British Cycling National Masters Track Championships Day 2
July 3rd; Welsh National Velodrome, Newport, by Richard Robotham (http://rhodopsin.co.uk/)
Results for all three days (1mb Word docs): Men's Competition | Women's Competition |
Day 1 Report: Sprint day at the Newport Velodrome with titles across all the age categories decided. Read about the action, see the photos and find out who won what -- click here
Day 2 of the National Masters Track Championships at the Welsh National Velodrome in Newport continued with the Time Trials during the morning session and the Scratch Races throughout the afternoon session.
Kathryn with lots of jerseys and medals to be presented to the riders on day 2 of the championships.
The distances covered in the Time Trials ranged from 1000m to 500m dependent upon the category. First onto the Track were the Women with five categories all of which covered 500m of the track. A new name on the winner's list was Donna Williams who spoke to British Cycling afterwards:
Q - With only four weeks on the bike and already a National Champion how do you feel?
DW: "Amazing, absolutely amazing. I was just aiming for sub 40 today I wasn’t expecting a medal so WOW!"
Q - Where do you go from here with the cycling?
DW: "To be honest its all new to me so I don’t know! Its all in the hands of Dave".
Q: Do you feel you’d like to specialise in the sprint events in the future?
DW: "Definitely, I am small built which is better for sprinting than endurance racing. I don’t know as I say its all so new too me and I don’t know what other events are out there for me."
Q - I believe you are a stunt double and have appeared in Bond films and also as one of the gladiators, so how does this experience compare with that?
DW: "Yes, I am a professional stunt woman. This is completely different as there aren't any cameras and you’re not making a program so its different but very similar at the same time. You still have to deal with nerves and pressure but this is very enjoyable."
Q - Would you like to try the Elite Nationals and ride against the likes of Vicky Pendleton?
DW: "I would love to but again I don't know all the different levels and the different competitions and things like that. I don't know what’s out there too know what to move onto now but in life I always aim high or try to better myself. I’m quite competitive within myself."
Q - Have you spoken with your coach Dave Le Grys?
DW: "I have already said a big thank you to Dave. Considering I have only known him a month, he’s put in a lot of time for me for my training program and everything. He’s been there if I have needed a bit of mental preparation or anything he’s been fantastic."
Q - Do you think cycling will help your professional stunt work.
DW: "Unfortunately Gladiators is finished now but yes I think it will help definitely further raise my profile in my stunt work."
Marianne Britten, Donna Williams and Louise Haston on the podium in Newport.
The results were as follows:
Female 50+ Final
1. Christine HIGGS Macclesfield Wheelers CC 43.936
2. Susan SMITH Stafford Road Club 45.231
3. Jenni NICHOLSON Deeside Thistle CC 45.313
4. Isobel FLETCHER Glasgow Wheelers 45.438
5. Louise SCHULLER Finsbury Park CC 46.495
6. Louise BURMAN a3crg 47.629
Women 45-49 Final
1. Debbie CAPEWELL Brooks Cycles 41.118
2. Jayne PAINE Willesden CC 41.311
3. Elizabeth CLAYTON CC Giro 43.185
4. Ann ROBINSON Brereton Wheelers 46.799
Female 35-44 Time Trial Final
1. Alison CHISHOLM Edinburgh RC 37.463
2. Janet BIRKMYRE Orbea - For Goodness Shakes 37.626
3. Siobhan MULLAN AKO Ducati Corse WCT 40.207
4. Jeanette BAXTER Yasumitsu Schlapp 41.015
5. Alison HOLMES Lichfield City CC 42.375
6. Fiona WALKER Walkers CC 48.886
Slideshow: Time Trials
Female 30-34 Time Trial Final
1. Donna WILLIAMS West Suffolk Wheelers 39.592
2. Marianne BRITTEN Max Gear RT 40.013
3. Louise HASTON City of Edinburgh RC 40.279
4. Louise SATHERLEY Yasumitsu Schlapp 40.649
5. Julie DOMINGUEZ West Lothian Clarion 41.705
Men's Time Trials
Next were the Men which commenced with the more senior categories over 2 laps (500m) and 3 laps (750m) for those aged between 45-49 & 40-44. The 35-39 & 30-34 age groups covered 4 laps (1000m) of the track in keeping with the traditional distance of the event.
