Cycle Kingdom Classic Photos

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Cycle Kingdom Classic RR - RESULT

1 - Chris McNamara - Wildside RT E - 2hrs 54min
2 - John Veness - ES Torigni 2
3 - Wouter Sybrandy - Sigma Sport/Specialized E
4 - Ross Adams - Red Kite Cycles/Torq 1
5 - Andy Betts - Twickenham CC 1
6 - Jaco Ehlers - Wildside RT 2
7 - Stephen Richards - VC Meudon 2
8 - Robert Willcocks - Ajchva Limoux 1
9 - James Smith - Team Certini 1
10 - Tim Elverson - Felt Racing E
11 - John Wager - Felt Racing E
12 - Warrick Spence - Cyclefit-Serotta E
13 - Danny Axford - Artic-Premier RT 1
14 - Rob Hurd - PM 1
15 - Steve Gowar - Sigma Sport/Specialized 1V
16 - Jason Edwards - Wildside RT 1
17 - Anders Christensen - Cycle Kingdom RT 1
18 - Justin Hoy - Felt Racing E
19 - Ben Luckwell - Sport Beans EV
20 - Wayne Coombs - VC Montpellier 1
21 - Darren Barclay - Artic-Premier RT 2
22 - Pete Wager - VC Meudon 2
23 - Simon McNamara - Wildside RT 1
24 - Michael Cripps - Army CU 3
25 - Mark Sussex - Wildside RT 2
26 - Chris Birch - East Street Cycles.com 2
27 - Simon Warren - Norwood Paragon CC 1
28 - John Glaysher - www.agiskoviner.com 2
29 - Sam Allen - I-Team 2J

DNF - Gary Dodd - Sigma Sport/Specialized 1
DNF - Warren Jesse - VC Meudon 1
DNF - Dave Larcombe - VC Meudon 2
DNF - Paul Mace - High Wycombe CC 2
DNF - John Nye - ES Torigni 1
DNF - Dean Robson - Ajchva Limoux 1
DNF - Pete Smith - Team MK 1

DNS - Roger Smith - VC Etoile 2
DNS - Phillip Borrett - Bikinmotion CC 1

King of the Mountains
1 - Chris McNamara
2= - Wouter Sybrandy
2= - John Venness

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RACE REPORT

Chris McNamara (Wildside RT) proved a strong and worthy winner of the Cycle Kingdom Classic Road Race held on Sunday 29th June over a combination of challenging circuits based around Milland in Hampshire.

The racing started early as a small group of 4 riders ( John Wager, Jaco Ehlers, James Smith, Rob Willcocks ) attacked within the first mile. They were to form the basis of a larger breakaway which established itself on the opening circuit and by the time the race had moved on the 2nd circuit that contained the 25% Milland Prime Hill the lead group had already gained around 2 minutes on the peleton (Chris McNamara, Wouter Sybrandy, John Venness, Jaco Ehlers, Rob Willcocks, Jason Edwards, Tim Elverson, John Wager, James Smith, Stephen Richards, Ross Adams, Andy Betts).

The break grew their lead to a maximum of 4 minutes at one point, until a chase group of 7 finally formed behind and set off in pursuit (Warren Jesse, Steve Gower, Anders Christensen, Justin Hoy, Warrick Spence, Rob Hurd and Danny Axford). But ahead it was McNamara who looked the strongest on every hill, taking maximum KOM points at almost every opportunity.

Onto the finishing curcuit and the leaders split with McNamara dragging both Sybrandy and Veness off the front. At the same time the chasers also accelerated with Axford, Spence and Hurd gaining on every lap. At the bell McNamara again had his companians in trouble on the steeper sections of the climb, while Ross Adams had pulled clear of the remains of the break and was heading for 4th place.

As the 3 leaders made the final ascent to the finish line Chris McNamara had saved the best until last, distancing both Veness and Sybrandy for a clear and well deserved victory.

