Quick midweek round-up

At Dunsfold the frolics continued last week with plenty of effort and tactical mullarky all round. Fortunately Jamie at least had a good grasp of what what he wanted in his efforts to win the series and could be heard directing affairs in Godalming. This worked out pretty well with different Meudon riders popping up all over the place competing for the primes. The race ended in a bunch gallop with main competitor Jason Edwards 3rd, just edging Jamie out to 4th, followed by Gianluca in 5th and Ken in 6th. Fortunately Jamie's constant efforts for the primes mean he's now some way ahead in the series.

Over at Eelmore Ken Prince kept up his run of form with 8th behind a Felt 1-2. He says this is his best season and is sure to get his 1st cat by the end of the month. In the 3rds Andy Dilkes was 3rd and looking good for a high placing in the overall series while Gary Buttery has quickly started scoring points since moving up to 3rd cat, finishing in 4th.

In the handicap our best finishers were Ken and Mark B in 13th and 14th, with a group of 9 3rds and 4ths staying away till the end. After last night's Dunsfold, is there a new end of season trend - increased handicapping?

Cycle Kingdom Series - Race 11 Result

Races held Wednesday 23rd July 2008

E12
1 Justin Hoy Felt Racing E
2 Tim Elverson Felt Racing E
3 Lewis Atkins www.agiskovinor.com 1
4 Darrell Pembroke www.agiskovinor.com 2
5 Sam Allen I - Team 2J
6 Daniel Duguid Sigma Sport/Specialised/Sportfull 1
7 Anders Christensen Cycle Kingdom Race Team 1
8 Ken Prince VC Meudon 2
9 Neil Cooper AWCycles 2
10 Boyd Roberts www.agiskovinor.com 2
11 John Wager Felt Racing 1
12 Allan Ridler Army Cycling Union 2
13 Paul Pickup Cycle Kingdom Race Team 1
14 Tom Smith AWCycles E
15 Martin Smith AWCycles E


Overall Classification

3/4
1 David Wilson Charlotteville CC 3
2 Andy Hibberd Pedalon.co.uk 3
3 Andrew Dilkes VC Meudon 3
4 Garry Buttery VC Meudon 3V
5 Dave Faulkner Charlotteville CC 3
6 Gavin Morton Godalming Cycles RT 3
7 Mark Cracknell AWCycles.co.uk 3V
8 Toks Adesanya Addiscombe CC 3V
9 Martin Weinberger CC Basingstoke 3
10 Ian Hastings North Hants RC 4


Overall Classification

Youths
Joe McGuiness Palmer Park E 1

MTB National Champs

Deano reports from last weekend's National Mountain Bike Champs held near Ringwood.
Weddings and a pre-ride of the course cut the VCM contingent from 6 to 3, but we also had some travelling support that was much appreciated.

Deano reports:


Crow Hill has a very good selection of single track, short steep climbs and interesting little descents - but beware the roots - all in the middle of the New Forest, Ringwood.

Surprisingly, I was gridded on the third row so tucked in tight on the right hand side against the barriers. I waited for the start, Colin was a row or two behind so the Meudon were ready to pounce. Andy was still waiting to line up for his Grand Vets race.

Our race start had been put back 15 mins and eventually we started and we were off! Cleat collected the pedal and off I went, a bit of shoulder barging and a big effort and I slotted in behind the quick boys in about eighth place, which is where I stayed for a while until the first short steep grassy climb where I lost three of four places. I then settled into my pace and had a good little battle with Ross Porter, an old race mate. It pretty well stayed that way and I kept trying to drop him but he just had the edge on the descents. On the last lap he rode away from me and there was nothing I could do as I started to fade big time! Four or five riders caught and passed me and I just kept pedalling. I finished in 19th place and Colin came 36th. Andy came 21st in the Grand Vets. So a good day all round for VC Meudon.

Thanks also to the Meudon supporters on the day - it all helps!
Deano

LAP TIMES
Deano - 27:45 28:25 29:43 = 01:25:53
Colin - 30:50 32:30 33:29 = 01:36:49
Andy - 34:17 36:45 38:15 = 01:49:17
for reference
LIAM KILLEEN - 22:56 23:13 22:55 22:52 22:58 = 01:54:54 ( or 1:09:04 for first 3 laps !!)

