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Report: Eddie Soens Memorial Race

Aintree Racecourse, Saturday 5 March 2011

RACE REPORT VIDEO

OTHER VIDEO: Commemorating the 50th edition of the classic Eddie Soens Memorial Handicap Race, which took place on 5th March 2011, four times winner Doug Dailey MBE talks about the origins of the race, his first race win and the great man himself - the incomparable cycling coach Eddie Soens: The Soens Story

Podium Interviews | James Stewart Interview Image Slideshow

2011 RACE REPORT

James Stewart continued the excellent start to the season for Team UK Youth by winning the Eddie Soens Memorial handicap circuit race at Aintree on Merseyside. Stewart was one of eleven riders who broke free from the main field with five laps to go of the 30 lap race. In a close sprint, he just edged out Rapha-Condor Sharp's Andy Tennant on the line, with Matt Kipling of Raleigh finishing third.

The race has a staggered start with four groups of riders going off at intervals over a period of 3 minutes, with the strongest - elite and first cats - going off last. The first group is almost upon them when they start, so there then follows a cat and mouse game as the stronger riders try to stay clear of their lesser rivals, who are hell-bent on lapping them almost before the race has begun. In previous editions, lapping has occurred and Juniors and other less experienced riders have hung in with the elite riders for the rest of the race and claimed famous wins.

This time the final group off looked like they meant business from the start. It was soon clear that there would be no surprises as the elites stayed clear and the field gradually compacted over the first ten laps. The first and second groups were soon together and likewise the third and fourth groups. Team Raleigh were particularly prominent in the second of these composite groups as they drove to bridge the gap and bring the whole field together - they duly achieved this after some 12 laps.

For a time there was some consolidation as the big teams got themselves organised. Raleigh again looked well drilled as they kept the pace high. The GB team's academy riders, wearing the 100% ME team's colours, were also noticably well placed.

The first forays off the front of the bunch - which consisted of over 140 riders at this stage - began to come with 13 laps to go, with a fine drizzle beginning to fall. 100% ME's Jon Mould and Tom Moses would have pleased coach Chris Newton with strong, driving moves which took them clear for a lap or two.

However, it wasn't until five laps to go - just over 15 minutes from the finish - that a break really stuck: Matt Cronshaw, Matt Stevens, Liam Holoham, Mark Christian, Simon Wilson and James Sampson pulled clear and after half a lap had almost 10 seconds over the chasers. James Stewart, Andy Tennant, Tom Moses and James Lowsley-Williams bridged across to them a lap later and suddenly these 11 riders were away.

It only took a couple more laps for it to become apparent that the winner was going to come from this lead group as they steadily built a lead with the main field apparently unwilling to chase. With two laps to the finish they were 40 seconds clear and at this stage Raleigh appeared to be in the box seat, with 3 riders in the break.

Matt Cronshaw was nomiated as their ace card and on the last lap, with the break getting twitchy, he went clear and built a small gap. Going down the back straight he looked like he might hang on for a famous solo win. However, Team UK Youth also had two riders in the break and one of them, James Lowsley-Williams, did a big turn on the front to pull back Cronshaw.

With Cronshaw finally wilting, Rapha-Condor Sharp's Andy Tennant came out of the last bend on the front but Team UK Youth's James Stewart made sure he re-paid Lowsely-Williams' selfless efforts with a well-timed sprint and he had just enough time to put half a wheel past Tennant on the line, punching the air with delight as he sealed the win. Matt Kipling gave the hard-working Raleigh team third, some reward for all their hard work. The bunch swept over the line just over 10 seconds later, with Jonathan Mould of 100% ME claiming the sprint for 12th place.

