Photo Finish Camera
East London Vélo Road Race – 21 June Regional A – Birds Green Circuit
A full field of 70 riders set off on a dry yet cool midsummer’s day for over 70 miles racing on the undulating Birds Green course in Essex.
It didn’t take long for the action to start with a group of 4 going clear on the first lap. The break appeared strong, featuring two riders notable for being in the mix this year, Phil Hersey (Eagle RC) and Basil Moss (Cambridge CC) who were accompanied by another Cambridge CC rider, Andy Hudson plus Rob Hunt from the API Metrow. Hunt led the leaders across the line taking the first prime with the bunch already nearly a minute behind.
The break was looking good with fortune about to shine on them. Continuous infringement of the central reservation led to the bunch being stopped and cautioned by the Commissaire with the break continuing to plough ahead. With two laps of five gone the break had a seemingly unassailable lead of over 4 minutes on the bunch, who crossed the finish line riding at a pace that was so piano Liberace sprang to mind. It seemed the race was over with the break out of sight and the bunch having to settle for fighting for 5th at best.
Two to go and Hunt made another effort for the line after Hudson had taken the previous lap’s prime. Perhaps this was the first sign that the break wasn’t working as well as it might, fighting for primes rather than sharing them out. The suspicion was confirmed 90 seconds later as the bunch thundered past, the bit clearly between their teeth and lined out down the finishing straight. Rather than call the day over it seemed a number of teams were co-operating to hunt the break down – something rarely seen at this level in the region. Race on.
One to go and the break was all over, swept away by a rampant bunch. Nick Hastler (Essex Roads CC) led over the line with teammate Ian Randall on his wheel, the rest of the bunch charging along a couple of lengths back with the bell ringing in their ears. The race and the £100 first prize were still very much up for grabs.
Back to the race radio and through the strains of interference it was possible to hear a rider had broken clear with others trying to bridge across. Another crackle and one rider remained clear, holding the bunch at bay. A sizeable crowd had gathered at the finish line straining to look down the finishing straight as it faded out of sight to the right. A figure emerged, alone, powering around the final corner, it was birthday boy and ERRL strongman Neil Chapman (Maldon and District CC). Chapman had plenty of time to celebrate his birthday and the win as he crossed the line well ahead of the bunch.
Ian Randall powered up the drag of a finishing straight to take the bunch sprint and second place with the rest of the race hot on his heels. Randall completed an excellent series of results and looks to be through the door to 1st cat status
The East London Velo boys & girls enjoyed a day off racing and would like to thank sponsors Windsor Signs, Agisko, Deburgo Joinery and J Joliffe Painters and Decorators for helping provide a healthy prize list. Thanks also go to the accredited marshals and BC officials, without whom there would be no racing on the open roads for us to enjoy.
Graham Galvin – Event Organiser
Birthday boy Neil Chapman (Maldon and District) and Event Organiser Graham Galvin.
1 Neil Chapman Maldon & District CC – 2 hours 53 mins 23 secs
2 Ian Randall Essex Roads CC
3 Piers Brown Finchley Racing Team
4 Jamie Caldwell St Ives CC
5 Michael Auger VC Norwich
6 Gordon Cobb Stowmarket & District CC
7 Maksymillian Tarczynski API – Metrow
8 Trevor Ormes Lotto Olympia Team Interbike
9 James Price PCA Ciclos Uno
10 Ian Samuel Crest CC – Ilford
11 Daniel Crawley Crest CC – Ilford
12 Costa Pierides Finchley Racing Team
13 David Brown Essex Roads CC
14 William Hedden Glade CC
15 Nicholas Hastler Essex Roads CC
16 Tom Stephenson Ipswich BC
17 Tom Fitzpatrick API – Metrow
18 Sean Kilroy Glade CC
19 Nathan Miller Lotto Olympia Team Interbike
20 Steven Hubbard Cambridge CC
21 Daryl Gannon Finchley Racing Team
22 Martin Meades API – Metrow
23 Oliver Caddy Cambridge CC
24 Thomas Castle Ipswich BC
25 Matt Meadows Metropolitan Police CC
26 Ronald Crawley Crest CC – Ilford
27 Ben Wright VC Revolution
28 Colin Mannakee Glendene CC / Bike Trax
29 Trevor Holmes Diss & District CC
30 Chris Hughes Cambridge CC
31 Nicola Juniper Glendene CC / Bike Trax
32 Ben Preston Eagle RC
33 Valentino Fontana Colour-Tech RT
34 Adam Keer Ipswich BC
35 Gavin Moore Stowmarket & District CC
36 Daniel Scott Shaftesbury CC
37 Glen Vinnicome Cambridge CC
38 Benjamin Brown Whitewebbs CC
39 Jamie Anderson North Road CC
40 Basil Moss Cambridge CC
41 Alan Lawrence VC Revolution
42 Darren Hughes Chelmer CC
43 Thomas Durno Chelmer CC
44 Tony Couchman Glade CC
45 Tyler Denmead Cambridge CC
46 David Boakes Chelmer CC
47 Thomas Caldwell St Ives CC
48 Daniel Zagni Ipswich BC
49 Simon Asher Velo Club Baracchi
50 Andy Hudson Cambridge CC
51 Philip Hersey Eagle RC
52 Richard Whitehorn Glade CC
53 Marco Coppola Gemini BC
54 Thomas Crouch Felt Racing
55 Mark Porter Glade CC
56 Andrew Cullinane Finchley Racing Team
57 Geoff Bridger Crest CC – Ilford
58 Peter Ingram Ipswich BC
59 Hamish Hoare Maldon & District CC
60 George Pearl Southend Wheelers
61 Colin Ringrose Chelmer CC
62 Robert Hunt API – Metrow
DNF Dermot Kealey Finchley Racing Team – DISQUALIFIED
DNF Douglas Bradshaw Cambridge CC
DNF Trevor Whittock Lea Valley CC
DNF Peter Humphreys Southend Wheelers
DNF Matthew Flynn Stowmarket & District CC
DNF Simon Beeforth VC Revolution
DNF Paul Dewberry VC Revolution
DNF David Staff BC Private Member