Once the serious business is dealt with, the laughter carries on at the Masters championships. Geoff Cooke has his eyes covered for the camera by Dave Rowe as Lance Ravenhill keeps the pose for the photographer.
One of the winners was Geoff Cook who was happy to talk about racing at the Masters for another year:
Q - Two wins in Two days how do you feel?
GC: "I am always delighted just to be here and to be still doing it now. I have a lot of school friends that aren’t here with us anymore. My only worry is under 12 seconds for 200m so to come away with two Gold medals is just fantastic."
Q - Do these two victories feel better than in those in previous years?
GC: "Well I know that when I get on the track to do a ride that I want it more than anyone else wants it, and this is my 38th National Championship that I’ve won and each one means so much too me. To win today meant so much too me, you always hope to go faster than you go but you know that I am just about where I am for my age."
Q – Are you ever worried about others who may push you when you go up in the categories?
GC: "There always is that fear and people always ask how do you manage to go that fast and I always reply that’s how fast you have to go to win and then people say that I am lucky because of this and that and the other, but I say hang on a minute. I put an awful lot into this, you ought to come with me on the lanes and see the work I do to attain the standard I do at my age. So all of these things put together, I always give it my best shot and if someone comes up that is better, then OK that’s the way it is but they will have to go some to do it."
Q - Do you have any thoughts on the up and coming riders such as James Taylor
GC: "James was always such a class act and too see him riding something like this is terrific. We get a lot of the big stars such as Sean Yates that drop in and one or two maybe and then they disappear. I hope that James sees it through too my age and is still enjoying it like I am."
The results were as follows:
Male 70+ 500m
1. Roland CRAYFORD San Fairy Ann CC 40.633
2. Derek THURRELL Teeside Clarion 42.984
3. Alan WHITWORTH Altringham Ravens 44.358
4. Victor POSSEE Ayr Roads 44.803
5. John WYNNE Lancashire Road Club 45.231
6. Gordon BUTLER M & D Cycles 45.53
7. Gordon JOHNSTON Classic Walls RT 45.603
8. Brian DACEY DeLaune CC 46.104 39.042
Male 65-69 500m
1. Geoff COOKE Sherwood Pines Cycles 37.780
2. Dave ROWE 34th Nomads 39.291
3. Lance RAVENHILL Team Coventry Cycle Centre 40.197
4. John MASON Ayr Roads CC 42.873
5. Richard LACY Bedfordshire RCC 43.133
6. Russ SNOWDON Gosforth Road Club 46.045
Male 60-64 500m
1. Sandy WALLACE Sandy Wallace Cycles 39.467
2. Geoff BRANDT Birkenhead North End CC 39.53
3. Ian BELL PCA Ciclos Uno 39.974
4. Michael ALLEN Belper BC 40.091
5. Graham TRUELOVE Lichfield City CC 42.101
6. Doug CONROY Redmon CC 47.69
7. George GRANT Forres CC 48.292
Male 55-59 500m
1. David Le GRYS Team Terminator 34.561
2. David SMITH Stafford Road Club 36.442
3. Ian HUMPHREYS Deeside Thistle CC 37.597
4. Andy LAING Musselburgh Roads CC 38.205
