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Lewes Wanderers Evening Criterium Series

Story posted June 21, 2010: by Mark Winton

The final round of the 45th Lewes Wanderers Evening Criterium Series would prove to be one of the most exciting for many years. At the end of Round 2, Henry Bird (Lewes Wanderers CC) held a small lead over Andy Comben (Met Police CC) and Craig Pitt (Brighton Mitre). It was likely that the final General Classification would fall to one of these riders, but with double points on offer for the final race, any one of the 50 riders racing could theoretically win overall. What was clear was that the racing was going to be hard and tactical.

At the Roebuck Inn - Laughton that provides the headquarters for the race, it was clear that Brighton Mitre were taking the race seriously, strengthening their squad from the previous week with a previous series winner and other riders to help control the racing. Rather than racing tactically, the racing remained positive with riders trying hard to break away, however, at the end of lap 1 the bunch was all together with Pitt, Comben and Bird crossing the prime line to take the first points on offer.

The second prime line saw another intense battle with the same three riders though in a different order (Comben, Pitt and Bird) and the final sprint was a repeat of the first. With the final sprint just one lap away, judges and supporters around the circuit were hastily calculating the provisional positions ready for the all important final gallop. Comben maintained a slender two point lead over Pitt with Bird still in contention - the final sprint was going to be all important.

A number of break away attempts were made over the final lap but the entire bunch thundered into the finishing straight together and with 200 yards to go the riders launched their final jump to the line. At the finish, Pitt bettered the entire bunch taking the win, pipping Paul Gosling (Bayeux Landscapes) at the line. Comben finished third followed by Mark Markowski (Bayeux Landscapes) and Bird 5th.

The calculations saw that Pitt had done enough to take the final GC over Comben and Bird. At the prize presentation held at the Roebuck Inn, Pitt was quick to thank Series promoter Chris Hough for organising the events and Series Sponsors http://www.thetristore.com for making the event a huge success.

RESULTS

Prime 1
1st - Crig Pitt - Brighton Mitre
2nd - Andy Comben - Met Police CC
3rd - Henry Bird - Lewes Wanderers

Prime 2
1st - Andy Comben - Met Police CC
2nd - Craig Pitt - Brighton Mitre
3rd - Henry Bird - Lewes Wanderers

Prime 3
1st - Craig Pitt - Brighton Mitre
2nd - Andy Comben - Met Police CC
3rd - Henry Bird - Lewes Wanderers

Finish
1. Craig Pitt - Brighton Mitre
2. Paul Gosling - Bayeux Landscapes
3.Andy Comben - Met Police CC
4. Mark Markowski - Bayeux Landscapes
5.Henry Bird - Lewes Wanderers
6. Paul Thatcher - Brighton Mitre
7. Tom Laker - ???
8. Paul Hudson - Sprockets
9.  Duncan Morgan - Brighton Mitre
10. Stu Kirkham - Lewes Wanderers
11.  Nick Jepson - Brighton Excelsior
12.  The Brog - Eastbourne Rovers CC

Final General Classification
1.    Craig Pitt - Brighton Mitre
2.    Andrew Comben - Met Police
3.    Henry Bird - Lewes Wanderers
4.    Mark Markowski - Bayeux landscapes
5.    Paul Gosling - Bayeux Landscapes
6.   Shaun Reed - Bayeux landscapes
7.    Stuart Fahey - Brighton Mitre
8.    Jamie Lowden - Lewes Wanderers
9.    Nick Sky - Brighton Mitre
10.  Duncan Morgan - Brighton Mitre
=     Paul Thatcher - Brighton Mitre