Location: Cublington, Leighton Buzzard
Event: 8 August 2011
Report: Snowdon Sports
Cyclesport's Tim Allen sprinted clear of the pack to win CC Luton's Neil Gardner Memorial Road Race over four and a half laps of the Cublington circuit in Buckinghamshire.
Tim Allen celebrates as he crosses the line
CC Luton's promotion of the 11th edition of this race in memory of former GB Team Manager and club founder, Neil Gardner, took place over four and a half laps of an undulating course around Stewkley and Cublington in Buckinghamshire. Taking a slight step back from last year's event which formed the Central Division Championship, the race attracted a good entry of 2nd, 3rd and 4th category riders with 75 riders making the start.
With a hill-top prime located at the finish line in Cublington on each lap, the peloton remained attentive to any breaks forming, and 20-year-old Tim Allen (Cyclesport / Pygott & Crone) showed his hand early on by taking the 1st and 3rd primes. Team Corley Cycles' Jack Waller was also in the early action taking the 2nd prime. Despite the stiff breeze affecting the more exposed parts of the course, it wasn't until the penultimate lap that a break managed to get any leeway from the bunch, with eight riders forging a 10-20 second advantage, including the promoting club's own James Fox who duly took the last prime on lap 4.
However the break were unable or unwilling to commit, and the race came back together for a hill-top bunch sprint between the remaining 51 riders. Tim Allen once again showed clear intent by leading for the final 100m and taking the win by a couple of lengths from CC Luton's Mike Jackson who was unable to give himself an early birthday present.
With one prime and second place already in the bag, CC Luton also did well in the minor prizes taking both first 3rd category rider (Gavin Rumbles in 19th place) and first 4th category rider (former GB squad rider Martin Badell on the comeback trail in 12th place). Gray Turnock (Finsbury Park CC) rounded out the prize winnings as first veteran.
Result
1. Tim Allen (Cyclesport-Pygott & Crone) 2-26-35
2. Michael Jackson (CC Luton)
3. Mark Baines (Spirit RT)
4. Phil Starr (Python RT)
5. Jack Waller (Team Corley Cycles)
6. David Palmer (Renault Rotor Colbert RT)
7. Michael Cowland (St Ives CC)
8. Gray Turnock (Finsbury Park CC)
9. Chris Dredge (Team Milton Keynes)
10. Daniel Crawley (PCH UK) all @ same time
