Ottershaw Series - Round 1 - Sunday 19th Oct 2008 - 63 Miles
Pete Wager reports ...
It was a typical October morning for the first round of the Ottershaw series with grey and overcast conditions and the threat of rain. Approx 50 riders lined up for 7 laps of the rolling Lyne circuit followed by 6 laps of the smaller Kitsmead finishing circuit. There were 4 VC Meudons lining up, myself, Dave Larcombe, Duncan Hards and Mike Knight. It was going to be a tough race with some strong Elite riders including Martin Smith, Lewis Atkins, Simon Brooks and the strong testers Steve Golla and Paul Holdsworth.
Out of the neutralized zone and the attacks started - with most people chasing points, me being one of them, everything was covered. Martin 'the machine' Smith was constantly on the attack be it alone or in a group. I managed to get away with 3 others for just short of a lap but we were closed down. As soon as we were caught Martin Smith attacked over the climb of Knowle Hill taking with him all the riders I was trying to mark. Duncan and Dave appeared to make the cut so I sat in letting everyone else do some chasing. Within half a lap it was all back together and we headed onto the finishing circuit. Dave had a few good digs off the front with Martin Smith and Steve Golla both of which had potential to stay away but each time the gap was closed out. 2 laps to go and Dave offered to help me in the final lap but had to eat a banana first....not sure where he was keeping it but it was causing some discomfort.
Final lap and the bunch sprint was on....not ideal for me but I had points to get and it had to be 8th place or better to get the 1st Cat. 1km to go and I'm perfectly placed beside Martin Smith and behind Lewis Atkins. Coming to the 90 degree left turn into Kitsmead lane and Steve Golla gives it the large one down the outside and skips through the bend with the rest of us chasing hard. Martin Smith did most of the work but soon realised he had a long line of riders behind him - Steve Golla didn't look round and kept on it. Into the last 200m and I could sense the line was re grouping so the sprint was opened up - locked onto Martin Smith's wheel I gave it everything.....Steve held on for a well deserved win, Lewis Atkins almost catching him on the line. I managed to swing passed the National Masters champ and get a good 5th place, 14 points and 1st CAT secured.
Next race will be the final round to help Mr Larcombe.....
Pete gets the points?
Wilson Series Winner
Craig Wilson completed his season long campaign to win the LVRC Tricot Jersey Series on Sunday in the final race on the Walliswood circuit - here's Craig's race report ....
The Ciclisti Vecchi (CV) team lined up for the 50 mile race at Walliswood. The 8th and final race in the South East Veterans Race series had double points on offer so the pressure was on to protect individual positions in the overall.
Prior to the race the overall had Gianluca in 3rd in the As (youngsters) and Craig Wilson and Keith Jarrett 1st and 3rd overall respectively in the Bs (less young but not really old!).
The race saw frantic activity from the start with the CV team managing to infiltrate any breaks. With non working CV passengers in most moves the breaks failed. Any dangerous move without a CV in it was promptly pulled back by the blue and green train of Tim Costello, Rob Cranstone and Colin Addison whilst Jarrett tried to wear the main B threat, 2nd placed Martin O’Grady, down by jumping away and forcing him to chase.
With 2 laps to go Colin McDermott jumped away with another strong rider. No threat to the CVs they let the break go without realising that McDermott threatened Gianluca’s third overall! Gianluca led the chase but paid for the effort on the drag to the finish.
With 2 still away the CV lead out team wound up the pace knowing that Wilson still had to beat O’Grady to win the series. Into the final 1km and Addison, Cranstone and Costello were on the front of the bunch. With 400m to go Jarrett, not worried about protecting his own overall position, jumped with the honourable aim of leading out Wilson. Into the last 200m and Wilson came from behind the 11 sprocket whirring Jarrett to take the bunch sprint from overall winner of the A series Andrew Meilak.
3rd in the race and 2nd B was enough for Wilson to take the overall with the rest of the CVs and Gianluca finishing close behind in the bunch.
The final placings in the overall are still being calculated but a big thank you to all the CVs who raced, supported and encouraged the team throughout the series. A great team effort and fun to be part of with team tactics and selfless riding to be proud of!
Autumn Clubruns
The Sunday clubruns have now started. 9.00 sharp from the shop, 50-60 miles, averaging 18/19 mph. Speak to Craig if you want to know more.
Bernie shows Boys the way
In one of her rare road race appearances Bernie Hards showed what aggressive racing can achieve in the Surrey league races at Chertsey on saturday. Going from the gun, Bernie found herself in a race-long two-up with Beijing Olympic bronze medalist rower Elise Laverick. The two shared the workload and built a sizable gap on the rest of the field. Dunc was on hand giving advice from the roadside, not that Bernie needed any.
Into the final stages and the strength of the full-time Olympic athlete proved too much and Laverick dropped Bernie, and went on to lap the field. Bernie maintained her 2nd place to the line finishing over 4 minutes ahead of the next rider. And that's without any road training, unless you count the 150 hours per week spinning she does..
Brilliant ride Bernie!
In the mens races we had loads of representatives in all the events but could do no better than Roger Morgan's 11th in the E12 race.