After the race we were able to sit back and watch Liam Killeen demolish the field in a fantastic pre-olympics victory in the main race.

Bob Moore has some photos (we hope) but until then here are some links to Joolze Dymonds pics
Deano
Pic 1

Colin
Pic 1
Pic 2

Andy
Pic 1

Rewind to Smithfield

A little delayed but here's Pete's report from the Smithfield Nocturne

Smithfield Nocturne - June 7th 2008

Saturday night, sun is out, what should we do?? A few cold beers with my mates perhaps.yes! Except they drink the beer while I race around Smithfield market in the Cycling Weekly support race of the 2nd Rapha Condor Smithfield nocturne.



There were around 50 - (2nd ,3rd , 4th and Junior) riders lined up for the support race, which covered the 1km course for 40 minutes plus 10 laps. Taking the advice of my bro I battled to the front 10 riders and held position covering all the moves and letting the race behind split to peaces - the biggest split coming after a crash at the 90 degree turn at the bottom of the hill - it sounded painful!

After about 10 minutes the front group of 12 riders had formed and we slowly pulled away from the rest. Out of this group the attacks started. At this point I was just fighting to stay in the group and looking forward to the nice cold beer I could see my mates gulping down at "Smiths Bar" along the back straight whilst obviously cheering me on! It's actually just a blur of colours and noise when your racing but the boisterous beer fuelled crowds certainly made it an amazing atmosphere.

Doug Dewey and Ben Wilson managed to get a gap just before half distance and all 4 London Dynamos in the front group looked at each other and then at themselves in the passing shop windows before sitting behind the few us of that wanted to make a race of things chased.

The lead pair were pulling hard and increased the lead to a maximum of 45 seconds - at this point we started to get more organized but the we were now into the final 10 laps and it didn�t last long before the usual mucking around of looking, pointing and cursing resumed.

DING DING! Bell lap Ben and Doug battled it out for 1st and 2nd with Doug edging out Ben in the sprint. I led into the back straight looking for the Dynamos to launch - two riders went early and I followed. Screeching round the final bend with the carbon zipps clattering I gave it my best with a few getting passed just before the line - 7th place!

Looking forward to the next event in the series, which is in Salford, Manchester. Let's see what those northern monkeys have got say about all this cycling lark!

Saturday 30th August if you fancy it!!!

National Masters RR Championships

On a weekend where two sets of National Championships were held, Pete Wager reports from the Masters Road Race Championships in Hampshire.

Glorious sunshine, patchy clouds and a moderate wind greeted us lucky mortals that entered the National Masters RR Championships (30-34 & 35-39) last Sunday, July 20th. Just over 9 laps of the Small Morestead Circuit in Hampshire lay ahead of us and there was a rumour going round it was quite a tough 'rolling' course. The race had both age groups riding together with 15 Juniors including myself, the only Meudon with Justin Hoy, Felt Racing and then 25 seniors including Tim Elverson and my bro, John Wager, Felt Racing.

Out of the neutralised zone the road goes skywards and the attacks start and seem to never end. Tim Elverson, Martin Smith, Grant Bayton and the Team Corley duo all taking turns to make us all suffer. A few individuals made brave efforts to go it alone but nothing stuck and I was secretly hoping it might stay together. Coming towards the end of the 2nd lap and a few strong digs over the rolling roads created a split. I spotted the move but was boxed in the bunch and nearly hit the deck as I tried to get my wheel around the rider in front. Managed to pull my foot out and save a dive on the tarmac. Having regained my footing I went after the group of about 7 riders. Giving it everything up the long drag towards the finish area I managed to pull back some distance and had gapped from the main bunch but I was now well into the red. At that moment a red flash AKA 'The Hoy' went passed me swiftly followed by Grant Bayton and Andy Lyons - try as I could there was no way I could get on their wheels for a tow up to the now vanishing lead group.

Dropping back to the bunch and everyone just gave up - no one wanted to chase or get organised and we still had 7 laps to go!!!!

I managed to get away with Darrell Pembroke, Agisko, and we worked well for a couple laps getting around 30 seconds over the bunch but the time gap to the leaders was now going up and up - 8 minutes with 4 laps to go. Mark Jervis, Python Racing Team, joined us and then my brother John Wager got across on the 6th lap which added strength in numbers and looked like we might get something working but the bunch had other ideas and chased us down! But then promptly sat up!!!!!

