Location: Weston-under-Wetherley Village Hall, Sabin Drive, nr Warwick
Event: 23 September 2012

On a cooler and windy morning, 44 riders were waved away for the start of the Reg Pee Memorial event near Leamington.  

The course is a good sporting circuit for an end of season event, with nothing too severe but plenty of variety to keep the racing interesting – some long fast descents, several rises and descents with several stretches featuring regular changes in direction that could soon put a breakaway group out of sight.

At half distance, there was a strong breakaway of initially three riders, but several in the pack had noted the quality of riders in that group.  There were several additional attacks from the front of the bunch with small groups of riders moving forward, and others dropping back until all were nullified and the group come back together.

Sensing a further lull in the racing with around 15km to go three riders broke away and were joined by a fourth.  The gap pulled out to more than 30 seconds quite quickly and it looked promising that the leading placings were going to come from this group.  But the bunchwere not to be denied and for several kilometres there was serious efforts being made both by the breakaway and the bunch. 

The effort was telling on the riders in the breakaway and one-by-one they fell out of the breakaway and were swept up by the bunch.  The only rider remaining out front was now a 3rd category rider, Simon Alexander (Cycle Shack/Forme coaching) and despite the first drops of rain threatening to make conditions even worse, he maintained the effort all the way to the line, taking the chequered flag with time to raise his arms aloft.  The activity in the bunch was now focussed on getting into place for the sprint finish, and with the road rising steadily for the final kilometre the timing of the sprint effort would be crucial.

A touch of wheels with 500m to go added to the mix and it was with a well timed late surge that Adam Lewis (Wolverhampton Whs) came past Rob Orr (Velo 29) to take the sprint 20 seconds after the winner.

Rowena Pee, wife of Reg Pee, presented the prizes at the race HQ, with many family and friends present. A round of applause for all the volunteers, helpers and officials followed, which was a great memorial to Reg Pee, who was himself a great contributor to the club life within the Solihull CC.

Result