5. James RUTHERFORD Teamscienceinsport.com 38.312
6. Steve DAVIES Ferryhill Wheelers CC 38.711
7. Barrie BAILEY VC St Raphael 39.541
8. Christopher LODGE Finsbury Park CC 41.406
9. Martin BUSH Bush Healthcare CRT 41.441
10. Don O'CONNOR Brereton Wheelers CC 42.114
11. Gordon LAWRIE Clachnacuddin CC 43.561
Jimmy Rutherford during his Time Trial
Male 50-54 500m
1. Ivor REID Clachnacuddin CC 35.473
2. Steve CRONSHAW Bereton Wheelers 35.706
3. Mark ZASCHKE City Cycle Centre.com 36.957
4. Keith WILLIAMS Port Talbot Wheelers 37.088
5. Eddy SOBIERALSKI Sports-coaching.com 37.453
6. Brian FUDGE i-team CC 37.582
7. Steve PULFORD Sherwood Pines Cycles 37.685
8. Graham BARCLAY Team Leslie Bike Shop 37.990
9. Chris VASEY Gloucester City CC 39.266
10. Mick DAVIES Lichfield City CC 39.327
11. Phil HARRISON Time RT 39.892
12. Nick SMITH Nova CC 40.119
13. Mike BRAMPTON TM Racing 40.283
14. John HORTON BC PM 42.212
15. Mick LENEHAN Police Sport UK 45.180
Male 45-49 750m
1. John SAYSELL North Road CC 52.381
2. Tim LAWSON Scienceinsport.com 52.545
3. Peter ETTLES Sandy Wallace Cycles 53.181
4. Martin STEPHENS VC Rutland 53.383
5. Trevor BURKE Finchley RT 53.445
6. Stephen CLAYTON Planet X 53.856
7. David BAKER Police Sport UK 54.553
8. Adrian DENT Richmond CC 54.575
9. Alastair TAYLOR Musselburgh RCC 54.579
10. Simon BAYNES Giant CC 54.720
11. Ian GREENSTREET Newbury Road Club 54.906
12. Donal LINEHAN Newbury Road Club 55.721
13. Graeme WATERS Retford and District Whlrs 55.886
14. Steve HAYWOOD Welwyn Wheelers 55.909
15. Adrian WARD Shaftesbury CC 56.403
16. James CARPENTER Citycyclecentre.com 56.519
17. Nigel BURROWS Archer RC 58.228
18. Kevin TYE Datateam Allstars DNF
Male 40-44 750m
1. John McCLELLAND Agiskoviner.com 52.317
2. Steven ROE Team Swift 53.446
3. Phil HOULTON NCRC2001 53.633
4. Darren KENNY Dave Mellor Cycles 53.892
5. Richard NORRIS Velo Schils - Interbike RT 53.929
6. Andrew ELDERFIELD VC Revolution 54.546
7. Tony BROOKS Brooks Cycles 54.679
8. Stephen CWIKLINSKI Yasumitsu Schlapp 54.952
9. Elliot DAVIS GB Fire Service Cycling Team 54.987
10. Simon BELDON Police Sport UK CRT 55.495
11. Gerry BOWDITCH CC Abergavenny 56.048
12. Paul ASKEY Lichfield City CC 56.181
13. Stephen ASLIN BC PM 56.493
14. Paul GITTINS Ferryhill Wheelers CC 56.648
15. Alan DAVIES Police Sport UK CRT 56.964
Male 35-39 1000m
1. Ben ELLIOT VC St Raphael 1.07.269
2. Ieuan WILLIAMS CC Cardiff 1.08.319
3. Adam ROBERTS Planet X 1.10.356
4. Tom BOULTON Finsbury Park CC 1.13.040
5. Simon PARKIN Heanor Clarion 1.15.121
6. Paul DAVIDOFF Team Terminator 1.18.771
7. David McELHANNAN CS Grupetto 1.19.411
Male 30-34 1000m
1. Miles STOVOLD Team Terminator 1.07.248
2. James TAYLOR Felt-Colbornes RT 1.08.588
3. Jonathan COPP Sandy Wallace CC 1.12.018
4. Michael WESTWELL RAF CC 1.13.128
5. Anthony BRISTOW San Fairy Ann CC 1.16.758
A well known face in the track centre was Dave Le Grys who again took home a Gold medal to add to the many in the collection. Talking afterwards in an interview, he had this to say:
Q - With two National Championships wins this weekend are these a good platform for the upcoming Europeans?