Results

1 James Stewart Team UK Youth (E) 01:39:32
2 Andy Tennant Rapha Condor Sharp (E) 01:39:32
3 Matthew Kipling Team Raleigh (E) 01:39:32
4 Simon Wilson Cyclepremier Metaltek (1) 01:39:32
5 Mark Christian 100% Me (1) 01:39:32
6 Liam Holohan Team Raleigh (E) 01:39:33
7 James Sampson Motorpoint Pro Cycling (1) 01:39:33
8 Tom Moses 100% Me (E) 01:39:34
9 Matthew Stephens Sigmasport-Specialized (1M) 01:39:34
10 Matt Cronshaw Team Raleigh (E) 01:39:34
11 James Lowsley-Williams Team UK Youth (2) 01:39:47
12 Jonathan Mould 100% Me (1) 01:39:52
13 Tony Gibb Cycle Premier (E) 01:39:52
14 Tobyn Horton Motorpoint Pro Cycling (1) 01:39:52
15 Steve Adams Sigma Sport - Specialized (1) 01:39:52
16 Tom Barras Cyclepremier Metaltek (E) 01:39:52
17 Giles Pidcock Epic Cycles RC (2M) 01:39:52
18 Ryan Parnes Team Raleigh (E) 01:39:52
19 Simon Yates 100% Me (E) 01:39:52
20 Richard Handley Team Raleigh (E) 01:39:53
21 Graham Briggs Rapha Condor Sharp (E) 01:39:53
22 Adam Yates Maxgear RT (E) 01:39:53
23 Shane O'Neill Team BGlobal (E) 01:39:53
24 Tom Murray Sigmasport-Specialized (1) 01:39:53
25 Declan Byrne Brooks Cycles (2J) 01:39:53
26 Matthew Limancher Maxgear RT (2) 01:39:53
27 Ryan Mullen Planet X (2J) 01:39:53
28 Robert Crampton Team Wallis CHH (E) 01:39:53
29 Jack Pullar VanillaBikes.com (1) 01:39:53
30 Andy Magnier Motorpoint Pro Cycling () 01:39:53
31 Chris Daddy Star Bikes RT (2) 01:39:53
32 Chris Whittle Deeside Thistle (3) 01:39:53
33 Derek Finnegan Liverpool Century RC (3) 01:39:53
34 David McGowan Team UK Youth (1) 01:39:53
35 Daniel Smith Velo29 CT (1) 01:39:54
36 Mark Hammersley Wheel Guru (2M) 01:39:54
37 Jack Cousins Wills Wheels CC (1) 01:39:54
38 Greg Mansell Team UK Youth (3) 01:39:54
39 Jack Penrice Maxgear RT (2J) 01:39:54
40 Josh Penrice Maxgear RT (2J) 01:39:54
41 Joseph Kelly Manx Viking Wheelers (1) 01:39:54
42 Roy Holmes Team Wallis CHH (1M) 01:39:54
43 Gruff Lewis Team UK Youth (2) 01:39:54
44 Matt Gee Team Raleigh (1) 01:39:54
45 William Penn Mammoth Lifestyle RT (2) 01:39:54
46 James Barnes St Helens CRC (2) 01:39:54
47 Chris Wade Aire Valley Cycles RT (2M) 01:39:55
48 Hamish Graham South Dublin CC (2) 01:39:55
49 Aaron Caseley Lichfield CCC (3) 01:39:55
50 Jamie Shirlaw Herbalife/Wheelbase (1) 01:39:55
51 Thomas Upton University of Manchester CC (4) 01:39:55
52 Alan Holland St Helens CRC (4) 01:39:55
53 Duncan McLaren Stockport Clarion (3) 01:39:55
54 Sarah Byrne VC St Raphael (W) 01:39:56
55 Adam Holt Llyn CC (3J) 01:39:56
56 Jack Rees Velo29 CT (2) 01:39:56
57 Robert Watson Paul Milnes RT (2) 01:39:56
58 Dean Hitchings Maxgear RT (2) 01:39:56
59 Paul Johnson Yasumitsu Schlapp (3) 01:39:56
60 Filip Rudenstam Team UK Youth (1) 01:39:56
61 Chris Seviour Team UK Youth (3) 01:39:56
62 Stephen Johnson Private Member (2) 01:39:56
63 Dean Bennett Liverpool Century RC (4) 01:39:57
64 Simon Winston VC St Raphael (J2) 01:39:57
65 Ashley Marshall VS Cycles (2J) 01:39:57
66 Chris Mark Velo29 CT (2) 01:39:57
67 Robert Smail Cyclepremier Metaltek (1) 01:39:57
68 Jon Eddolls Birkenhead North End (3) 01:39:57
69 Sean Hughes Team Wallis CHH (2J) 01:39:57
70 Jeroen Janssen Team Raleigh (E) 01:39:57
71 Philip Mooney Team Raleigh (E) 01:39:57
72 Luke Boulton Team Wallis CHH (2J) 01:39:58
73 John Holt Llyn CC (2M) 01:39:58
74 Joseph Moses Paul Milnes RT (4J) 01:39:58
75 Josh Teasdale Team Jewson UK (3J) 01:39:58
