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VIDEO - Senior Men's Race
Images: Senior & U23 Men | Veterans | Women & Juniors | Youth
REPORT
Senior & Under-23 Men
Dutch visitor Thijs Al (AA Drinks) out-sprinted reigning National Champion Paul Oldham (Hope Factory Racing) to take victory in the opening round of the 2011-12 National Trophy Series at Temple Park, South Shields, on Sunday.
Al just held off Oldham in the charge for the line, while just five seconds behind them reigning National Trophy Series champion Jody Crawforth (Hargroves Cycles) completed the podium.
The exposed course offered little shelter from strong winds which made it easier to ride in groups rather than go it alone, and this proved a crucial tactic in all the races throughout the day.
Oldham’s hopes of victory were hampered by a couple of unscheduled bike changes early in the race, but the strong winds had tempered the pace at the front with nobody prepared to risk going off on a lone attack, and Oldham managed to claw his way back up to the front after briefly dropping out of the top ten.
Thijs Al had teamed up with Belgian under-23 Floris De Tier (Cycling Champs) in the first attack of the day, but it was Under-23 De Tier who played the dominant role and he soon opened a gap of around five seconds over Al, with Oldham and Crawforth a similar distance behind.
De Tier was looking strong and a good bet for the win, but two crashes in quick succession dropped him out of the top ten, having unshipped his chain and got tangled in course marking tape in the second spill.
Thijs Al was not about to let his chance go and he dug deep, but Oldham, Crawforth David Fletcher (Boardman Elite) and Kenny Geluykens (Asfra Racing Team) chased hard to stop him escaping and formed a five-strong leading group.
Having apparently recovered from his earlier efforts to re-join the front of the race after his machanical issues, Oldham attacked on lap six around the exposed sections at the back of the course, and he opened up a lead of 15 seconds over the next lap and a half.
However, the chasers, led by Crawforth and Al never gave up the chase and, with the wind sapping his energy, Oldham was brought back. It was Al who made contact with him and the pair spent the last lap locked together. Oldham tried to force a gap, but Thijs Al waited till the very end before beating Oldham in the sprint. Menwhile, behind, Fletcher had dropped back and left Crawforth to hold off Geluykens for the final podium spot.
De Tier recovered well from his earlier crashes and crossed the line sixth overall and top under-23 rider, while Hargroves Cycles’ Steve James was second under-23, a position he was gifted after a late crash by Jack Clarkson of Pedalsport.
Veteran 40 & Veteran 50
Derbyshire’s Jim Bryan drew first blood in the 2011-12 National Trophy Series in South Shields on Sunday, the Zepnat RT rider winning the over-40s race at Temple Park Centre.
Bryan, 40 and from Alfreton, crossed the line seven seconds ahead of his nearest rival, former National Champion Chris Young (Wheelbase), while Young's team-mate Noel Clough was another nine seconds off the pace in third.
And in the over-50s race, London Fire Brigade CC rider Mick Bell took the win from Hargroves Cycles’ Martin Eadon.
In the over-40s a group of four got away virtually from the start with Darren Atkins (Team Jewson) driving in along with Bryan, Young and Clough also working well.
At the end of the second lap Clough decided to go it alone, and he attacked hard, establishing a lead which reached 14 seconds at one point.
However, the chasers clearly weren’t happy to let him go, and, with the wind proving to be a formidable obstacle to any lone riders, Jim Bryan put the hammer down in pursuit. They caught Clough reasonably quickly, but Bryan continued his effort and attacked, with only Chris Young able to cling on to his wheel, but Bryan proved strongest in the end.
Clough recovered enough to pull away from Atkins on the final lap and claim third. Fifth spot went to Matt Denby (Zepnat RT) who battled through the field well after a slowish start.
The over-50s saw an even closer finish. Bell, 50 and from Chipstead in Surrey, had been at the head of the race virtually throughout with Eadon, Ian Wright (Cycleshack-Forme Coaching) and Mick Davies (Pedal Power Loughborough).
