Location: Hardwick Hall, Chesterfield, Derbyshire
Event: 8 December 2013
Report: Snowdon Sports
Photos: Ray Stuart
Mansfield RC’s John Harper produced a superb final lap to take first place in the Midland Regional Championships at Hardwick Hall on Sunday.
Harper was part of a group of five riders that chased down the lead towards the end of the race.
But then, as the bell rang, it was every man for himself and Harper, 35, took off at astonishing pace to tear his way to victory in 54.13.
He crossed the line ahead of Tom Payton (Isla Bikes) in second. Paul Cox completed the podium, the Fossa rider just over a minute down on Harper’s time.
It was the second time that the Notts & Derby League had visited the Elizabethan mansion in Derbyshire this year, although the course was different on this occasion.
The event attracted a bumper field, especially in the youth races with almost 90 youngsters competing. The surface of the course was greasy, although the ground as solid underneath.
Results:
Seniors:
1 John Harper (Mansfield RC) 6 laps 54.13
2 Tom Payton (Isla Bikes)
3 Paul Cox (Pedal Power RT)
4 Lee Shunburne (Fossa Racing)
5 Chris Metcalfe (Charge Bikes)
6 Mark Cotton (Elmore Factory Racing)
7 Joe Fox (MG-Maxifuel)
8 Kyle Burleigh (Fossa Racing)
9 George Thompson (Sleaford Wheelers)
10 Andrew Stuart (Nottingham Clarion)
U23: Joe Fox
Junior: Jack Ravenscroft (Solihull CC)
Vet 40: Darren Atkins (Jewson)
Woman: Diane Lee (Mule Bar Girls)
V50: Michael Davies (Pedal Power RT)
V60: Andy Jones (Wolverhampton Wheelers)
U16 boy: Josh Waters (Sherwood Pines SRAM)
U16 girl: Charlotte Broughton (MG Décor)
U14 boy: Matthew Ellis
U14 girl: Poppy Wildman (Nottingham Clarion)
U12 boy: Ben Chilton (Derby Mercury RC)
U12 girl: Amelie Wayte (Matlock CC)
U9 boy: Luke Harris (Halesowen)
U9 girl: Fay Garner (Welland Valley CC)
Please credit www.britishcycling.org.uk and link back if you use any of our race results.
British Cycling would like to thank the organising team, officials and everyone else who helped promote this event. Our sport could not exist without the hundreds of people, many of them unpaid volunteers, who put in many hours of hard work running events, activities and clubs.
