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WXCRL Horton Road Race 2010

Saturday 10th July, by Graham Robins

The Horton Road Race in the Wessex League was an 80 kilometre regional A race for riders up to 2nd category held on the rolling Horton course one mile to the west of Verwood in Dorset. The weather was very hot although there was a nice breeze all around the course to cool things down a bit. As the riders (54) rolled away from the HQ all together, no one knew just what sort of race we were going to get.

With several teams sending out a strong presence, namely Cannondale Racing, Revo Racing and a strong showing from local boys Sotonia, the race pace was going to be fast from the off. Once the first attacks had been pulled back it was Jon Norton (Inverse Racing) and Richard Oram (Revo Racing) who managed a small gap but this lead was brought back by a hard chasing bunch, aware that these two were beginning to get some free air.

Then, the first of a couple of incidents, a rider on a horse managed to split the bunch in the middle. The commissaire had no choice but to halt the race and re-group as there was no significant lead. Once the race restarted, it was another rider from Revo Racing, Junior Heffernan, who was allowed by the bunch to slip off the front.

The chasing bunch seemed happy to allow him to get away and his lead soon opened up to 50 secsonds. Junior’s team mates were on the front of the bunch trying to control the bunch, however they had other ideas and slowly started to pull him back. Junior held his lead for about two laps of the seven but was pulled in by the bunch and as soon as the capture was made,  Robert Cranstone (Royal Navy& Royal Marines CA) attacked.

This was the second time he'd had a go but the effort saw him cramping and he was soon caught by the bunch. With a little over two laps to go, another attack, this time Martin Harris (Banjocycles.com) and Julian Brey (Dulwich Paragon) saw the race have two new leaders and these two worked together well. They soon had a lead of 50 seconds which they held steady and the bunch soon realised they were not going to catch these two leaders and started to think about the sprint for third.

The finish on this course is a dog-leg off the main course and it rises gently up towards the line. As the two leaders came into view behind the lead car,  they were still together. Julian Brey had a slight advantage but with 200m to go, Martyn opened up his legs to sprint past his fellow escapee.

Provisional Result

1. Martyn Harris Banjocycles.com
2. Julian Brey Dulwich Paragon
3. Edward Griffin BC Private Member
4. Ben Macland VC Meudon
5. Michael Cotty Cannondale Racing