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PrestigeVC.com/Viner/MAR Support Services Race #15
Eelmore Circuit, August 18, 2004
It started off as glorious sunshine and soon deteriorated into squalling rain, wind and showers. With the rain came the grit thrown up from the rear wheels and with the grit came the punctures, of which there were a few! The shelter was up and it was getting more crowded under there every lap as riders pulled themselves out or were forced by mechanical or puncture related ailments. Some even just quit didn't they Justin!!!
Youths
Only three signed on this week, but one was a new rider, so hopefully we'll see them continue coming this and next year. This was under 12 Harry Skinner, who was riding a very flash bike and had new shoes on too. He showed a lot of grit and determination to finish against his two elder rivals, albeit a lap or so down! Lucy Chittenden won the race against Andrew Ferris in a relatively comfortable sprint finish to the line.
3/4/W/V/J
Three ladies signed on tonight and it was regular rider Claire Paginton (Evans Cycles) that reaped the reward with 9th place and some points! I think that is the first time a lady has got points at Eelmore, so well done Claire. She more than made up for the disappointing display by her partner/boyfriend when he packed in the E/1/2 race. You know who you are! Pah!! As per normal in the 3/4 it all looked like it would stay together for the inevitable bunched sprint, but there was some active attacking going on for a change, which split things up a bit and caused a few riders to disappear off the back as well! In the end a small group of three managed to get away and stay dangling precariously off the front with the gap constantly moving from around 15 to 30 seconds. Leading in the break was Hugo Robins from the Archer RC with a well timed gallop to the line, shortly followed by Tim Stewart (unattached) and Gavin Buckley from VC Meudon. After these it came down to a bunch sprint, although it was strung out somewhat by the frenetic chasing in the last few laps, so not too much of a headache for the judges!
E/1/2
Jason Edwards (Tunbridge Wells CC) attacked from the gun like a mad fool, but he was to have the last laugh on the bunch when several riders eventually bridged across and they all worked well together to stay away for the duration. Local strongman Paul Pickup (Liphook Cycles RT) soon realised the danger when Anders Christensen (VC Meudon), Neil Cooper (Reading CC) and Kieran Williams (awcycles.co.uk) linked up some 300 metres in front of the bunch. He set off in pursuit in his usual style of jumping up the home straight, up the hill and into the wind, where others are either reluctant or just plain not strong enough to go with him. His team mate Lee Day found himself stranded in the bunch and did attempt to get across a few times, but he was quite heavily marked and thought better of towing the rest up to the break on his wheel! Paul once again used his strength in the final few laps to break away from the group of escapees and crossed the line ahead of Anders Christensen. Poor old Kieran Williams (awcycles.co.uk) was up in the break until he punctured with three laps to go, so with the rules as they are he could not have a lap out and that was game over for him! Poor soul!
Back in the bunch, which had been whittled down to five riders in the second group and the rest some way behind, Lee Day was sitting on everyone knowing he had Paul up the road. Everyone was well aware of Lee's sprinting ability and efforts were made to collaborate and attack him and drop him off the back a few times in order to try and deaden his legs a bit! Sorry Lee!!! Round the final bend and yours truly got round the very wet and somewhat slippy corner first and led it out all the way to the line, expecting Lee and others to come past just as a glorious fifth place beckoned, but it didn't happen, the sprint was too long and too fast for the others' weary legs and basically, no-one could touch me! Sweet! Now, can anyone tell me how I go about making the lead group at some point??? Oh and Justin Hoy (Evans Cycles RT) packed like a big girls blouse!!!
Thanks go out to all those who braved the foul weather to stay and watch to the end and help out with the judging and packing away including Kat, Justin, Lorraine, Tom Harper, Nigel, Jim, Deano, Nick, the lady from team Tor 2000 and anyone else who I've missed.
There are three more Elmore's on this year as follows:
Wed 25th Aug
Wed 1st Sept
Wed 8th Sept
Timings are exactly the same:
1830 Youths @ £2 EOL only
1900 seniors - separate E/1/2 (56km) and 3/4/W/V/J (53km) events @ £8 EOL only
If needs be we will park cars around the corners and use headlights in a nocturne type way! Might make it a bit more interesting for those liking a spot of spice!!!
Results
Youths 1 Lucy Chittenden (F & C CC) 2 Andrew Ferris (F & C CC) 3 Harry Skinner (Pearsons Cycles) 3/4/W/V/J 1 Hugo Robins (Archer RC) 2 Tim Stewart (Unattached) 3 Gavin Buckley (VC Meudon) 4 Neil Smith (Maidenhead CC) 5 Steve Elms (i-team.co.uk) 6 Simon Duke (Arctic Shorter RT) 7 Dean Frost (Liphook Cycles RT) 8 Keir O'Donnell (Beyond Mtb) 9 Claire Paginton (Evans Cycles RT) 10 Paul Cooper (Reading CC) E/1/2 1 Paul Pickup (Liphook Cycles RT) 2 Anders Christensen (VC Meudon) 3 Jason Edwards (Tunbridge Wells CC) 4 Neil Cooper (Reading CC) 5 Gary Kristensen (MBE PrestigeVC.com/Viner/MAR Support Services) 6 Lee Day (Liphook Cycles RT) 7 Steve Ferguson (Team Maestro) 8 Adrian Goatley (Freerider RT) 9 Nick Dawes (Team Luciano Fondriest) 10 Ken Prince (Pearsons Cycles)