DL: - "Very much so, because its a good marker. I have a number on my back and I put myself under pressure to see how well I’m going now and for the next three weeks in final preparation."
Q - Do you feel that these wins are anymore important championships than those you’ve won in previous years.
DL: "I look back over the years to when I was a young rider and I still treat them with the same importance even though the Masters are different. Even the earlier medal ceremony where I put the medals on the riders, so the Masters are still very serious but at the same time its good fun."
Q - What about the up and coming riders.
DL: "Its good see James Taylor coming back into the sport. He’s got class. Whats not so good is that there's not many of the 30 year olds. I know that there's plenty out there so it's a pity that there's not more here. I think they should be supporting the Masters. It may not be important too them but they will get old too and when they get into their 40’s, they’ll start to want to ride again so they should support the Masters now".
Scratch Races
After the Time Trails there was a short break where the riders prepared for the afternoon’s Scratch Races. These began with the multi category Women’s Event in which 18 riders took to the track for the 10km (40 laps).
Janet Birkmyre (Orbea – For Goodness Shakes) was clearly going to control the race as she chased down each attack for the first half of the event. The pace then settled down to a steady tempo and with 14 laps on the board, seven riders managed to break away.
Janet Birkmyre gets into position ready for the win in her championship.
Birkmyre immediately hit the front of the bunch but no one else would assist. Birkmyre then bridged the gap with Christine Higgs (Macclesfield Whlr CC). The chasing failed to increase the pace so the nine rider group then stayed away to the finish where Birkmyre outsprinted her rivals to take the win. The overall result was as follows:
1st Janet BIRKMYRE Orbea - For Goodness Shakes Gold 40-44
2nd Siobhan MULLAN AKO Ducati Corse WCT Gold 35-39
3rd Marianne BRITTEN Max Gear RT Gold 30-34
4th Fiona DUNCAN Police Sport UK Silver 30-34
5th Claire NEWLAND Welwyn Wheelers CC Gold 45-49
6th Jayne PAINE Willesden CC Silver 45-49
7th Ruth MIDDLETON PCA Ciclos Uno Silver 35-39
8th Louise SATHERLEY Yasumitsu Schlapp
9th Christine HIGGS Macclesfield Wheelers CC Gold 50+
10th Alison CHISHOLM Edinburgh RC
11th Debbie CAPEWELL Brooks Cycles
12th Jeanette BAXTER Yasumitsu Schlapp SIlver 40-44
13th Louise HASTON City of Edinburgh RC
14th Alison LILLEY Kings Cliffe Flyers
15th Fiona WALKER Walkers CC
16th Louise SCHULLER Finsbury Park CC Silver 50+
Race time 14 mins 18 secs
Category Results
30-34
1. Marianne BRITTEN Max Gear RT Gold
2. Fiona DUNCAN Police Sport UK Silver
3. Louise SATHERLEY Yasumitsu Schlapp
4. Louise HASTON City of Edinburgh RC
35-39
1. Siobhan MULLAN AKO Ducati Corse WCT Gold
2. Ruth MIDDLETON PCA Ciclos Uno Silver
3. Alison CHISHOLM Edinburgh RC
4. Fiona WALKER Walkers CC
40-44
1. Janet BIRKMYRE Orbea - For Goodness Shakes Gold
2. Jeanette BAXTER Yasumitsu Schlapp SIlver
3. Alison LILLEY Kings Cliffe Flyers
4. Cheryl OWENS GS Metro DNF
45-49
1. Claire NEWLAND Welwyn Wheelers CC Gold
2. Jayne PAINE Willesden CC Silver
3. Debbie CAPEWELL Brooks Cycles
50+
1. Christine HIGGS Macclesfield Wheelers CC Gold
2. Louise SCHULLER Finsbury Park CC Silver
3. Susan SMITH Stafford Road Club DNF
Men’s 70+, 65-69 & 60-64
Next on the track were the Men’s 70+, 65-69 & 60-64 event over 10km in which 20 riders started. The initial pace setter was Thomas Demery (Bush Healthcare CRT) which split the field into two groups.
