Winter Criterium racing in EnglandTwickenham CC Winter Series Hillingdon, England, November 20th, 1999 Courtesy of David Hughes For those of you reading this in Australia, criterium racing under cloudy skies, with howling winds, and temperatures as low as freezing, may not be too inviting. Racing after all during the "Christmas" months of the year is taken for granted in Australia and other countries down under where hot doesn't even begin to describe how uncomfortable it can get. As someone who has done the Top End tour, raced in Mount Isa for a year or so and lots more, I know what it's like to feel the "heat" when racing. I now know what it's like to race in the heart of winter on the other side of the world with this being my second winter series. Here in England and other countries in the grip of winter, road racing is all but finished and the only competing going on is cyclo-cross or the odd mountain bike event. However, winter racing for us roadies in the UK, is catching on. It does after all make interval work much less of a chore when you have someone else ripping your legs off rather then trying to do it on your own. There are now two series in action in different parts of the UK during the winter. The longest running one as far as I'm aware, probably the first of its kind even though I'm sure I will be corrected on that if I'm wrong, is the winter series held at Hillingdon by one of the UK's oldest clubs, Twickenham CC. The circuit Hillingdon is underneath the flight paths to and from Heathrow (West London), one of the worlds busiest airports. Hillingdon is also ideally situated near the M25 (and other motorways (freeways in Oz) like the M4, M40 and M3) to make it simple to get to, even by those of us travelling from other parts of the country. Hillingdon, is also a purpose built cycle circuit where racing is held all year round. It's about a mile around, has a hard enough hill in it and plenty of bends to give you a reality check when you're on the rivet. The winter series The winter series is organised by Doug Collins from the Twickenham CC. Contact details can be sought from the BCF (British Cycling Federation) for anyone visiting the country or check out www.twickenhamcc.co.uk). Doug is your typical stalwart enthusiast who still rides a bike in anger (with plenty of laughter to go along with it) but also finds time to organise many events. The type of person that cycle racing all round the world really needs and all too often is taken for granted by many. Doug is ably helped out by Eddy Reeves and many other volunteers on the day. The races, held on Saturday afternoon at 1.30pm, are open to all categories of riders and give lower category riders the opportunity to ride against higher category opposition when the stakes are not so high. There is only one event each week with everybody starting together. A scratch race in other words. In the UK, riders are ranked from Elite down to 4th category and from time to time, you will also see juniors and ladies riding the winter series events. Last year's series was won by the rider ranked number 1 in the UK for that year (1998 - in the British Cycling Federation's rankings), Pete Sweetenham. Pete is also competing this year along with many others from all categories (such as Amore-e-Vita's British pros). Each race is 52km long and the average pace is 40kph or more. I say average because in the first race, on the back straight (which is flat), speeds of more than 60kph were reached. They don't hang about. The fields are small by summer standards (where you get 70 or 80 in a single race) but manageable at around 40 riders. As the series goes on, and the season proper approaches, more riders come along to get some racing in their legs. The series runs until February 19, 2000 and even includes events on boxing day and the day after the millennium celebrations. Report for race 1, 20th November 1999: It was cold, bitterly cold conditions that greeted the riders for the first race in the series. At least it was dry which was a blessing because even with the cold, the pace during the race was such that many found themselves sweating quite quickly. Around 30-plus riders turned up for the first event from all categories. The form of riders varied because many were coming back from breaks, some as long 4 months, while others had only finished racing a week or so ago in another Twickenham series at Ottershaw. The pace for the first lap or so was manageable, thanks to the wind blowing down the hill, which made speeds of more than 32 kph difficult up the finishing climb. Those wanting a springboard for an attack though, had one because the hill was doubly difficult with the wind blowing in your face and if you didn't "blow