But as the last lap approached Davies dropped off the pace, leaving the three leaders to decide the placings in a furious sprint for the line, Bell taking it.
Juniors
Bradford’s Joe Moses (Paul Milnes-Bradford Olympic) secured victory in the junior men’s race at South Shields, crossing the line alone and 30 seconds clear of his nearest rival, Adam Martin (Cestria Cycles).
17-year-old Moses was part of a leading group which hit the front on the opening lap of a fast race, alongside Martin and Alex Welburn (Cycleshack-Forme Coaching), and by the end of the first lap they had 15 seconds’ lead over the chasing pack, which was led by Joe Fox (Rapha Condor) and Harry Franklin (Hargroves Cycles).
But Moses was not content to have Martin stuck to him, and he attacked in the middle of the second lap. By the start of the third lap, he had nine seconds over Martin and Welburn.
The chasing duo tried hard to stay with him and managed to hold him in their sights for a time, but by lap four the gap had begun to grow again and Moses rode on to victory, while Martin took second – 30 seconds down – and Welburn was third, 37 seconds off the pace.
Women
Adela Carter (WXC MTB) won the women’s race by 12 seconds from long-time race leader Corrine Hall (Team Corridori) after a well-timed performance.
National Junior Champion Hannah Payton (Kinesis) had led the early stages and gave her champion's jersey a good airing. But by the end of the first lap Hall was at the front.
Meanwhile 29-year-old Carter, who lives in Sheffield but is from Durham, was working her way through after being gridded down the field and had the leaders in her sights.
Hall had a ten second lead as they reached the start of the third lap, and Carter had caught and passed Payton and was chasing hard.
At the bell Carter attacked Hall, powering to victory by 12 seconds, while Hall settled for second and third spot went to Northallerton’s Jessie Roberts who had patiently worked her way through.
Youth
Solihull CC were celebrating a one-two in the boys under-16s category, with Jack Ravenscroft taking the win and team-mate Daniel Fox finishing runner-up.
The top four finishers escaped early in the race, but by lap three Jack Ravenscroft had got clear of the rest and gradually pulled away to victory while Fox similarly dropped his rivals to cross the line alone.
Daniel Tulett (Hargroves Cycles) was in a class of his own in the Under-14 boys race, and finished ahead of several of the older Under-16 riders as he took victory.
Leicestershire Road Club’s Grace Garner was top Under-16 girl, hitting the front from the start and opening up a good lead. She was being pulled back towards the end of the race, but she just had enough in reserve to hold on. She also enjoyed the luxury of sister, Lucy, the recently crowned world junior road champion, working in her pit crew!
Finally, National Champion Charlotte Broughton (Leicestershire Road Club) was a convincing winner in the Under-14 Girls event, again beating many of her older rivals.
What They Said
Best British finisher Paul Oldham: “I had a few bike problems early on. We only finished the bikes on Friday night but it all worked out in the end really. I was second to Thijs yesterday [in the CXNE League event] so I knew he was really strong. I took it up with three laps to go which was a bit of a mistake looking back in this wind.
“I got 15 seconds which was a good gap but then I just started to die. I had put in some big efforts early on getting back into the race and I paid for it in the end.”
Race winner Thijs Al: “It was a hard win, and a tricky course with all the cornering and off-camber going. It was a really fast race - you couldn’t get a gap. I made a five second gap, Oldham got a gap, but I caught him on the last lap and on the last corner I thought give it a go one last time. I gave it everything and just passed him.”
Best British Under-23 finisher, Steve James said: “That was a really hard course. The back side in particular was a really draggy section, especially in the wind. I didn’t get the best of starts as you do sometimes in races. It took me a couple of laps to get into it. I’ve had a cold recently, but by the second half of the race I really got into it.”
Over-40s winner Jim Bryan: “It’s my first veterans National Trophy, so it was going into the unknown. When you move category and you’re a reasonably good rider people think you will be up there, but I’ve not done much this summer and only started riding properly about six weeks ago.