With 10 riders away, the pace settled at which point two riders broke clear to lap the field. The rest of the break also soon lapped the remaining tail group. Six riders then broke away but to no avail. With 13 laps, on the board, three riders managed to get clear, these were Demery (Bush Healthcare CRT) along with Graham Truelove (Lichfield CCC) & Lance Ravenhill (Team Coventry Cycle Centre).
You are never to old to feel the need for speed and a victory over a long standing rival.
With 5 laps to go, they were half a lap clear of the rest of the race. With three laps on the board, the break had almost lapped the whole field and eased off to ensure other riders didn’t affect their sprint. Over the last lap, the three sprinted it out where the early pace setter Demery (Bush Healthcare CRT) went clear by 3 bike lengths to take the race win. The race results were as follows:
1st Thomas DEMERY Bush Healthcare CRT Gold 60-64
2ndGraham TRUELOVE Lichfield City CC Silver 60-64
3rdLance RAVENHILL Team Coventry Cycle Centre Gold 65-69
4th Sandy WALLACE Sandy Wallace Cycles Bronze 60-64
5th Geoff COOKE Sherwood Pines Cycles Silver 65-69
6th Dave ROWE 34 Nomads Bronze 65-69
7th Derrick WOODINGS Endura Gold 70+
8th William COTTON Belper BC
9th Dave GRETTON VC Nottingham at 1 lap
10th Geoff BRANDT Birkenhead North End CC at 1 lap
11th Gordon BUTLER M & D Cycles at 2 laps SIlver 70+
12th David SANKEY Bush Health Care at 2 laps Bronze 70+
13th Doug CONROY Redmon CC at 2 laps
14th John WYNNE Lancashire Road Club at 2 laps
15th Russ SNOWDON Gosforth Road Club at 3 laps
16th Derek THURRELL Teeside Clarion at 3 laps
17th Alan WHITWORTH Altringham Ravens at 4 laps
Race time 14 mins 22 secs
Category Results
60-64 (G)
1. Thomas DEMERY Bush Healthcare CRT Gold
2. Graham TRUELOVE Lichfield City CC Silver
3. Sandy WALLACE Sandy Wallace Cycles Bronze
4. Geoff BRANDT Birkenhead North End CC
5. Doug CONROY Redmon CC
65-69 (H)
1 Lance RAVENHILL Team Coventry Cycle Centre Gold
2. Geoff COOKE Sherwood Pines Cycles Silver
3. Dave ROWE 34 Nomads Bronze
4. William COTTON Belper BC
5. Dave GRETTON VC Nottingham
6. Russ SNOWDON Gosforth Road Club
70 plus (I)
1. Derrick WOODINGS Endura Gold
2. Gordon BUTLER M & D Cycles SIlver
3. David SANKEY Bush Health Care Bronze
4. John WYNNE Lancashire Road Club
5. Derek THURRELL Teeside Clarion
6. Alan WHITWORTH Altringham Ravens
Men 55-59 & 50-54 categories
The combined 55-59 & 50-54 categories were next on the track. The race started with 25 riders in a race over 40 laps (10km). The first break of the race was at 35 laps to go where Chris David (Halesowen A&CC) took a quarter lap lead but was reeled back after 4 laps.
At 29 laps to go, David Park (Scunthorpe Poly CC) broke away and had gained a half lap advantage very quickly. Two riders started to chase down the gap with 21 laps to go but Park managed to bridge the gap to lap the field with 20 to go.