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Cycle Kingdom Series - Race 8 Results

3/4
1 Steve Smith Python RT 3 10
2 Justin Radford Python RT 3 9
3 Andrew Dilkes VC Meudon 3 8
4 Nick Beale Didcot Phoenix CC 3 7
5 Gavin Spiers Reading CC 3 6
6 Mark William Python RT 3 5
7 Ben Thomas Mountain Trax 4 4
8 David Wilson Charlotteville CC 3 3
9 David Butcher DNA cycles 4 2
10 Nick Evans Beyond/Specialized 3 1


Overall Classification

E/1/2
1 John Wager Felt Racing 1 15
2 Tim Elverson Felt Racing E 14
3 Lewis Atkins www.agiskovinor.com 2 13
4 Chris Moores Norwood Paragon 1 12
5 Christopher Minter Pedalon.co.uk 2 11
6 Daniel Duguid Sigma Sport/Specialised/Sportfull 1 10
7 Justin Hoy Felt Racing E 9
8 Lee Smith www.agiskovinor.com 1 8
9 Neil Cooper AWCycles 2 7
10 Rob King Reading C C 2 6
11 Alex Peterson AWCycles 1 5
12 Pete Wager VC Meudon 2 4
13 Ken Prince VC Meudon 2 3
14 Adrian Goatley www.agiskovinor.com 2 2
15 Matthew Carden Team Quest 2 1


Overall Classification

View from the back (of the 5 Day)

In a moment of madness a few weeks ago I entered the Surrey League Jaunts 5 Day. I could see one benefit of entering - it got me out of commissairing duties, but as the race approached I knew I was in for a serious kicking! - here's what happened ...

Day 1 - Friday - 7.8m TT
Gathering in a blustery and rainy car park on the top of Withyham we watched batches of twenty somethings fettling their expensive machines in preparation for the downhill start to the TT. Fortunately the rain had eased by the time the VC Meudon squad started at the rear of the field. I was due first off, to be followed @1 minute by Craig Wilson, then Duncan Hards and finally Gibbo. At around 8:30pm in the gathering gloom I was released by Keith Butler into an initial 6 minutes worth of rapid downhillness - it felt like the Cresta run as I forced my hands to stay away from the brakes. After a brief rise and sharp turn at Groombridge came the slog back up to the finish on Ladies Mile. I was expecting Wilson to come charging past any minute, but going into the final mile there was still no sign of him. Then a maroon jersey flashed past - it was Dunc having caught me for 2 minutes! I followed him over the line and looked back to see Craig coasting up behind - something was surely amiss. Gibbo and I duly took up our positions in 58th and 57th position on GC - a pattern was emerging....

Day 2 - Saturday - Big Bletchingly
A warm day to be riding Bletchingly and a massive shock when the lead car forgot what "neutralised" meant - I was in oxygen debt chasing back on before we'd even gone over the Motorway bridge. A breakneck descent preceeded a further shock as we sailed straight past the left turn to Outwood bringing the realisation that we were tackling the larger of the Bletchingly circuits with even more climbs.
Our first downer came on the second time up through the finish line when Craig found himself struggling for power. Grabbing different gears, nothing would help and Craig disappeared! The explanation for his below par TT was apparent - he'd come down with the lergy. I managed to hang on until 15m to go, when I went out of the back on the climb with 2 to go, had a mix up/rant with the DFL following car and chased like mad only to be blocked by the race convoy on the descent - the race disappeared off ahead of me. Dunc and Gibbo rode strongly to finish with the splintering pack up the finish climb.
New yellow jersey Richard Hoult - London Dynamo had gained almost a minute on everyone over the final few miles.
Overall GC now Dunc 27th @2:57 Gibbo 40th @4:57 Me 44th @16:01 Craig - on his sick bed, £75 poorer

Day 3 - Saturday - Ewhurst/Leith Hill
All the talk in the changing room before the start was about the finish up Leith Hill. Gibbo even made me drive him up there beforehand to reccy the 1.5mile leg breaker. I was only concerned about the preceeding 68miles - if I could just hang on until the bottom of the climb I'd be delirious. The race was full-on most of the time, including the strange sight of the Ewhurst villagers watching aghast as the race stormed up the high street with a pair of horses (complete with petrified riders) galloping along in the middle of the peleton. Gibbo complained of being on his last legs; we've all heard that from people who subsequently romp to victory but he was not bluffing and after a couple of all out chases to get back on Gibbo was finally history as the race turned onto the Ockley mile at half distance. He spent the rest of the race at the feed zone chatting up the mums of the junior DFL team - (hope mrs gibbo doesn't read this) Dunc and I stayed with the peleton, led by the Yellow Dynamo and his team, who chased down all attacks, until the foot of Leith Hill. It was here that Dunc and I went in opposite directions; he stormed up the climb to finish 15th, taking some big scalps on the way, while I soldiered up on reserve tanks to lose another 2 minutes.
Overall GC now Dunc 21st @3:13 Me 41st @17:41 Gibbo missing in action

