JP’s Sussex Border Race 2009

Sunday, October 4; Report & photos by Graham Robins ()
National B (Band 3, Distance 85 Kms)

Southdown Vélo promoted the bi-annual JP’s race in style as a tribute to John Pendleton  who was the driving force behind the club and a successful rider in his time. The race also incorporated the Martin Sparkes King of the Mountains competition.

The race criss-crossed between Hampshire and Sussex and included ten climbs with the climb at Charlton being ridden up five times. A large outward lap of 40kms was followed by five climbs of the Charltonberg climb. The overall race distance was 85kms. With gravel roads, the neutral service car from Liphook Cycles was kept busy with five punctures.

Right: Winner of the race was Wouter Sybrandy

Race Report
The race rolled out of Rowlands Castle at 10am on a dry sunny autumn morning with a little bit of damp from the overnight rain. The race stayed all together until the climb at Tower hill followed by the monster climb at Harting where at the bottom of the descent, there was a crash. The race then turned right to take in the climb of Compton Downberg and this was the decisive climb as two riders, East Yorkshire Classic winner Wouter Sybrandy (Sigma Sport) and Roy Chamberlain (Team Corley Cycles) had a lead of 45 seconds over a chasing bunch.

At the bottom of the climb, the race turned right again to start the climb of the Charltonberg for the first of five times. It was here that Roy had a puncture which left Wouter on his own and then on the second pass, Wouter had picked up time on the descent and as he started the climb again he had a lead of 1 minute 18 seconds.

With the bunch not able to organise themselves to chase Wouter down, the Dutchman was taking it easy on the climbs and pushing on on the descents and increased his lead to 1 minute 40 seconds. On the last decent after taking the bell, the race turned right again and headed towards Forestside where the finish of the early season classic, the Perfs is held, but there was still one more climb at Deanlaneberg before the ride to the finish line just before the village of West Marden.

Although he had a large lead, Wouter still kept the pressure on and he finished alone with the sprint for the minor places seeing the chase group quickly make up time on Wouter and on the line, Wouter’s lead was reduced to 20 seconds with Raphael Deinhart (Cycling Bargins.com) managing to hold off Ashley Cox (Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club) (picture below).

Update: Well known rider, Colin Roshier, who crashed in the event has not broken any bones but is very bruised from his fall. Colin suffered a puncture wound to the muscle in his hip and was badly concussed. He is expected to be discharged on Monday (Oct 5th)

Results
1. Wouter Sybrandy (Sigma Sport) 2hrs15min15secs
2. Raphael Deinhart (Cycling Bargins.com) @20secs
3. Ashley Cox (Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club)@st
4. Chris McNamara (Team Corley Cycles)@st
5. Roy Chamberlain (Team Corley Cycles)@st
6. Chris Spence
7. Alexander King
8. Danny Axford
9. Dave Coulson
10. Ben Luckwell
11. Pete Wager
12. Simon Brooks
13. Sam Allen
14. Sebastian Ader
15. Philip Peters

A sunny start.

Riders taking on the steep gradients of the 'bergs' in the race.

A challenger to the Corley Cycles train at the front of the chase group