Naseby, Northants, 87 miles
Event: 24th July 2011

Report: Dean Barnett

Elite 1/2/3 Cat - 87miles

Colin Parry (Wilier/Goselfdrive.com) and Dexter Gardias (Frome Cycles) managed to break clear in the final six miles from a 10 man break that dominated the Duncan Murray Wines Road Race.

Tom Barras, CylcePremier, Ben Stockdale , Team Qoroz, Alistair Kay , Herbalife and Gardias formed the first break of the day after eight miles. The quartet soon gained a lead of 30 seconds by the end of lap one.  With the bunch was chasing hard with riders exploding off the front of the group and bridging the gap to the industrious quartet.

As the size of the break grew to ten riders everyone was committed to working for the next 20 miles the break never got more than a one minute advantage. With every rider pulling on the front their lead started grow and time checks had the bunch at two minutes.

With 25 miles to go seven riders broke free from the bunch but there chase was in vain as the break was tight unit. As the break entered the final lap Mike Cumming (Twenty 3c) launched an attack as the break crested the Oxendon Climb. His effort was snuffed out as Ashley Cox (Corely Cycles) led the chase.

At this point Parry and Gradias made their race winning move and fought a good battle on Naseby Hill with Parry easing away from Gradias in the last 400m.

Result

1. Colin Parry Wilier/Goselfdrive.com 3hrs 30mins
2. Dexter Gardias Forme ImpSport SanLamere @ 10secs
3. Ben Stockdale Team Qoroz @ 20secs
4. Tom Barras Cycle Premier Metaltek @ st
5. Jack Adams Forme ImpSport SanLamere
6. Ashley Cox Team Corley Cycles/Cervelo
7. Alistair Kay Herbalife/Wheelbase
8. Mike Cuming Twenty3c Orbea
9. Ian Knight Team Corely Cycles/Alpha RC
10. Tim Carter Team Virgin Active
11. Richard Cartland - Team Corely Cycles
12. Richard Wood - Team Milton Keynes
13. Ben Luckwell - Wilier/BigMaggys.com/Prendas Ciclismo
14. Mathhew Foston - Langdale Lightweights RT
15. Mike Harrison - Congleton C.C
16. Robert Smail - Cycle Premier Metaltek
17. Martin Ford - Mammoth Lifestyle RT
18. Steve Gumyer - Active/CP cycles RT
19. Richard Bott - Herbalife/Wheelbase
20. Owen Lake - Cambridge CC

Support race 3rd - 4th Cat Race - 50 miles

David Miller, West Suffolk Wheelers, dominated the first event of the day. David broke away on lap two initially part of three rider break. The West Suffolk Wheelers rider was soon on his own as he faced over 25 miles holding the bunch off at 40 to 50 seconds.

As Miller crested the climb into Naseby arms aloft the bunch gallop behind was taken by former professional rider Phil Wilkins (Team Jewsons) from Matt Barrett (Lutterworth Cycles).

An excellent ride by Nick Horder (WVCC) as he sprinted for eighth place. Tom Sexton and Jonny Unwin rode strongly to finish in the bunch.

Result

1. David Miller West Suffolk Wheelers 2hrs 10mins.
2. Phil Wilkins Team Jewson @ 50
3. Matt Barrett Lutterworth Cycles
4. James Woodier Leicestershire Road Club
5. Hiroshi Kobayashi Team MK
6. William Rudguard Uni of Birmingham CC
7. James Stewart iCycle
8. Nick Horder Welland Valley CC

Women's Team Series - 50 miles

Lowri Bunn (Abergavenny RC) timed her effort to perfection as she attacked in the final kilometre holding off talented National Junior Road Race Champion Hannah Barnes (Team Motorpoint). Barnes was lucky to be contesting the sprint after she suffered a rear wheel puncture with one lap to go.

In a lacklustre race riders jostled for position as the race entered the final 10 miles, this was made even more complicated the leading men's riders caught the ladies bunch. As the men's break safely passed the ladies bunch the leading male riders were well clear of the ladies race as the females started there last ascent of Naseby Hill.

Fifty riders faced the starter and with the full For Viored missing it was a chance for Motorpoint to extend their overall lead in the Team Series and perhaps this was reflected by the speed of the race when it seemed other riders were content to play follow my leader. Although there were some attacks they were never allowed any great distance before being brought back.

With the Commissaire stopping the race to remind the riders to keep to the left there was every chance that the men's race, run in conjunction with the women's event, would catch up and this they did but with only 4 miles remaining it was easily managed.

Little of note affected the race except the main hill when riders at the back could not hold the pace and slid backwards. After 60 kilometres Astrid Wingler, Surrey League decided some cyclo-cross would enliven her ride but generally it was a race bunch waiting for the final climb to the finish.

Race winner Lowri was very pleased with her first win: "I didn't feel too good for the first laps but but I hung in there and found something at the end, my team mate Lauren Creamer worked really hard and led me out. Sarah Byrne broke away I grabbed her wheel and broke away with about 600 metres to go. I did a five day stage race before, the Ras du Cymru, and it has taken me a week to recover but obviously it did me a lot of good."

Result

1. Lowri Bunn Abergavenny RC
2. Hannah Barnes Motorpoint
3. Karla Boddy Impsport team A
4. Eve Dixon Maxgear Champion Systems
5. Sarah Byrne VC St Raphael
6. Kim Ashton Inverse Cyclaim
7. Lauren Creamer Abergavenny RC
8. Anna Grundy Look Mum no Hands
9. Lydia Boylan Look Mum no Hands
10. Tania Hunt Surrey League
11. Siobham McNamarra Inverse Cyclaim
12. Nikki Juniper Inverse Cyclaim
13. Laura Massey Inverse Cyclaim
14. Emma Craddock Surrey League
15. Mollie Weaver West Midlands
16. Hanna Shenton Motorpoint
17. Nicloa Sodden Maxgear Champion Systems
18. Emily Bagnall Surrey League
19. Sarah King Motorpoint
20. Louise Moriarty Look Mum no Hands
21. Melissa Bury Maxgear Champion Systems
22. Nikola Butler Inverse Cyclaim
23. Karen Poole Primal Europe
24. Kirsty Bishop PSUK
25. Bethany Crumpton West Midlands
26. Sarah Maidment Squadra Donne/Shutt VR/Bikefood/C Originals
27. Heather Jackson Maxgear Champion Systems
28. Ruby Miller Horizon Fitness
29. Astrid Wingler Surrey League
30. Iona Sewell Squadra Donne/Shutt VR/Bikefood/C Originals
31. Eleanor Jones VC St Raphale
32. Catherine Hills Surrey League
33. Claire Leonard Surrey League

Team

1. Abergavenny RC 220 points
2. Inverse Cyclaim 218 points
3. Motorpoint 206 points
4. Maxgear Champion Systems 197 points
5. Look Mum no Hands 158 points
6. Surrey League 137 points
7. Impsport Team A 115 points
8. VC St Raphael 112 points
9. West Midlands 71 points
10. Squadra Donne/Shutt VR/Bikefood/C Originals 50 points
11. Primal Europe 30 points
12. PSUK 29 points
13. Hirizon Fitness 25 points