Follow britishcycling.org.uk on

Report: SERRL 5

Race 5 from South East Road Race League
10 April 2011
Report & Images: Dave Hayward (davehayward.com)

It was a Pink morning for Kent as the WyndyMilla, MaxiFuel Team arrived in force for Sunday's South East Road Race League (SERRL) with the support of Delaune CC at Brenchley. Not many races in Kent are blessed with a down hill start, but as soon as the neutralized flag disappeared the hammer went down, anyone who wasn't on their game was going to have a tough time.

At the end of the 2nd lap from the 112 km race, 7 riders managed to stay away with a 40 second gap, finally the pace settled down, with an average speed of 48ks (30 miles an hour), the riders still another 11 laps of 13 race to complete, with another 11 more times up Knowle Lane Hill, to where the Finish was located.

Seeing the potential move of the breakaway, Tom Copland, Sigma Sport Specialized, emerged from a pack of chasers to bridge the gap to the leaders.

Scott Merrilees, WyndyMilla, Alex Higham, Wyndymilla, Andy Betts, La Fuga-Sigma Sport, Chris McNamara. Team Corley, Nick Abraham, Luke Wallis, La Fuga-Sigma Sport, Anthony Moye. CC Luton, and soon to join Tom Copland, Sigma Sport Specialized. Once Tom Copland joined the 7 leaders they started to distance them selves from a dwindling cashing bunch.

Alex Higham, Wyndymilla, not content with so many riders in the group put in a move on lap 6 to go it alone. It took nearly a lap for the group to bring back Alex. By lap 10 the group was down to five, with occasional attacks by Tom, Alex, and Andy leaving Chris to do most of the chasing just to stay in contention.

3 laps to go the fireworks started again 3 of the now 4 riders were jumping one another. On the last lap a cease fire came as the 4 were matching each others attempts. It wasn't long be fore Andy Bettets and a final go on the lower road before the last ascent of Knowle Lane Hill. Gaining a few bike lengths, Alex cut across and clawed himself to his wheel. A moment of hesitation for Tom and Chris meant the gap was too big to close at the bottom of the climb. Chris had paid the price of all the earlier chasing while Tom's earlier efforts to go it along were starting to show.

As the hill steepened Alex Higham drew along side Andy Betts, looked at him then carried on to his first South East Road Race League win of the season.

What the riders said

Andy Betts, La Fuga-Sigma Sport
"Tough race, I'm pleased, had to race myself fit this year due to a lack of winter miles, Alex again was very strong".

Chris McNamara Team Corley Cervelo
"I seemed to be on the back foot today, had to go with everything. WyndyMill, and Sigima Sport were well represented in the earlier part of the race".

Results

1 Alex Higham. WyndyMilla.
2 Andy Betts. La Fuga-Sigma Sport
3 Tom Copeland. Sigma Sport Specialized
4 Chris McNamara. Team Corley Cervelo
5 Nick Abraham. Private.
6 John Wager. Felt Colbornes RT
7 Matthew Pilkington. Progressive CCDSq:
8 Daniel Duguid. Sigma Sport Specialized
9 Shaun Duffield. Active Cycles
10 Pete Wager. Felt Colbornes RT
11 David Seagar. Kingsnorth International.
12 Drew Holmes. Progressive CCDSq:
13 Wayne van Ry. Dulwich Paragon.
14 Frazer Wildman. Datateam Allstars
15 Paul Sewell. Bigfoot CC.
16 Chris Dick. London Phoenix CC
17 Andrew Dolan. Team Toachim.
18 Graham Hills. In Gear Quick Fit RT
19 Anthony Moye. CC Luton.
20 Philip Murrell

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.