Into the final laps now and the leaders were 16 minutes clear - one of the Python Racing Team had gone it alone and was followed by 'Mini Me' Dave Coulson, Sport Beans - Wilier. Mark Jervis, Python RT, then gave it a good dig going up the long climb and I was prompted to go after him by a big push from my brother and I'm glad I committed. We were joined by two others and worked all the way round the final lap pulling out just over a minute from the bunch by the finish. 4 up final sprint and I was in a world of pain but still managed to get across the line 2nd of the group and a rather encouraging 5th place in my age group and 16th overall, even if I was @ 17.07 behind the winner!!

Well done Justin for 3rd place in the juniors race - another medalion for the collection!

Pete

30 -34
1. Matthew HIGGINS Team Corley Cycles / Corley Cycles
2. Richard CARTLAND Team Corley Cycles / Corley Cycles
3. Justin HOY Felt Racing
4. Colin PARRY VC St Raphael / Waite Contracts / Hewitt Cycles
5. Peter WAGER VC Meudon
6. Simon SMITH John's Bikes RT
7. Scott WALKER Hinckley CRC / MW Technical Services Ltd /Bikes & Sports
8. Darrell PEMBROKE www.agiskoviner.com / Agiskoviner.com/For Goodness Shakes
9. Boyd ROBERTS www.agiskoviner.com / Agiskoviner.com/For Goodness Shakes
10. Jason HUMPHRIES Norwood Paragon CC

35 - 39
1. Martin SMITH awcycles.co.uk / Onefish Twofish/Giant Bikes/Fulcrum Wheels
2. Dan STAITE Python Racing Team/Smartest Energy/Ixia/Real 451/Push Print
3. Andy LYONS Heron Cyclesport / Green Jersey Design/Thomas Gunn/Schwalbe
4. Grant BAYTON Sport Beans - Wilier / Sport Beans/Jelly Belly / Wilier / Steele Davis
5. Nigel WILLIAMS Python Racing Team/Smartest Energy/Ixia/Real 451/Push Print
6. Tim ELVERSON Felt Racing
7. Simon WARREN Norwood Paragon CC
8. James SMITH Team Certini / Certini / Specialized
9. Mark WILLIAMS Python Racing Team/Smartest Energy/Ixia/Real 451/Push Print
10. Dave COULSON Sport Beans - Wilier / Sport Beans/Jelly Belly / Wilier / Steele Davis
11. Mark JERVIS Python Racing Team/Smartest Energy/Ixia/Real 451/Push Print
12. Justin CALLAWAY DHCyclesport.co.uk
13. John WAGER Felt Racing
14. Neil WHITE Bristol Road Club
15. Chris SMITH Python Racing Team/Smartest Energy/Ixia/Real 451/Push Print
16. Paul MACE High Wycombe CC / Cycle Care / Professional IT / Infastructure
17. Simon HALL Andover Wheelers

Team radios at Hungry Hill - the h'cap

It wasn't until Ken pointed out that there was a clue in "Hungry Hill" that I realised it was going to be a bit more rolling than normal. And so it proved with a long uphill drag before the flag. 

Going off in a group with Bob and Colin and adding a bit of interest to the race were three of the Halfords women's team complete with radios and team car. With the last two groups off merging early on, it took two laps of driving on led by the Norwood Paragon contingent to catch this group. Finally with one lap to go the 4ths and the lead car were in sight and a full field finish beckoned.

Then came the attacks with man on the comeback trail, Dave Creeggan going with about a kilometer to go. Dave was then swallowed up by more attacks before Bob Moore went at the bottom of the hill. This was then followed by Mike Hawkins and Gary Dodd. With our handicap specialist Mark B's words of advice about following Gary Dodd ringing in our ears Ken and I chased after him. At which point we remembered the bit about being lucky to get round him. I seem to remember Mike Hawkins putting his hands in the air to celebrate or at least shouting as I trailed in 4th with Ken just behind in 5th. Later back at the car park we discovered a lone 4th cat had been a minute up the road knocking us all back a place.