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Imperial Winter Series Reports

Reports from January 15/16 Events | Race report & photos by Imperial Racing Team 
(More race photos available at )
 
It was back-to-back this weekend at the Imperial Winter Series with an added Woman’s race on Sunday to compensate for the cancelled Boxing Day event. Both days were dry but with the windy conditions, gusting up to 30mph at times, adding a further dimension to the racing. Even with the weather conditions and small entry on Sunday, all races without exception were keenly contested and of a high standard.

Race 1: (Series Race 8 Saturday 15th January 2011)
The 4th cat race finished in one group but not without the wind catching many riders out and seeing them fall off the back. Despite that, it was an interesting race over 40 km with plenty of attacks that in the end came down to a bunch sprint with Andrew Ghagan (VC Elan/Harry Perry Cycles) winning with Adam Brittain (High Wycombe CC) 2nd and James Fletcher (Inverse RT/Cyclaim) in 3rd. The WyndyMilla 4th category prize is awarded to 13th place finisher Mark Lawn (Inverse RT/Cyclaim.co.uk). He can look forward to a WyndyMilla ‘go faster’ cycle fitting at their Manor Farm Cycle Centre in Seale.

The 3rd cat race promised much with continuing attacks from the start, notably from young Declan Higgins (Twickenham CC). It showed the commitment by all the riders to be competitive, particularly among the young riders. There was a break of three riders from the main group and Jamie Pine (Le Col) latched onto the trio after a solo effort and with 12km still to go it looked good.

At the end though, it was Pine’s strength which held off a fast finishing Chris Wood (WyndyMilla) with Conall Yates (In Gear Quickvit RT) in 3rd place. The Maxifuel prize is awarded to 25th place finisher Mark O'Brien (Archer RC). He receives a Maxifuel pack comprising rucksack with Viperactive energy fuel and gels, bottles and T-shirt.

The E/1/2/3 race was again intense from the start with even more commitment which for winter racing is quite electrifying. There are so many talented and class riders now involved, with Tony Gibb amongst them , it was always going to be full on race. Previous series winner Jerone Walters (Sigma Sport) was back and that gave the race added spice.

It was heartening to see the young Welwyn Wheelers mixing it and with talented Dante Carpenter (Astra racing), Jake Martin (Pendragon-Lecol-Colnago) battling through and added to this Alexander King (Cyclefit Racing Team) attacking from the front and covering all the moves. He and Walters looked as if their effort may have got them to the finish together but it was not to be with all the overall contenders bringing them back together.

Again it was Steve Golla’s (Sigma Sport) prodigious strength which took him well clear to a comfortable win again with all the known sprinters missing his wheel. Perhaps the only one capable was Tony Gibb but again he seemed to have a problem in the run in. A fascinating race.

E/1/2/3 Cat   
1  Steve Golla Sigma Sport
2  Alexander King Cyclefit Racing Team
3  Tom Smith Felt Colbornes
4  Michael Widera Inverse Racing / Cyclaim
5  Jerone Walters Sigma Sport
6  Arjan Planting Dulwich Paragon
7  Jake Martin pendragon-lecol-colnago
8  Vince Halpern Awcycles.co.uk
9  Jerzy Kuzminski London Phoenix
10  Jason Edwards GB MSTina RT
11  Dante Carpenter Astra racing
12  Martin Garratt London Dynamo
13  Tom Gallacher Welwyn Wheelers
14  Phil Holloway Southend Wheelers
15  Tony Gibb Cycle Premier
16  Ashley Holding GB MSTina RT
17  Robert Smail Cyclepremier.com-Metaltek
18  Nat Spurling Finsbury Park
19  Neil Heffernan Inverse Racing/Cyclaim
20  Wayne Thomas Reading CC
21  Tom Bowering Astra racing
22  Alex Anderson Welwyn Wheelers
23  James Leach Onelife Fuga RT
24  Mario Manelpi Blazing Saddles
25  Geoff Powell High Wycombe CC
26  David Martin Zimbabwe
27  Patrick Hawkins Dulwich Paragon
28  Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC
29  Ajelo Ghristides Ermis Hellas
  