“I did a couple of races, won them and knew I was going well, but I got hit by a bus last Tuesday so all my shoulder and ribs are all banged up, and it threw everything into doubt. I was really struggling when I got out of the saddle on dead turns. The first few laps were really hard but then the adrenaline kicked in.
“My game plan was to start steadily, not get into any trouble and (with it being windy) go from wheel to wheel in small steps. But a gap opened up at the start and I was actually in the top four most of the race.
“I decided to sit there and see what was happening. Noel [Clough] looked like he had gone and we were racing for the rest of the podium. But we then realised he wasn’t going anywhere and Darren was getting a bit frustrated at us not working. So we dug in and Noel came back really quickly.
“I decided to open it up and give it what I could, and luckily it was enough to hang on to the last lap.”
Junior Winner Joe Moses: “I got a good start and managed to keep moving up. Once I got to first I put a bit of an effort in on the second lap, I built up a reasonable gap and built on that.
It’s the first time I’ve ever been in the series leaders jersey and I’m really happy about that. It was a great race but it was hard work in the wind.”
Adela Carter was visibly delighted with her win after missing all last season with a serious knee injury. She said: “I can’t believe it. I’m incredibly happy and really pleased. It’s been really exciting to come back.
“It wasn’t the biggest women’s field but the race was incredibly well fought for the first couple of laps. I really came here to see how things were after me knee injury. I haven’t planned beyond one ride at a time. Watch this space!”
Results (Series Points Table)
Senior & Under-23 Men
1 Thijs Al AA Drinks (Netherlands) 56m 13s
2 Paul Oldham Hope Factory Racing @ same time
3 Jody Crawforth Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Spec @ 0:15
4 Kenny Geluykens Asfra RT (Belgium) @ 0:20
5 David Fletcher Boardman Elite @ 0:37
6 Floris de Tier Cycling Champs (Belgium) Under 23 @ 0:54
7 Kris Lapere Mez Cycle Team (Belgium) @ 1:06
8 Kristof Kop Cycle Team Kessel (Belgium) @ 1:13
9 Steven James Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Spec Under 23 @ 1:19
10 Tom Last Sigma Sport/Specialized @ 1:24
11 Lee Williams Team Wiggle @ 1:27
12 Stephen Adams Sigma Sport/Specialized @ 1:32
13 Jack Clarkson Pedalsport CC Under 23 @ 1:35
14 Luke Grivell-Mellor Mid Shropshire Wheelers Under 23 @ 1:38
15 Dave Collins Hope Factory Racing @ 1:44
16 Luke Gray Individual Member Under 23 @ 1:50
17 Steve Lampier Sigma Sport/Specialized @ 2:15
18 William Bjergfelt Motorpoint Pro Cycling Team @ 2:40
19 Jamie Newall Team Corley Cycles/Cervelo/Alpha RT @ 3:04
20 Tony Fawcett Blackhawkbikes.com @ 3:16
21 Matthew Barrett Cycle Shack/Forme Coaching @ 3:21
22 Lee Westwood Cycle Shack/Forme Racing Under 23 @ 3:32
