 Tom Skubala (Giant Racing)                    8.29
5 Matthew Hill (Bmth Arrows/Primera)            8.55
 
Sport Female 
 
1 Claire Lines (Gateway Racing Team)         1.31.11
2 Kate George (Specialized)                     3.50
3 Ceri Dipple (Team MK)                         8.43
4 Katy Curtis (Leeds Uni/Torq/Evans)           15.47
5 Anna Walker (Walkers Cycling Team)                
 
Sport Male 
 
1 Luke Moseley (Climb On Bikes RT)           1.45.48
2 Grant Leavy (Swansea Wheelers CC)             8.30
3 Eric Pettett (Torq-Evans)                     8.46
4 Will Thomas (vinnerbikes/agisko)             10.25
5 Steve Shaw (Team Torq Bar)                   12.23
 
Open Female 
 
1 Fran Moore                                   55.41
2 Gill Fay                                     17.37
 
Open Male 
 
1 Jon Weedon (Bikinmotion)                   1.21.54
2 Paul Sole                                     0.04
3 Eldrik Hartley                                3.48
4 James Bovey                                   3.58
5 David Thomas (John Lloyd Racing)              4.45