Only one rider of the two riders who attacked earlier managed to gain a lap as well and that was Mick Davies (Lichfield CCC) With 6 on the board, the pace was kept high as the bunch was stretched out over a quarter of the track. This pace was obviously not high enough for Steve Pulford (Sherwood Pines Cycles) who leapt out of the bunch with one lap to go and his pace carried him to win the bunch gallop. The full result was as follows:
1. James RUTHERFORD Teamscienceinsport.com Gold 55-59
2. David PARK Scunthorpe Poly CC Gold 50-54
3. Mick DAVIES Lichfield City CC Silver 50-54
4. Steve PULFORD Sherwood Pines Cycles @ 1 lap Bronze 50-54
5. Ivor REID Clachnacuddin CC
6. Christopher DAVIS Halesowen A&CC Silver 55-59
7. Nick YARWORTH VC St Raphael
8. Steve CRONSHAW Bereton Wheelers
9. Mark ZASCHKE City Cycle Centre.com
10. Keith WILLIAMS Port Talbot Wheelers
11. Andy LAING Musselburgh Roads CC Bronze 55-59
12. Steve DAVIES Ferryhill Wheelers CC
13. Nick SMITH Nova CC
14. Graham BARCLAY Team Leslie Bike Shop
15. David SMITH Stafford Road Club
16. Jonathan PULLEN Penzance Wheelers
17. Keith MOORE City Cycle Centre
18. Don O'CONNOR Brereton Wheelers CC
19. Martin BUSH Bush Healthcare CRT
20. Jeff BAIRD GS Metro
21. Paul LILLEY Fenland Clarion
22. Christopher LODGE Finsbury Park CC @ 2 laps
Race time 13 mins 02 secs
Category Results
50-54 (E)
1. David PARK Scunthorpe Poly CC Gold
2. Mick DAVIES Lichfield City CC Silver
3. Steve PULFORD Sherwood Pines Cycles @ 1 lap Bronze
4. Ivor REID Clachnacuddin CC
5. Nick YARWORTH VC St Raphael
6. Steve CRONSHAW Bereton Wheelers
7. Mark ZASCHKE City Cycle Centre.com
8. Keith WILLIAMS Port Talbot Wheelers
9. Nick SMITH Nova CC
10. Graham BARCLAY Team Leslie Bike Shop
11. Jonathan PULLEN Penzance Wheelers
12. Jeff BAIRD GS Metro
13. Paul LILLEY Fenland Clarion
55-59 (F)
1. James RUTHERFORD Teamscienceinsport.com Gold
2. Christopher DAVIS Halesowen A&CC Silver
3. Andy LAING Musselburgh Roads CC Bronze
4. Steve DAVIES Ferryhill Wheelers CC
5. David SMITH Stafford Road Club
6. Keith MOORE City Cycle Centre
7. Don O'CONNOR Brereton Wheelers CC
8. Martin BUSH Bush Healthcare CRT
9. Christopher LODGE Finsbury Park CC @ 2 laps
Men 45-49 age group
The 45-49 age group were next on the track in an event that covered 60 laps (15km) of the track in which 23 riders started. From the gun, the pace was set alight by David Baker (Police Sport UK). At 44 laps and after numerous small breakaways, the bunch came back together.
The high pace was continued by a couple of breakaways, the most notable was by two riders at 37 laps to go. They worked well together but when the bunch started to bridge the gap, they called it a day on that break. With 31 to go, three more riders took turns to open up a quarter of a lap lead. They were soon joined by five more riders at 25 to go, however the break didn’t last much longer and the bunch soon caught them.
A tight finish indeed for Courtney Rowe and his rivals.
With 18 to go, the pace slowed significantly and the riders bunched high on the track. The bunch then dropped to the bottom of the track as two riders broke clear and the pace was once again lifted as a rider leapt out of the bunch to catch the break.
With 10 laps to go, the gap was once again closed and the pace dropped once more. Baker (Police Sport UK) launch a counter attack which looked to be the winning move as he gained valuable ground ahead of the bunch. With 2 laps to go, Trevor Burke (Finchley RT) leapt out of the bunch and lifted the pace dramatically to close the gap with little over one lap to go. But this was not the winning move as the bunch were now hot on the heels of Burke (Finchley RT) and the race win was taken from him by Courtney Rowe (Cardiff Jif) on the finish line.