23 Lewis Craven Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale @ 3:50
24 Ben Eedy Team Empella Cyclo-cross.com @ 4:08
25 Dieter Droger Team Cystic Fibrosis @ 4:10
26 Simon Maudsley Crosstrax @ 4:10
27 Tom Payton Cult Racing Under 23 @ 4:50
28 Keith Murray Hope Factory Racing @ 4:58
29 Alan Nixon Blackhawkbikes.com @ 4:58
30 Malcolm Lewis MTS Cycle Sport/Inkland/Elvet RT @ 5:00
31 Tom Stockhill Malton Wheelers @ 5:02
32 Robert Watson Paul Milnes RT/Bradford Olympic Under 23 @ 5:48
33 Martin Woffindin Cycle Sport Pendle Under 23 @ 5:51
34 James Dalton Evans Cycles RT @ 6:19
35 Andrew Wardman VC Moulin @ 6:38
36 Robert Burns Wolverhampton Whs/Fred Williams @ 8:36
37 Bruce Dalton Individual Member Under 23 @ 9:04
38 Greg Walker VC Moulin @ 1 lap
39 James Thompson Boneshakersbikes.com/Trek @ 1 lap
40 Jonathan Limebear Batley CC/Hargreaves @ 1 lap
41 Martin Eadon Stevens UK/Hargroves Cycles @ 1 lap
42 Colin Miller Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk @ 1 lap
Women
1 Adela Carter WXC Mountain Bike Team UK 34 m 11 s
2 Corrine Hall Team Corridori @ 0:13
3 Jessie Roberts Individual Member @ 0:46
4 Hannah Payton(J) The Kinesis Morvelo Project @ 1:07
5 Nicola Hamilton Look Mum No Hands ! @ 1:12
6 Genevieve Whitson Individual Member @ 1:39
7 Nikola Butler Pedalsport CC @ 1:51
8 Delia Beddis Vicious Velo @ 1:59
9 Louise Mahe Mulebar Girl @ 2:15
10 Caroline Goward Team Scott Contessa @ 4:02
11 Emily Barnes (J) Rapha Condor CC @ 5:02
Junior Men
1 Joseph Moses Paul Milnes/Bradford Olympic RC 37 m 1 s
2 Adam Martin Cestria Cycles RT @ 0:30
3 Alex Welburn Cycle Shack/Forme Coaching @ 0:34
4 Tom Armstrong Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale @ 1:24
5 Joe Kirkham Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Spec @ 1:26
6 Harry Franklin Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Spec @ 1:34
7 Jack Humphreys Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale @ 1:36
8 Matthew Hargroves Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Spec @ 1:44
9 Joseph Fox Rapha Condor CC @ 2:01
10 Nicholas Barnes www.Zepnat.com RT/Kuota/GSG @ 2:16
11 William Worrall Towy Racing CC @ 2:21
12 George Thompson Sleaford Wheelers CC @ 2:31
13 Luke Parkin Hetton Hawks CC @ 3:02
14 Iain Paton Square Wheel Cycles @ 3:07
15 Jake Womersley Aire Valley RT @ 3:09
16 Benjamin Pygott Pedalsport CC @ 3:14
17 Matthew Gater VC Deal/Activ/Hammond/Rowland/Nico @ 3:52
18 Edward McParland GT Racing UK @ 4:09
19 Edwyn Oliver-Evans Boneshakersbikes.com/Trek @ 4:52
20 Michael Thompson Individual Member @ 5:18
21 Jason Pitt AW Cycles @ 6:14
22 Joe Atkins Coventry RC/Ridecov.co.uk @ 6:37
23 Callum Ferguson Halesowen A & CC @ 7:19
24 Sam Broughton Leicestershire RC @ 8:6
25 Henry Hunter Southport CC @ 8:55
Veteran 40
1 James Bryan www.Zepnat.com RT/Kuota/GSG 46 m 20 s
2 Chris Young Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale @ 0:07