yourself" going up the hill (around 400 meters long), there was an enticing tailwind down the long back straight. In the end however, aggressive moves by Twickenham CC's Dave Griffiths and Alan Leach (Team Sort and Publicity) helped a split develop in the first half of the race. This break containing 9 or 10 riders proved to be the race winning move as the large group slowly edged away from the rest of the bunch. Lady luck however wasn't smiling on Dave Griffiths as he punctured, and then to top it off, the replacement wheel wasn't playing ball with his gears and he had to be careful when going with the moves after dropping back to the second group. The main losers who missed the main move were Mick Hill (Viking Wheelers), Vince Freeman (Terry Wright Cycles) and last winter's overall winner, Twickenham Cc's Peter Swettenham who was getting rid of a jersey at the back of the group when the move went. Despite many attacks from the chasing group, the leading pack eventually lapped the second group. The host club, Twickenham CC, had four or so riders in the lead group, amongst them being Doug Crow, who was last winter series revelation and now only needs three BCF ranking points for his Elite licence. Also in there was Elite Vince Halpern and first cat super vet, Bill Butterworth, who our spies tell us has been spending some midweek time training around the circuit. He has sharpened his form for the series, the first of which he won two years ago. Popular opinion amongst the officials was that Bill was perhaps the man of the race, doing a lot of work on the front to ensure the break success and finishing a strong 4th. After an hour and 14 minutes, the leaders had covered the 52km (around 40kph) and the sprint for the finish started in the back straight where speeds of 60kph were not uncommon. It was during the skirmishes on the back straight that the leading group split with Twickenham's Will Driver trapped in the wrong half but for him success was the 9th placing which helped him move up a category thanks to the BCF ranking points he gained. At the head of affairs however, it was Paul Doherty (Heffs Cycles) who surprised everyone including noted sprinters like Vince Halpern and Alan Leach to take the win by the narrowest of margins with Halpern second and Leach third. After the race, much discussion followed in the changing rooms and coffee hall where hot drinks were served by the recently engaged Melanie (Doug Crow being the lucky fella) and friends and everyone exchanged stories from the last season. This alone highlights one of the important things about the winter series in that it isn't only the racing that counts, but also the socialising that goes on to bring some brightness to the grey winter months. Oh, and for anyone thinking the sun doesn't shine here, many days are grey and dreary during the winter but we also get a fair number of sunny but cold (normally very cold when the sun shines) days as well. This might dispel at least one of the old wives tales that I was told back home about the sun only shining in England when on the dunny! Overall, organiser Doug Collins was pleased with the first event in this winter's series with a good field and a very competitive race. It would seem that this winter isn't going to be so bleak after all! Results: Men, 52 km: 1. Paul Doherty, Heffs Cycles 1.15.05 2. Vince Halpern, Twickenham CC 3. Alan Leach, Team Sport and Publicity 4. Bill Butterworth, Twickenham CC 5. Russell Scott, VC Meldon 6. Stuart Jackson, Heffs Cycles 7. Doug Crow, Twickenham CC 8. Mario Manelfi, Old Ports 9. Will Driver, Twickenham CC 10. Peter Noble, Team Sport and Publicity 11. Peter Swettenham, Twickenham CC 1.50 12. Grant Philips, teamSYNERGY 13. Vince Freeman, Terry Wright Cycles 2.05 14. Dave Griffiths, Twickenham CC 2.10 15. Gary Evans, Twickenham CC 16. Larry Hickmott, teamSYNERGY 17. Jason Edwards, Redhill CC 18. Les Hook, Bath Road 19. Peter Jones, Hillingdon 20. John Leitch, Redhill CC Winter Series Overall Table 1. Paul Doherty, Heffs Cycles 30 points 2. Vince Halpern, Twickenham CC 29 3. Alan Leach, Team Sport and Publicity 28 4. Bill Butterworth, Twickenham CC 27 5. Russell Scott, VC Meldon 26 6. Stuart Jackson, Heffs Cycles 25 7. Doug Crow, Twickenham CC 24 8. Mario Manelfi, Old Ports 23 9. Will Driver, Twickenham CC 22 10. Peter Noble, Team Sport & Publicity 21 11. Peter Swettenham, Twickenham CC 20 12. Grant Philips, team SYNERGY 19 13. Vince Freeman, Terry Wright Cycles 18 14. Dave Griffiths, Twickenham CC 17 15. Gary Evans, Twickenham CC 16 16. Larry Hickmott, team SYNERGY 15 17. Jason Edwards, Redhill CC 14 18. Les Hook, Bath Road 13 19. Peter Jones, Hillingdon 12 20. John Leitch, Redhill CC 11
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