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Imperial Winter Series New Years Day
Event: January 1, 2011 | by Imperial Racing Team (Lucy Collins)
At last! Although dull and gloomy with light rain, 82 riders signed on for the various events for only the second race in the series due to the inclement weather. In the 3rd category race, James Lowden (Lewes Wanderers) took first place, a position he has been chasing and come close to since the last winter series.
Second was Rudie Marais (Archer RC) who was third in the last race and obviously now has the taste for a win. The 4th category race meanwhile was won by Phil Gibbs (Dulwich Paragon) with Steven Cottington in second and Liam Bremer (London Phoenix CC) third. Getting the bigger result however proved to be a problem as the generator let the club down at the crucial time, rendering the photo finish equipment useless. So all the riders gathered in the clubhouse and worked out the placings and later a photo was provided that confirmed their positions. Well done to an honest bunch!
In the Ladies event, again a much higher standard is being set and although only 10 riders started, they rode hard for the whole of their 40 minutes plus 5 laps. There was however an outstanding performance by Charlotte Easton (Look Mum No Hands!) who rode away from her rivals, stayed away and finally lapped the other riders. At one point, she rode back past the 3rd cat race! She had the help of two team mates in Lydia Boylan and Helen McKay and was encouraged by her sponsor/manager Sam Humpheson who later rode in the E/1/2/3 race. Easton emphasised the need and desire for more ladies races.
In the E/1/2/3 race, an entry of 33 riders lined up. All were bemoaning the lack of miles in their legs, although it did not show from the start, as the speed was furious with young Jake Martin (Pendragon) attacking on his own in the first 2 kilometres. Phil Holloway (Southend Wheelers), a veteran of the series and Lewis Atkins, a former series winner (Twenty 3C Orbea), saw the opportunity of an early break and went across to him.
The main group however were very vigilant and the race was brought together again - certainly the Christmas blues appeared to have been blown away? Next to string the race out was Stoyko Bussarov (Eagle RC), who’s looking to race in Italy this season. Also in the move was Chris Dick (London Phoenix) but again they were quickly brought back.
Next to move off the front were Brock Duncumb Rogers (One Life Dev Squad) who escaped with circuit veteran Bill Butterworth (Team Quest), winner of the first ever Winter Series back in the 90's. That break though soon came back and next saw the largest gap of the early part of the race to appear. Gaining a 35 second advantage was Sam Humpheson (Look Mum No Hands!) café owner but like previous attempts it was thwarted.
Next to try was Henry Furniss (WyndyMilla/MaxiFuel) and David Murrell (London Phoenix), Nat Spurling (Finsbury Park), Felix English (Science&Sport), Phil Holloway and Vince Halpern (Awcycles) and once again the strongest and fastest rider Jake Martin. This was the basis of the final break and also included Graham Hills (Southborough & Dist CC) and Bussarov.
This group of nine worked hard and with only 12km to go, they were not likely to be caught. Furniss seized the chance in the back straight to open up the sprint and the effort split the nine leaders. The others were quick to react though and a slight headwind finish uphill was going to make it difficult to find the right wheel.
Atkins had to dig really deep to hold off Martin, English and Furniss with previous winner Jo Skelton (Look Mum No Hands!) leading in the main group. All in all, an excellent finish to an action packed race. Atkins now leads overall and will be a marked man although he looks to be at his best again.
Race6 - 3rd January Bank Hoilday Monday - starts 11:00
Race 7 - 8th January - starts 13:00
Race 8 - 15th January - starts 13:00
Extra Date - 16th January SUNDAY - starts 11:00 (originally the Boxing Day race)
Full details at
RESULTS
E/1/2/3/ Cats
1st Lewis Atkins Twenty 3C Orbea
2nd Jake Martin pendragon-lecol-colnago
3rd Felix English Science-and-Sport.com
4th Henry Furniss WyndyMilla/MaxiFuel
5th David Murrell London Phoenix
6th Graham Hills southborough & dist CC
7th Stoyko Bussarov Eagle RC
8th Arijan Planting Dulwich Paragon
9th Chris Dick London Phoenix
10th Jo Skelton Look Mum No Hands!
11th Mark Ottaway WyndyMilla/MaxiFuel
12th Tom Smith Felt Colbornes
13th Vince Halpern Awcycles.co.uk
14th Mark Smith Welwyn Wheelers
15th Mike Diggins Gregarios Superclub Ciclista
16th Jon Lewis Charlotteville CC
17th David Swan Cycles Dauphin
18th Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC
19th Bill Butterworth Tm Quest
20th Wayne Thomas Reading CC
21st Phil Holloway Southend Wheelers
22nd Geoff Powell High Wycombe CC
23rd Nat Spurling Finsbury Park
24th Ajelo Ghristides Ermis Hellas
25th Brock Duncumb Rogers One Life Dev Squad
26th Jerzy Kuzminski London Phoenix
27th Sam Humpheson Look Mum No Hands!
28th Oliver Newlan Twickenham CC
29th David Martin Zimbabwe
3rd Cats
1st James Lowden Lewes Wanderers
2nd Rudie Marais Team Archer
3rd Tom Kruger 45 Road Club
4th David Robinson CC Ashwell
5th Ralph de Kanter Norwood Paragon CC
6th Vaughan Luff De Ver/Neovite
7th Stuart Harvey Ultimate Fitness
8th Phil Adams Ashwell CC
9th Lee Mead Vc meudon
10th Robert LeMaster Private member
11th Mike Sanders Team Corridori
12th Mike Betts Vegetarian C & AC
13th Phill Keefe iCycle
14th Barry Gerhold Redhill CC
15th Adam Elderfield quest thebike shop
16th Martin Porter Thames Velo
17th Dylan Kenneway London Dynamo
18th Mark O'Brien Archer RC
19th Michael Leonard Brighton Mitre
Womens Race Cats E/1/2/3/4
1st Charlotte Easton Look Mum No Hands
2nd Cassie Gledhill Orbea-for goodness shakes
3rd Claire Leonard Brighton Mitre
4th Tanya Hunt Team Endurance
5th Lydia Boylan Look Mum No Hands
6th Monica DaPolenza Awcycle.co.uk
7th Rachel Przybylski Rapha Condor
8th Helen McKay Look Mum No Hands
9th Cathrine Hills Wyndy Milla Maxifuel
10th Hilary Hillhouse Kingston Wheelers
4th Cats
1st Phil Gibbs Dulwich Paragon
2nd Steven Cottington Private member
3rd Liam Bremer London Phoenix CC
4th Mark Gregory Private Member
5th Taimur Tanwir London Dynamo
6th Michael Vance Dulwich Paragon
7th Henry Latimer Team Zappi's
8th Iain Gillam Private
9th Steve Middleton Ultimate Fitness
10th Ian Cardy Inverse / CyClaim RT
11th Samuel Hilton Maidenhead and District CC
12th Simon Parton Kingston Wheelers
13th Phil Wege Inverse/Cyclaim
14th Ian Miller Dulwich Paragon
15th Paul Simpson Arbis llp Roy Pink Cycles Road Team
16th Steven Green Thames Velo