Race Results
21/05/2011 - NATIONAL HANDICAP RR CHAMPIONSHIP
Location :
Welland, Worcs
Results :
VIEW FROM E CATEGORY
The changing room banter before the race was all about how long we could keep the C and D group at bay. We in the E group really believed we could stay away the whole race if we all worked consistently. John French, D, joining in the banter expressing the view that he hoped we all worked so hard we would be no threat when we were inevitably caught.
And so it started with the whole E group going through and off – things were looking good even though the wind was very difficult. By the end of the first lap we had the F group and G group in sight and caught but the new grouping was just too big. A huge injection of pace by Mike Allen over the finish line into a strength sapping wind thinned it out considerably and a more coordinated effort resumed for a short period. It was not long before a nucleus of six or seven riders were setting the pace with the rest holding on. Then another huge injection of pace up a hard drag caused a potentially decisive split. The front group now comprised Tony Taylor, Barry Jones, Mike Allen, Alan Kemp Don Parry and Pete Jeans who all worked very effectively together at high speed. We all thought we could stay away to the end.
Unbelievably by the end of the second lap the very rapidly moving main bunch now comprising C, D some E, F and G riders which had been moving at over 30 mph for long periods had this select small group in sight. By the start of the third and last lap into the increasingly strong wind the escapees were caught and a large group set off at high speed for the last lap. Attempts to escape were made by John French, Alan Kemp, Don Parry, Marcus Walker and others but with 1km to go it was still a compact bunch jostling for the right position for the sprint. A brutal run up the drag into the head wind sorted many people out early with the main sprint starting at the 200m flag. All prize winners in a very hard fast race were deserving of their rewards.
Thanks to Mike Amery and his team of helpers for a very well organised successful championship and to Steve Watson who travelled up from the south to operate the transponder system for the race.
1 David Phillips Corinium CC C
2 Chris Davis Bush Healthcare D
3 Alan Kemp Weaver Valley CC E
4 Trevor Bradbury awcycles.co.uk C
5 Andrew Donaldson Ferryhill Wheelers D
6 Ian Cowan Solihull CC C
7 Brian Davison Jewson – MI Racing D
8 Andy Jones Wolverhampton Whls D
9 Richard Coleman Stourbridge Velo D
10 Mac McGready Kenilworth Whls C
11 Ken Haddon Bush Healthcare G
12 John French Jewson – MI Racing D
13 John Kriskinans Wolverhampton Whls D
14 Scott Mcardle Cheltenham & CCC D
15 Andrew Simpkins Solihull CC D