The full result was as follows:
1st Courtney ROWE Cardiff Jif
2nd Adrian WARD Shaftesbury CC
3rd Trevor BURKE Finchley RT
4th Stephen CLAYTON Planet X
5th Peter ETTLES Sandy Wallace Cycles
6th Simon BAYNES Giant CC
7th Robert COX Cambridge CC
8th Andrew JACKSON Go Sports Spex RT
9th Ian GREENSTREET Newbury Road Club
10th Steve HAYWOOD Welwyn Whlrs
11th Adrian ADGAR Dinnington RC
12th Dave ORRELL Yasumitsu Schlapp
13th William FOTHERINGHAM Halesowen C & AC
14th John SAYSELL North Road CC
15th David MILLS Anders Electronics
16th Peter GEORGI Epic Cycles Racing Club
17th Johannes ROUX Giant CC
18th David BAKER Police Sport UK
19th Donal LINEHAN Newbury Road Club
20th Blair BUSS Pedalsport CC
21st Iain YOUNG Scunthorpe Poly CC
Race time 19mins 53 secs
Men 40-44 age group
Next to take to the track were the riders in the 40-44 age group with 17 starters. The race was over a reduced distance of 60 laps (15km) due to the low number of starters. The pace settled immediately from the gun but this slow pace was not for some of the riders who broke clear with 56 on the board.
The pace lifted significantly and the race was back altogether with 50 laps to go. With 46 laps to go, Andrew James (VC St Raphael) launched a fierce attack which would see him within a quarter of a lap off the back of the bunch. The danger of being lapped lifted the pace in the bunch which stopped any further advance of the loan attack by James who then gave up and was reeled back into the bunch with 40 on the board.
With 35 on the board, Gerry Bowditch (CC Abergavenny) launched a loan attack which lasted for seven laps before the bunch lifted their pace to bring him to heel. Bowditch was caught with 22 laps to go but the number of riders on the track had now dwindled to only 13. The main pace setters being Chris Bush (VC St Raphael), Oliver Davies (Dinnington RC) and Bryan Taylor (VC Londres) who broke clear of everyone.
With three laps remaining, only eight riders remained on the track but the three were still out front and were not going to be caught. At the bell, Taylor drew along side of Davies and simply rode away from his rivals to take the win very convincingly.
Bryan Taylor comes round the long way on his way to victory.
The full result was as follows:
1st Bryan TAYLOR VC Londres
2nd Chris BUSH VC St Raphael
3rd Oliver DAVIES Dinnington RC
4th John McCLELLAND Agiskoviner.com
5th Elliot DAVIS GB Fire Service Cycling Team
6th Ian COOPER Planet X
7th David KIRBY Coventry Cycle Centre
8th Philip HETZEL Ipswich BC
Race time 19 mins 30 secs
Men 35-39 & 30-34 age groups
The final event of the day was the combined Scratch race for 35-39 & 30-34 age groups. 21 riders took part with a reduced distance of 60 laps (15km) With 15 laps covered, Jonathan Copp (Sandy Wallace CC) & John Hollier (Southfork Racing) broke clear to lift the tempo of the race for five laps.
They were caught but the race speed didn’t drop until 33 laps to go. With 30 laps on the board, the pace was again lifted because of a three man attack which was reeled in quickly. Another group of three riders tried to break clear with 26 laps to go, these being Jonathan Copp (Sandy Wallace CC), Michael Westwell (RAF CC) and Graham Lackford ( Team Tor 2000).
They were caught by Hollier with 22 laps to go. The additional rider lifted the pace of the break and the back of the bunch was soon in sight. With 11 laps to go the bunch were spread across the track when they were officially caught by the four riders. With 5 laps to go James Notley (Team Goldtec), James Taylor (Felt-Colbornes RT) and Richard Prince (Planet X) also lapped the field.
