Spalding Flower Parade Town centre Criterium

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Event: May 2, 2010; Story posted May 4; from Adam Ellis

Spalding Cycling Club promoted the first Spalding Flower Parade Town centre criterium on May 2. In the true style of the traditional French town cycle races, the local club closed the roads in the town for a full afternoon of cycle races for riders of all abilities. The day started with a short Go-Ride event for Primary School Children that had been taking part in the British Cycling Schools Go-ride programme.

The first main race of the day, the under 8's was won by Henry Holyman who streaked away from the start for a solo break. First girl Josie Nelson. In the Under 10's, five riders broke away and stayed together for the whole race which made for a fantastic sprint for the line. Mason Hoyman took the sprint with only a bikes length between the first five riders. Lucy Nelson rode well to take first girl just ahead of local rider Sophie Wright Spalding CC

In the Under 12's race, three riders formed a break including the local hopeful Reece Moradkhan. Again, this race finished in an exciting sprint to the line with Louis Kilworth from Welland Valley taking the win. The under 12's Girls race was also good to watch with Tilly Gurney and Eleanor Crawford chasing down Louis Beedham and Hannah Banks. Hannah managed to hold on to take the win.

Another great battle started in the under 14's with three riders breaking away; Jack King (Sleaford Wheelers) Tom Simpson (VC Lincoln) and Ollie Fensom (Spalding CC) all working hard at the front of the race. The long finish straight with a clear 200m sprint saw Jack King use his pure speed to take the win. First Girl was Emily Nelson who rode a strong race staying clear the whole race.

The under 16 boys turned into a four way battle between Keiron Tenny (Heanor Clarion) Callum Rogers (Scunthorpe Poly) Peter Cocker (Whitham Wheelers) and George Thompson (Sleaford Wheelers). The fast circuit seemed to favour Kieron who tried to escape early in the race but the hard work by the other three made for another sprint to the line with Keiron Tennyson taking an impressive win.

Fourty riders lined up for the 3rd/4th category senior race. The long fast finishing straight and a tail wind saw the riders stringing out in one long line each lap which was a great spectacle for the viewing public. The relentless fast pace started to tell after a few laps with five or six riders dropping off the back to form a chasing group.

However the main-field of 30 riders stayed together for the final sprint with Asa Elkington from Boston Wheelers taking the sprint in fine style from Mark Bottely of Bourne Wheelers. The ladies also joined in with this race with Amy Willoughby from Cottingham Couriers taking the win. First Junior also in this race was Jack Taylor (VC Lincoln).
 
The final race of the day and by far the fastest was the 1/2/3 category Seniors National B race. With some top riders in the field, the pace was fast from the gun and with repeated attacks from the group, it soon split into a two group race. The leaders, Matthew Fenton (Cottingham Couriers) Pete Middlehurst (Octagon VC), Julian Crommett (Cottingham Couriers) and Gareth Whittall (Beauvale CC) established a massive gap that eventually grew to the point they lapped the field. With his pure track speed, Matthew Fenton, powered away to take the sprint finish just ahead of Pete Middlehurst.

 
The fantastic response from the riders and the public has hopefully meant that this will now become an annual event for Spalding CC. So make a date in your diary now for the 2011 event on May bank holiday weekend.
 
Many thanks for the photo's from www.lincsracephotos.co.uk

Full Results

Under 8 Boys
1. Henry Holyman Sowerby Bros Crt
2. Tom Wright Spalding Cc
3. Colin Mantle Mildenhall Cc
4. Alex Barfield Birmingham Cc
5. Edward Gurney Spalding Cc
6. Ben Norton Spalding Cc


Under 8 Girls
1. Josie Nelson Lichfield Cc
2. Ellie Barfield Birmingham Cc

Under 10 Boys
1. Mason Holyman Sowerby Bros Crt
2. James Swadling Notts Clarion
3. Euan Cameron East Bradford Cc
4. Matt Ellis Spalding Cc
5. James Alexander Solihull Cc
6. Jake Norton Spalding Cc
7. Robert Mcandrew Spalding Cc
8.Willian Gurney Spalding Cc


Under 10 Girls
1. Lucy Nelson Lichfield Cc
2. Sophie Wright Spalding Cc
3. Caitlin Connely Witham Wheelers
4. Emily Weir Bourne Wheelers

Under 12 Boys
1. Louis Kilworth Welland Valley
2. Reece Moradkhan Spalding Cc
3. Tim James Bourne Wheelers
4. Joshua Van Nierop Welland Valley Cc
5. Thomas Webster Spalding Cc
6. Jack Whadlock Bourne Wheelers
7. Dan Burton Bourne Wheelers

Under 12 Girls
1. Hannah Banks East Bradford Cc
2. Louise Beedham Lincsquad
3. Tilly Gurney Spalding Cc
4. Eleanor Crawford Witham Wheelers

Under 14 Boys
1. Jack King Sleaford Wheelers
2. Tom Simpson Vc Lincoln
3. Oliver Fensom Spalding Cc
4. Reece Egnar Witham Wheelers
5. Joshua Nelson Lichfield Cc
6. Henry Thompson Sleaford Wheelers
7. Luke Banks East Bradford Cc
8. Campbell Pollock Bourne Wheelers
9. Adam Gough Mildenhall Cc
10. Adam Medlock Spalding Cc

Under 14 Girls
1. Emily Nelson Lichfield Cc
2. Jennifer Mcandrew Spalding Cc

Under 16 Boys
1. Kieron Tennyson Heanor Clarion
2. Callum Rogers Scunthorpe Poly
3. Peter Cocker Witham Wheelers
4. George Thompson Sleaford Wheelers
5. Kieron Brady Ely Cc
6. Callum Bramley Sherwood Cc
7. Adam Cross Matlock Cc
8. Adam De Smit Vc Lincoln
9. Harry Bellars Spalding Cc
10. Simon Beedham Lincsquad
11. James Cox Welland Valley Cc
 
3rd / 4th Cat
1. Asa Elkington Boston Wheelers
2. Mark Bottely Bourne Wheelers
3. Luke Raynor Ashfield Cc
4. Matt Passenger Loughborough Students
5. Hans Van Nierop Welland Valley
6. Jack Taylor Vc Lincoln
7. Stewart Annetts Boston Wheelers
8. John Anglesea Derby Mercury Rc
9. Paul Verlander Sir Uk
10. Simon Crowther Vc Lincoln

Ladies
1. Amy Willoughby Cottingham Couriers
2. Christine Payne Spalding Cc
3. Sarah Bentley Spalding Cc

Juniors
1. Jack Taylor Vc Lincoln
2. Alex Avery Spalding Cc

1st Cat / 2nd Cat / 3rd Cat
1. Matthew Fenton Cottingham Couriers
2. Pete Middlehurst Octagon Vc
3. Julian Grommett Cottingham Couriers
4. Gareth Whittall Beauvale Cc
5. Jim Bryan Zepnat Rt
6. Tim Allen Cyclesport
7. Glenn Palmer Alford Wheelers
8. David Brearley Cottingham Couriers
9. Malcolm Smith St Ives
10. Dan Elmore Vc Lincoln
11. Mark Cotton Bycka Sport
12. Adam Ellis Spalding Cc
13. Lakomy Wojciech Spalding Cc
14. Bart Kiers Bourne Wheelers
15. Steven Smith Medway Vc.