Day 4 - Monday - Warninglid
Another warm sunny day, another manic start. No sooner had the lead car pulled away, heart rates were maxing out ( at least mine was ) - almost an hour went by before I dare take my hands off the bars and grapple for a gel (who designed those bloody pockets?!) The Yellow Dynamo was in action throughout - maybe he thought having the leaders jersey meant he had to stay in the lead all day - he was never off the front. Well, until Dunc eased into a 4 man break that bravely held out for 10 miles, until a mass chase brought them to heel. During the mellay I was despatched out of the back again with 10miles remaining. Gibbo who had been allowed to restart day 4 was riding refreshed and fancied his chances in the sprint finish. However dangerous riding and approaching double decker buses brought him to his senses and he sat out the dash for the line. Dunc had recovered enough to cross the line @8s in 38th
Overall GC now Dunc 25th @3:21 Me 43rd @24:59 Gibbo (back in action) 48th @1:05:18

Day 5 - Tuesday - Lingfield (or not)
An even warmer, sunnier day and race organiser Keith Butler was forced to switch circuits at the last minute due to roadworks. I had been fearing the Lingfield climbs and thought this was a blessing in disguise - Not so, Keith always has another challenge up his sleeve. We were to race straight from the HQ for 9 miles onto the Ladies Mile circuit, then complete 13 laps. This turned out to be a 9 mile hill climb followed by a high speed Crit - just what you need on Day 5. I don't know how I managed to stay in contact on the outleg to the circuit, it was touch and go all the way. Things settled down once on the 4 mile loop, but the up and down nature of the circuit was hurting more each lap and a surge through the finish spat me, and several others, out of the back at half distance. A steady 30mile ride to the finish followed - at last I experienced what normal riding was like again. Back in the race the Yellow Dynamo was letting nothing escape. His team rode a fine race until a Dulwich Paragon, who was @2:43 on GC, slipped the field. At the bell (as he lapped me) he had a minute on the bunch, but more chasing ensued and although the lone rider held on to take the stage, the Dynamestiques had reduced his lead to 11s and the Yellow Dynamo took home the jersey and first prize. Gibbo found his form again, stayed with the race and finished with the pack, while Dunc gave absolutely everything to stay in touch but found his legs wanting near the end and eventually had to let go - a shame after staying with the race for so long. But there was still joy to come as we searched our pockets for loose change - enough to muster up 3 shandies from a nearby pub before the 9 mile jaunt back to the HQ, feeling light headed but glad it was all over. Gibbo has already sent his entry off for next year!
Final GC Dunc 34th @10:09 Me 41st @40:59 Gibbo (still in action) 45th @1:05:18

Eelfold and Moore Hulbert

Dunsfold this week again went according to form with Jamie grabbing 3rd and a hatfull of primes from the break to extend his lead in the series. And again the bunch gallop was won by Ken Prince in 9th. 

On Wednesday in the E12 it was the same two riders plus Steve Richards and Dave Creggan motoring along in the break, aided and abetted by Mark Bremner and eventual winner Tim Elverson. Our man in the break Ken reports:

"The night started off as most normal Wednesday nights with attacks from the off. With only about 10 minutes gone I found myself jumping onto a wheel as another attack tried to go. Mark was also on my wheel and before we knew it we had opened up quite a gap. With Tim pushing us on we all worked hard to keep the gap which in the strong wind was not easy. Mark began suffering but held on as long as he could and kept coming back when I thought he would drop off. As there were 4 Meudons in the 7 away we had excellent support with Jamie, Gianluca, Dave and John holding off the bunch. Anders and Jamie got across later in the race and then we were 8. This came down to a sprint when  unfortunately Dave Creggan crashed on the last corner which held myself and Jamie up. I pulled my foot out and by the time I'd put it back in and looked up the first 4 riders were halfway up the finishing straight!" 

Over in the  3rds an early break went with Keith making sure he was smartly placed. He was later joined by Andy Dilkes who got across with a few laps to go, with both making the top ten at the finish.

Meanwhile over at the Dragon Vets stage race, Martin Hulbert was 2nd overall in the ABC race and 2nd overall in his age group overall. Martin lost 30" in the 3.5 mile prologue but won the 1st stage alone after being in a 3 man break for nearly all the race and followed that up with 2nd in the 2nd road stage from a 4 man break.

Finally sprightly Bob Moore's consistent good form means he has joined an elite group of 50something 2nd cats.