With those who lapped the field on their last legs, it would be down to a photo finish to establish the final result, however first over the line in an exciting sprint finish was Jonathan Copp (Sandy Wallace CC).Third in the race and second in his category was James Taylor.The multi-champion from many a senior event on road and track had this to say in an interview afterwards.
Riders on the podium getting to cheezy for the camera! L-R: James Taylor, Jonathan Copp and Michael Westwell.
Q - How are you feeling after completing in your first National Masters championships.
JT: "I'm feeling quite tired actually. It was a lot harder than I thought. I have been out for three years and I had forgotten how hard it was. It's really good though. It's a different atmosphere than what I am used to. It's definitely been fun, less pressure but its nice too see the old guard again. It was like warming up at the 1994 Junior nationals again, Rich Prince and James Notely, its been really good."
Q - Are you finding it a completely different type of racing?
JT: "The Scratch race was hard. I think everyone is still trying to use the same type of tactics that they have been used to doing but I don’t think they were all fit enough to carry them out. I think the style of racing is quite similar but because we're all a bit older, a bit slower and wiser, it doesn’t quite pan out properly. I am loving every second being back on the bike."
"I had issues that’s why I packed up, but time has passed on and it's all good. It's a really interesting experience and it was hard to start with. My first race back was this March. I raced round Thruxton in the rain and the cold and finished and everyone said I looked good but it didn’t feel like it. But I’m here now."
Q - What are you’re future plans - Euros or Worlds
JT: "I won’t be at the Euros this year as I am still an A lister. I said I would do this for a bit of fun. Maybe the Euros next year and the Worlds the following year. Family life won’t let me do both in one year."
The official result was as follows:
1st Jonathan COPP Sandy Wallace CC Gold 30-34
2nd Graham LACKFORD Team Tor 2000 Gold 35-39
3rd James TAYLOR Felt-Colbornes RT Silver 30-34
4th Richard PRINCE Planet X Silver 35-39
5th John HOLLIER Southfork Racin Bronze 35-39
6th Michael WESTWELL RAF CC Bronze 30-34
7th James NOTLEY Team Goldtec
8th Simon PARKIN Heanor Clarion @ 1 lap
9th Robert BISHOP MJS Racing @ 1 lap
10th Jason STREATHER VC St Raphael @ 1 lap
11th Rob MOULD Cwmcarn Paragon RC @ 1 lap
12th Simon CROUCH Planet X @ 1 lap
13th Martyn HARRIS Banjocycles.com @ 1 lap
14th Neil WITHINGTON VC St Raphael @ 1 lap
15th Adam ROBERTS Planet X @ 1 lap
16th Jamie STREATHER VC St Raphael @ 1 lap
17th Martin DAINTY Barnsley Road Club @ 2 laps
Race time 18mins 45 secs
Category Results
Category 30-34 (A)
1 Jonathan COPP Sandy Wallace CC Gold
2. James TAYLOR Felt-Colbornes RT Silver
3. Michael WESTWELL RAF CC Bronze
4. James NOTLEY Team Goldtec
5. Robert BISHOP MJS Racing @ 1 lap
6. Rob MOULD Cwmcarn Paragon RC@ 1 lap
7. Neil WITHINGTON VC St Raphael @ 1 lap
8. Jamie STREATHER VC St Raphael @ 1 lap
Category 35-39 (B)
1. Graham LACKFORD Team Tor 2000 Gold
2 . Richard PRINCE Planet X Silver
3. John HOLLIER Southfork Racin Bronze
4. Simon PARKIN Heanor Clarion @ 1 lap
5. Jason STREATHER VC St Raphael @ 1 lap
6. Simon CROUCH Planet X @ 1 lap
7. Martyn HARRIS Banjocycles.com @ 1 lap
8. Adam ROBERTS Planet X @ 1 lap
9. Martin DAINTY Barnsley Road Club @ 2 laps