76 Alex Welburn Maxgear RT (3J) 01:39:58
77 Sam Ward Wills Bros Racing (2) 01:39:58
78 Keith Jones Birkenhead North End CC (2) 01:39:58
79 Daniel Harris Halesowen A&CC (2) 01:39:58
80 Joshua Ferguson coveryourcar.com RT (4J) 01:39:58
81 James Newey Maxgear RT (2J) 01:39:58
82 Cameron Forrest New Brighton CC (3) 01:39:59
83 Graham Payne Robert Whitfield RT (2M) 01:39:59
84 Dave White New Brighton CC (4M) 01:39:59
85 Chris Edwards Liverpool Mercury-Dolan (3) 01:39:59
86 Erick Rowsell 100% Me (2) 01:39:59
87 Stephen Maxwell Colomba CC/Century (2) 01:39:59
88 Gael Le Bellec Team Raleigh (1) 01:39:59
89 Dan Spashett Wheel Guru (4) 01:39:59
90 Harry Grey VanillaBikes.com (2) 01:39:59
91 Richard Moore Star Bikes RT (2M) 01:39:59
92 Sam Boast Cyclesport Pendle (2J) 01:39:59
93 Darren Reynolds Stockport Clarion (3) 01:40:00
94 Dan Fleeman Team Raleigh (E) 01:40:00
95 Chris Lawrence Featherstone RC (4) 01:40:00
96 Luke Ryan Team Toachim (1) 01:40:00
97 Christian Ellis Maxgear RT (2) 01:40:00
98 Alan Barclay Deeside Olympic (4) 01:40:00
99 Jack Bowyer Team Wallis CHH (2J) 01:40:00
100 Ben Dean Clayton Velo (2) 01:40:01
101 Luke Dabbs University of Manchester CC (4) 01:40:01
102 Charlie Evans Altura Cyclewise (2) 01:40:01
103 Jack Green VC St Raphael (2) 01:40:01
104 Dale Appleby Cyclepremier Metaltek (E) 01:40:01
105 Rhys Duoba Rochdale Tri Club (4J) 01:40:01
106 Tom Armstrong Wheelbase/cannondale (J) 01:40:01
107 Taylor Cardus Velo29 CT (3J) 01:40:01
108 Simon Myerscough Ribble Valley CRC (3M) 01:40:01
109 Jordan Hargreaves Team Wallis CHH (2J) 01:40:02
110 Dan Whelan Maxgear RT (3J) 01:40:02
111 Lee Carter Ribble Valley CRC (4) 01:40:02
112 Cormac Leyden University of Liverpool (4) 01:40:02
113 Peter Barusevicus VC Bradford (4) 01:40:02
114 Gary Williams Robert Whitfield RT (3M) 01:40:02
115 Matt Jones Private Member (2) 01:40:02
116 Neville Gunn Solihull CC (4M) 01:40:02
117 Russell Brass Clayton Velo (3) 01:40:02
118 Neil Higgins Preston CC (3M) 01:40:02
119 Martin Woofindin Cyclesport Pendle (2) 01:40:02
120 Mike Garth Lichfield City CC (4M) 01:40:02
121 Neil Hamilton Cleveleys RC (3M) 01:40:03
122 John Rigby Maxgear RT (3) 01:40:03
123 Lee Cairns Sherwood Pines Cycles (3) 01:40:03
124 Ashley Finn Cyclepremier Metaltek (E) 01:40:03
125 James Williamson Sigmasport-Specialized (1) 01:40:03
126 James Sparling Team Raleigh (E) 01:40:04
127 Michael Dales Velo29 CT (2) 01:40:04
128 Karl Freeman Team Corley Cycles (2) 01:40:05
129 Ian Watson VC Halton (3M) 01:40:05
130 Magnus Backstedt Team UK Youth (E) 01:40:05
131 Frederik Johansson Team UK Youth (E) 01:40:05
132 Mike Welburn Lichfield City CC (4M) 01:40:05
133 Gareth Owen Team Swift (3) 01:40:05
134 John Findley Southport CC (4) 01:40:06
135 Nick Shaughnessy Science In Sport (2) 01:40:06
136 Richard Hepworth Cyclepremier.com (E) 01:40:06
137 John Guy Robert Whitfield RT (3M) 01:40:06
138 Joseph Donworth Liverpool Century RC (4) 01:40:07
139 Martin Spencer Glossop Kinder Velo (4M) 01:40:09
140 Mike Cuming Twenty3c Orbea (E) 01:40:13
141 Samuel Harrison 100% Me (E) 01:40:14
142 Jimmy Froggatt Wills Wheels CC (2M) 01:40:16
143 Catherine Wiggins Liverpool Mercury-Dolan (W) 01:40:18
144 Liam Armstrong VC Briganti (2) 01:40:19
145 Mike Moss Private Member (3) 01:40:19
146 Matt Jones Team Raleigh (E) 01:40:50
147 Emily Hughes Manchester Wheelers (W) 01:40:30