3rd Cat   
1  Jamie Pine Le Col
2  Chris Wood WyndyMilla
3  Conall Yates In Gear Quickvit RT
4  Rudie Marais Team Archer
5  Tom Kruger 45 Road Club
6  Phil Adams Ashwell CC
7  David Ladkin Kingston Wheelers
8  Gavin Morton Charlotteville CC
9  Craig McLean London Dynamo
10  David Robinson CC Ashwell
11  Joe Holloway VC 10
12  Adam Elderfield quest thebike shop
13  Vaughan Luff De Ver
14  Andy Pollintine Dulwich Paragon
15  Rob Griffiths London Phoenix CC
16  Richard Stanton Arbis/Roy Pink Cycles RT
17  Kevin Holloway VC 10
18  Dylan Kenneway London Dynamo
19  Jai Watson Dulwich Paragon CC
20  Francis Cade Kingston Wheelers CC
21  Jonathan Heal WyndyMilla
22  Ralph de Kanter Norwood Paragon CC
23  Jacek Reder private member
24  Stephen Campbell Twickenham CC
25  Mark O'Brien Archer RC
26  Declan Higgins Twickenham CC
27  Martin Porter Thames Velo
  
4th Cat  
1  Andrew Ghagan VC Elan / Harry Perry Cycles
2  Adam Brittain High Wycombe CC
3  James Fletcher Inverse RT/Cyclaim
4  James Walker High Wycombe CC
5  Joe Clark High Wycombe CC
6  Richard Skilton Private Member
7  Iain Gillam Private Member
8  Jerome Dunne Private Member
9  Ken Creighton private member
10  Taimur Tanwir London Dynamo
11  Ben Smith Welwyn Wheelers
12  Phil Wege Inverse/Cyclaim
13  Mark Lawn Inverse RT/Cyclaim.co.uk
14  Daniel Skinner Twickenham CC
15  Toby Baker University of Manchester
16  James Levelle private member
17  Dennis Wright London Fire Brigade
18  Edmond Irwin London Fire Brigade
19  Andrew Connington AndersElectronic/TMG
20  Steven Green Thames Velo

Race 2: Sunday, 16th January Event
Seventeen women entered their event on Sunday, which from the organiser’s view point was heartening. This new aspect of the Winter Series has easily met Imperial’s expectations providing good fields across the range of categories coupled with professional riding which it is hoped will encourage more women into racing.

The 4th category race was a much smaller entry than we have seen so far but regardless, there was a spirited performance from all the riders. A group of four broke away from the main group and rode well together to stay clear to contest the finish. Toung Sam Hayes (Bristol RC) won an excellent clean sprint from Liam Bremer (London Phoenix CC) and in 3rd place Andrew Connington (AndersElectronic/TMG). The WyndyMilla 4th category prize is awarded to 12th place finisher Paul Martin who can look forward to a WyndyMilla ‘go faster’ cycle fitting at their Manor Farm Cycle Centre in Seale.

The Women’s final race in the series saw a very appreciative entry of 17 line up at the start, all worried about the strong wind and the 3rd cat race hurtling past. Oddly enough, the women stayed together sheltering from what felt like a gale force wind, however, Jayne Paine (Willesden) tried several times  to go clear but the race was cleverly controlled by the Look Mum No Hands! Team.

For all of their team work and lead out for Charlotte Easton (Look Mum No Hands!) it was a very tight finish, with Easton just holding off Kim English (Welwyn Wheelers) with ex-triathlete Tanya Hunt (Team Endurance) improving to an excellent 3rd place. Yet another fine display of racing by all the women racers.

Easton took 1st place in the first ever Women’s Imperial Winter Series with 2nd place filled by Cassie Gledhill (Orbea-for goodness shakes) and in 3rd place Hunt. Thank you goes to our sponsors for this event Maxifuel.

The 3rd category race saw 22 riders come to the line for their 50 minute race plus 5 laps. We saw a very attacking race from the start with Rudie Marais (Team Archer) prominent throughout, however, the ride of the day must go to Rory Tounsend (Prestige Velo Club) who rode away with 4km to go and it was most exciting to see him hang on and cross the line rather bewildered with a very fast chasing group led by Marais not quite making it. It took much courage in the conditions to make such a move and he deservedly finished alone. Truly a rider to watch.

The Maxifuel prize is awarded to 5th place finisher Rob Griffiths (London Phoenix). He receives a Maxifuel pack comprising rucksack with Viperactive energy fuel and gels, bottles and T-shirt.

The E/1/2/3 race was almost over before it started with Lewis Atkins (Twenty 3C Orbea) and Jake Martin (Pendragon-Lecol-Colnago) attacking at the start catching the remaining riders completely unawares. The gap grew to 35 seconds after 3 km such was their strength and speed into the wind and it steadily increased.

They were told hold back on catching the main group by the Chief Commissare, but there was no let up in the main group with again the Twickenham CC young riders Alex Pantelides and Declan Higgins combining well and continually attacking. However, after 30km, Tom Smith (Felt Colbornes), Marcel Six (Twenty 3c - Orbea) and Jason Edwards (GB MSTina RT) slipped away with David Murrell (London Phoenix) trying like mad to cross to them but sadly unsuccessfully.

