Location: Supermarine Rugby Club, Highworth, Swindon
Event: 8 November 2011
The GWR Team Winter Floodlit Cyclo Cross Series overall winner has finally been decided as Paul Lloyd, who took second place on the night, did enough to secure the 2011 series victory.
Lloyd finished with an eight point advantage over Dan Lewis, who missed the final round. The weather may have been cold and the air full of light drizzle but the track remained fast and hard packed even though a few corners had a film of the sticky stuff covering them, as the riders practiced on the course in the night dew they began to deteriorate. The series has seen over 130 riders compete this year, with the last round attracting 44 riders.
The race was run off in darkness with very little wind and light rain, it was a cold, damp typical November evening. Paul Lloyd led the race from the gun followed in close attendance by series promoter Dan Smith, who on the third corner lost control which caused him to crash and hold up some of the front runners. This lead to Lloyd linking up with Crispin Doyle just ahead of Peter Kench, Joe Griffiths, Adam Britain and George Bate.
On lap three it was Kench who took a tumble which saw him drop out of the top ten. The conditions were to cause many of the riders to fall during the race but Doyle managed to have a clean ride and after 10 laps took his second win of the series. Lloyd came in for second place on the night safe in the knowledge that the overall win was his.
Kench made an impressive recovery and was lapping the course faster than anyone on the circuit, on his way to third place by the end of the 45 mins + one lap.
First veteran rider was Andy Webb, first lady was Ruby Baker and first junior was Joe Griffiths.
The GWR Team Winter Series would like to thank the support of Margaret and Stewart Smith who without their support the series would not have run. We would also like to thank Ian Edmonds and Jez Read for turning up each week to repair the course and to photograph all the action. The team are now taking a well earned break, but will be back next year.
Final standings
1. Paul Lloyd 411
2. Dan Lewis 402
3. George Bate 373
4. Scott Chappell 353
5. Peter Kench 351
6. Dan Smith 344
7. Deacon Cutterham 339
8. Steven Brown 334
9. Kevin Blann 321
10. Micheal Holborow 314
