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Hassan Wins Arthur Campbell Memorial

Newton Mearns, Glasgow, 85 miles
Promoted by: Glasgow Wheelers
Event: 2nd July 2011
Report: Snowdon Sports

ENDURA Racing's Robbie Hassan secured a second consecutive victory in the Arthur Campbell near Glasgow on Sunday to climb up to third in the overall Scottish Power Renewables Super 6 Series.

Hassan's win means he steps up from fourth to third place in the rankings with four races completed, and with two rounds left and just 13 points separating the top three, it is still all to ride for.

Fifth place in the Arthur Campbell Memorial was enough to give Gary Hand (Endura Racing) the overall lead, just ahead of former leader James McCallum (Rapha Condor Sharp) who was tenth on Sunday.

After numerous attacks and breakaways, a large group of around 15 riders managed to escape on the first lap including four Endura riders, so when the gap grew to over a minute this forced the other favourites such as Matt Kipling (Team Raleigh), and James McCallum (Rapha Condor Sharp) to work hard to close it down.

Towards the end of the third lap the lead group was caught and new attacks began immediately, although no one managed to get away.

However, on the long open A77 section during lap four the bunch split in two and shortly afterwards six riders powered away, including Matt Kipling, Gary Hand and Davie Lines of Endura.

On the hilly back section going up the Stewarton Road into the last lap, two more riders bridged across including eventual winner Robbie Hassan and a Herbalife rider, to complete what would be the winning break.

By now, the leaders had over a minute on the chase group as they headed back onto the A77. However the chasers behind upped the pace and the gap gradually decreased.

By the time the race turned into the last three miles the gap had been reduced to 20 seconds, with the possibility of the break being caught. However, a committed effort from David Lines secured the break's success.

Up front the leading riders started attacking, but to no avail and everything stayed together for the uphill sprint to the finish line. An ambulance, attending a bad crash in the B race on the final corner, reduced the road to one lane but that did not affect the sprint.

Crossing the line in first place by around a bike's length was young Robbie Hassan, holding off pro rider Jason Allen (Subway-Giant) who has been New Zealand National Champion 13 times and won Commonwealth Games gold in the team pursuit.

His victory was enough for Hassan to secure his elite racing license.

The B race resulted in a bunch finish, with Brian McCardle, winning a narrow sprint victory over his young junior rivals, Dale McCallum (Bicycle Works) and Bradley Stokes (Pedal Power).

As already mentioned, there was a crash in the final 200 metres which resulted in Jason Barnes, (Glasgow Nightingale) being taken to hospital with a fractured collar bone. Happily, he was discharged and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Result (Race A):
1 Robert Hassan (Endura Pedal Power) 3:27:09
2 Jason Allen (Subway-Giant) @ same time
3 Andrew Hawdon (Herbalife) @ 1sec
4 Matthew Kipling (Team Raleigh) @ same time
5 Gary Hand (Endura Pedal Power) @ 3sec
6 Richard Bott (Herbalife) @ 4sec
7 Andrew Coupe (Herbalife) @ 9sec
8 Gordon Murdoch (Cyclelane) @ 11sec
9 Peter Murdoch (Cyclelane) @ 14sec
10 James McCallum (Rapha Condor Sharp) @ 20sec

Result (Race B):
1 Brian McCardle (East Kilbride RC) 2:10:24
2 Dale McCallum (Bicycle Works) @ 1sec
3 Bradley Stokes (Pedal Power RT)
4 Peter Hale (Falkirk BC)
5 Brendan Roe (Team Leslie Bikes) all @ same time
6 Jack McLaren (Falkirk BC) @ 2sec
7 Ryan Fenwick (Stewarty Wheelers) @ same time
8 Scott Hawkins (Glasgow Couriers) @ 3sec
9 Gus Gillies (Bicycle Works) @ same time
10 Michael Fong (Velo Club Edinburgh) @ 4sec

Women:
1 Jenny Stanning (Edinburgh RC) 2:10:28
2 Lee Craigie (Torq Performance) @ 4sec
3 Laura Murray (Velocity 44) @ 21sec