They were never going to catch the flying duo out front and they in turn were in no danger of being caught by the main group. Both groups worked successfully together and were a joy to watch with their smooth changing particularly the Atkins/Martin duo and they should look forward to a very successful road season. Jake Martin took the win with Atkins securing more series points for which he is the clear favourite. From the second group, Smith went for a long sprint and with a strong tail wind came comfortably in 3rd beating Six and Edwards with Vince Halpern (Awcycles) leading the main group in ahead of a hard working Ashley Holding (GB MSTina RT) with Murrell finishing 12th after his earlier efforts. A great race to finish the weekend.

E/1/2/3 race   
1  Jake Martin pendragon-lecol-colnago
2  Lewis Atkins Twenty 3C  Orbea
3  Tom Smith Felt Colbornes
4  Marcel Six Twenty 3c - Orbeo
5  Jason Edwards GB MSTina RT
6  Vince Halpern Awcycles.co.uk
7  Ashley Holding GB MSTina RT
8  Jerzy Kuzminski London Phoenix
9  Alex Pantelides Twickenham CC
10  Ajelo Ghristides Ermis Hellas
11  Phil Holloway Southend Wheelers
12  David Murrell London Phoenix
13  Michael Widera Inverse Racing / Cyclaim
14  Graham Hills southborough & dist CC
15  Sam Humpheson Look Mum No Hands!
16  Declan Higgins Twickenham CC
17  Robert Smail Cyclepremier.com-Metaltek
18  Geoff Powell High Wycombe CC
19  Neil Heffernan Inverse Racing/Cyclaim
20  Wayne Thomas Reading CC
 
3rd cat race   
1  Rory Tounsend Prestige VC
2  Rudie Marais Team Archer
3  Tom Kruger 45 Road Club
4  David Robinson CC Ashwell
5  Rob Griffiths London Phoenix CC
6  Andrew Edwards Brighton Mitre
7  Richard Collins Imperial Racing Team
8  Josh Maynard Welwyn Wheelers
9  Nick Franzini London Dynamo
10  Simon Dawson Inverse/Cyclaim RT
11  Peter Dixon Willesden CC
12  Mike Diggins Gregarios Superclub Ciclista
13  Peter Morris Lewes Wanderers CC
14  Greg Barber Charlotteville CC
15  Jacek Reder private member
16  Andy Lack Kingston Wheelers
17  Vaughan Luff De Ver
18  Robert LeMaster Private member
19  Mark O'Brien Archer RC
  
Womens E/1/2/3/4 race   
1 Charlotte Easton Look Mum No Hands!
2  Kimberley English Welwyn Wheelers
3  Tanya Hunt Team Endurance
4  Helen Ralston Pearson
5  Cassie Gledhill Orbea-for goodness shakes
6  Anna Grundy Look Mum No Hands!
7  Claire Leonard Brighton Mitre
8  Monica DaPolenza Awcycle.co.uk
9 Chloe Aitken London Dynamo
10  Catherine Hills Wyndy Milla Maxifuel
11  Jessica Mitchell London Dynamo
12  Jayne Paine Willesden
13  Pan Pan Fan Look Mum No Hands!
14  Lydia Boylan Look Mum No Hands!
15  Louise Clowes Cyclaim / Inverse Racing
  
4th cat race   
1  Sam Hayes Bristol Rc
2  Liam Bremer London Phoenix CC
3  Andrew Connington AndersElectronic/TMG
4  Peter Hitt Private Member
5  Mark Lawn Inverse RT/Cyclaim.co.uk
6  Bernard Yu London Dynamo
7  Max Brown Didcot Phoenix
8  Ian Miller Dulwich Paragon
9  Alan Nixon Amersham RCC
10  Taimur Tanwir London Dynamo
11  Duncan Rimmer Morden CRC
12  Paul Martin private member
13  Clem Halpin Twickenham CC
14  Mark Fogg Inverse RT/Cyclaim
15  David Hitt Private Member
  
Womens Imperial Winter Series - Final results  
1  Charlotte Easton Look Mum No Hands!
2  Cassie Gledhill Orbea-for goodness shakes
3  Tanya Hunt Team Endurance
4  Claire Leonard Brighton Mitre
5  Monica DaPolenza Awcycle.co.uk
6  Catherine Hills Wyndy Milla Maxifuel

Full race details are always found at www.imperialracingteam.com

Race 9 – 22nd January - starts 13:00
Race 10 – 29th January - starts 13:00
Race 11 – 5th February – starts 13:00
Race 12 – 12th February – starts 13:00 and prize presentation

Lucy Collins