3 Noel Clough Wheelbase.co.uk/Cannondale @ 0:17
4 Darren Atkins Team Jewson/Thule/Kinesis/CNP/MI @ 0:44
5 Matthew Denby www.Zepnat.com RT/Kuota/GSG @ 1:09
6 Sean Williams Individual Member @ 1:23
7 Greg Simcock Team Corley Cycles/Cervelo/Alpha RC @ 1:29
8 Mike Young Pedalsport CC @ 1:41
9 Jonathan Watson Charge Bikes @ 2:13
10 Julian Hodgson Pedalsport CC @ 2:13
11 William Girvan North Hampshire RC @ 2:13
12 Michael Groves Stevens UK/Hargroves Cycles @ 2:17
13 Gary McCrae Team Leslie Bike Shop/Right Move @ 2:43
14 John McCaffery Team Leslie Bike Shop/Right Move @ 2:50
15 Hans Forhaug Glasgow United CC @ 2:50
16 Scott Rose Welland Valley CC @ 3:00
17 Peter Middleton www.Zepnat.com RT/Kuota/GSG @ 3:04
18 Lee Edmonds Welland Valley CC @ 3:06
19 Keith Sheridan Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Spec @ 3:08
20 John Shaw Dutch & Wolf Ltd. @ 3:10
21 David Perry Gabby Day Cyclesport RT @ 3:16
22 Chris Taylor Pedalsport CC @ 3:44
23 Dan Cook Planet X @ 4:08
24 Stephen Brazier MTS Cycle Sport/Inkland/Elvet RT @ 4:28
25 Chris Green Matlock CC/Impsport/Farmers/Wards @ 4:28
26 Franco Porco GJS Racing Team @ 4:43
27 Brian Tear Team Jewson/Thule/Kinesis/CNP/MI @ 4:49
28 Graham Clark Time RT @ 4:53
29 Duncan Walmsley www.Zepnat.com RT/Kuota/GSG @ 4:59
30 Sean Hoban VC Cumbria @ 5:06
31 Neil Simpson London Phoenix CC @ 5:14
32 Steve Barnes www.Zepnat.com RT/Kuota/GSG @ 5:17
33 Matthew Enticknap Malton Wheelers RC @ 5:20
34 Konrad Manning Rapha Condor CC @ 5:35
35 Anthony Dyment North Hampshire RC @ 5:39
36 John Mein Derwentside CC @ 5:42
37 Mark Botteley Bourne Wheelers CC @ 6:09
38 James Melville Glasgow United CC @ 6:25
39 Rob Powell Malton Wheelrs RC @ 6:30
40 Stephen Booth Matlock CC/Impsport/Farmers/Wards @ 6:57
41 Martin Seddon www.Zepnat.com RT/Kuota/GSG @ 7:17
42 Mike Welburn Lichfield City CC @ 7:40
43 Charles Warren Individual Member @ 8:09
44 Richard Atkinson Hambleton RC @ 8:16
45 Ian Chapman Moonglu RT @ 1 lap
46 Clive Wilkinson Birkenhead North End CC @ 1 lap
Veteran 50
1 Mick Bell London Fire Brigade CC 49m 14s
2 Martin Eadon Stevens UK/Hargroves Cycles @ 0:01
3 Ian Wright Cycle Shack/Forme Coaching @ 0:01
4 Mick Davies Pedal Power Loughborough @ 0:04
5 Malcolm Cross Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Spec @ 0:32
6 Dave McMullen GWR Team/Swindon Cylces/High @ 0:45
7 Mick Rowson RVO Racing @ 2:10
8 Steve Barron VC Lincoln/Pygott/B&O/SPS/Impsport @ 2:20
9 Barry Kipling MTS Cyclesport/Inkland/Elvet RT @ 2:31
10 Kevin Payton Stourbridge CC @ 2:33
11 Steve Wilson MTS Cyclesport/Inkland/Elvet RT @ 4:13
12 Duncan Stuart Keswickbikes.co.uk @ 4:15
13 James Meek Team Leslie Bike Shop/Right Move @ 4:35
14 Ian Robson MTS Cyclesport/Inkland/Elvet RT @ 4:39
15 Ian Brown Cleveland Wheelers CC @ 4:48
16 Alistair Dow Paul Milnes RT/Bradford Olympic RC @ 5:15
17 Paul Dalton Matlock CC/Impsport/Farmers/Wards @ 5:39
18 Robert Burns Wolverhampton Whs/Williams @ 6:06
19 Mervyn Dudley Sherwood Pines Cycles/Co-op Motors @ 7:06
20 Peter Wilkin Fietsen Tempo/The House/Chapters @ 1 lap
Under-16 Male
1 Jack Ravenscroft Solihull CC 29 m 5 s
2 Daniel Fox Solihull CC @ 0:16
3 James Shaw Heanor Clarion CC @ 0:32
4 Billy Harding Paul Milnes RT/ Bradford Olympic @ 0:44
5 Dylan Kerfoot-Robson Rhos on Sea CC @ 1:20
6 Tom Weeds Derby Mercury RC @ 1:21
7 Jack King Langdale Lightweights RT @ 1:21
8 Stephen Lee Hetton Hawks CC @ 1:55
9 Tomas Franklin Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Spec @ 1:55
10 Arthur Green Matlock CC/Impsport/Farmers/Wards @ 2:36
11 Sebastian Marsh Paul Milnes RT/ Bradford Olympic @ 2:52
12 Harvey Lowe Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Spec @ 2:59
13 Thomas Butler VC Deal/Activ/Hammond/Rowland/Nico @ 3:24
14 Hamish Carrick Edinburgh RC/Martin Currie RT @ 3:27
15 Rory Mellis Discovery Junior CC @ 3:30
16 Robert Rogers Birkenhead North End CC @ 3:33
17 Matthew Worton Hetton Hawks CC @ 4:07
18 Levi Moody Pedalsport CC @ 4:28
19 Stuart Balfour Edinburgh RC/Martin Currie RT @ 4:34
20 Jake Marley VC Jubilee @ 4:34
21 Christopher Barnes Seacroft Wheelers @ 4:46
22 Robert Armstrong Bill Nickson Cycles RT @ 4:51
23 James Edmond Ferryhill Whs CC/Mountain High @ 5:0
24 Joshua Nelson Halesowen A & CC @ 7:28
25 Elliot Davidson Hetton Hawks CC @ 7:37
Under-16 Female
1 Grace Garner Leicestershire RC 34 m 25 s
2 Emily Nelson Halesowen A & CC @ 0:17
3 Jessica Wilkinson Birkenhead North End CC @ 0:18
4 Amira Mellor Holme Valley Wheelers @ 1:45
5 Sarah Lomas Matlock CC/Impsport/Farmers/Wards @ 1:53
6 Sian Botteley Bourne Wheelers CC @ 3:56
7 Abigail van Twisk VC Londres @ 5:44
Under-14 Male
1 Daniel Tulett Hargroves Cycles/Trant/Next/Spec 31 m 42 s
2 David Barnes Condor Cycles @ 0:54
3 William Gascoyne Heanor Clarion CC @ 1:29
4 Ewan Grivell-Mellor Mid Shropshire Wheelers @ 1:32
5 Thomas Mein MTS Cyclesport/Inkland/Elvet RT @ 1:45
6 Matthew Walls Velocity RT @ 3:15
7 Mark Donovan Beacon Wheelers @ 3:26
8 Joshua Waters Plan B Racing @ 3:33
9 Jamie Ridehalgh Aire Calley RT @ 3:36
10 Oliver Peckover Nottingham Clarion CC @ 3:37
11 Tim James Bourne Wheelers CC @ 5:24
12 Jake Beach Aire Valley RT @ 6:09
13 Finlay Robertson Hetton Hawks CC @ 7:55
14 Elliot Dudley Sherwood Pines Cycles/Co-op Motors @ 8:16
15 Joseph Parker East Bradford CC @ 1 lap
Under-14 Female
1 Charlotte Broughton Leicestershire RC 33 m 53 s
2 Henrietta Colbourne Beacon Wheelers @ 3:56
3 Emma Brady MTS Cycle Sport/Inkland/Elvet RT @ 5:18
4 Jessica Willett Heanor Clarion CC @ 7:15
5 Rhianna Stoves One Life Racing @ 1 lap
British Cycling would like to thank the organising team, officials and everyone else who helped promote this event. Our sport could not exist without the hundreds of people, many of them unpaid volunteers, who put in many hours of hard work running events, activities and clubs.
