A big thanks to all those who stood out there in the cold today making sure a safe day was had by all. Those who swept the circuit and put out the salt, the staff making hot soup, and jolly good it was too, those sitting for hours counting numbers and signing you all in, those in the judging box, taking your pictures as you crossed the line and making sure we had a correct result.

The race was run in an anticlockwise direction. Conditions were very cold, with a headwind up the climb.

Updated series standings and results from all the races so far can be found here.
Regional C+

The riders seemed reluctant to get going in the very cold conditions, and it wasn’t until the lap board came out that the racing really began. Jamie Anderson (North Road CC), Dan Falconer (Dulwich Paragon), Matt Harper (London Phoenix), and Wayne Crombie (Unattached) forced the pace up the hill, with Crombie riding particularly strongly, but the headwind on the climb blunted their efforts. They were unable to get a decisive gap, and the bunch would regroup on the lower circuit. On the final climb of the Hoggenberg, they were again at the front, with Anderson taking the win, Harper coming second, Harper third, and Crombie, paying for his earlier efforts, coming in 4th.

Afterwards, Jamie Anderson commented that he was really enjoying the winter series, particularly as a novice racer: “it gives you a whole heap of confidence when you’re starting out”.

1 Jamie Anderson North Road CC
2 Dan Falconer Dulwich Paragon CC
3 Matthew Harper London Phoenix
4 Wayne Crombie Unattached
5 Glen Carr MPCC
6 Nick Galvoret Finchley RT
7 Bruce Mackie LVY CC
8 James Conway MPCC
9 Chris Dick Private Member
10 Steve McKenzie P & Run
11 Jason Kettle LVY CC
12 Martin Orpen Interbike
13 Neil McCann VC Elan
14 James Cook Unattached
15 Alan Dion Private Member
16 David Nile Dulwich Paragon CC
17 Jack Hurdige East London Velo/EE
18 Tim Brindley Private Member
19 Darren De Berger Private Member

Regional B

With two time winner and series leader Jonathon Tomlinson (East London Vélo) not racing due to injury, this was a much more open race. Twenty minutes in, David Barnes (East London Vélo) got away, followed by Andy McNeill (Rapha Condor). However, McNeill crashed on the sweeping lefthand bend after the finish, leaving Barnes to ride alone. He maintained his lead for 15 minutes, but the cold seemed to sap his strength, and he was slowly reeled in by the bunch. There was more drama in the final 15 minutes of the race as another rider came down, on the same corner.

With 5 laps to go, James Cocker (East London Vélo/EE), looking strong despite a lack of racing, rode off the front on the small climb after the finish.

In an exciting finish Sam Parker (Oxford University CC) narrowly took the win from Barnes, who managed a powerful sprint despite his earlier solo effort.

1 Sam Parker Oxon Univ CC
2 David Barnes East London Velo/EE
3 Jonathan Appleby North Road CC
4 Scott Bentley Dulcwih Paragon CC
5 Nick Sparks Private Member
6 Grant Venter Finchley RT
7 Henry Martin Oxford Uni CC
8 James Cocker East London Velo/EE
9 Ian Coles North Road CC
10 Daryl Gannon Finchley RT
11 James Sale Eagle RC
12 Lewin Chalkley Private Member
13 Christian Spencer-Davis Private Member
14 Dermot Kealey Mosquito Bikes
15 Christopher Baldwin Eagle RC
16 Nigel Stephens Rapha Condor
17 John Shurmer Private Member
18 Sean Elliott Private Member
19 Paul Bird East London Velo/EE
DNF 125,142,140,88,115,103,113,93,119 ..

Regional B Women

1 Jennifer Hewitt Sigma Sport
2 Lyndall Newton-Early Finchley RT
3 Ruth Middleton Velo Club Londres
4 Elizabeth Chittenden Eagle RC
5 Anna Grundy East London Velo/EE
6 Liz Price London Phoenix
7 Stacey Cooley East London Velo/EE

This followed a similar pattern to previous races, with an initial shakeup leaving a group consisting of regulars Ruth Middleton (Velo Club de Londres), Elizabeth Chittenden (Eagle RC), joined by Jennifer Hewitt (Sigma Sport) and Lyndall Newton-Early (Finchley RT). Unusually Anna Grundy (East London Vélo/EE) wasn’t able to stay with this group, perhaps paying the price for a night out on Friday.

At the finish, Hewitt and Newton-Early were too strong for three time winner and series leader Middleton, and they finished first, second, and third respectively.

National B

This week saw the largest field so far, with some classy riders turning out, including premier cycling writer Matt Seaton (Rapha Condor). Early probing attacks came to nothing, although one by Phil Hershey (Eagle RC), again keen to test his time trialing skills, saw him off the front for a few laps. With 3 laps to go, the group split on the top circuit, and Simon Bateson (East London Vélo/EE) jumped across to the front group and kept going, building up a small lead on the lower circuit. With two laps to go, Bateson’s lead fell, and he looked in danger of being caught. However, on the final lap, he lifted his pace, and the pursuers slowed, allowing him to cross the line alone. Behind him, Seaton and Andy Davies (Fit For) lead the bunch in.

1 Simon Bateson East London Velo/EE
2 Andy Davies Fit-For
3 Matt Seaton Rapha Condor
4 Jason Streather VC St Raphael
5 Ian Franklin BMC UK RT
6 Flavio Zappi Oxon Univ CC
7 Philip Murrell Finsbury Park CC
8 Kevin Ibbetson Fitsen Tempo
9 Richard Hoult London Dynamo
10 Julian Bray Dulwich Paragon
11 Ishmael Burdeau Agiskoviner
12 Mark Perry Dulwich Paragon
13 Richard de Silva Stevenage CC
14 Philip Hersey Eagle RC
15 David Hutchinson VC St Raphael
16 Ed Graefe East London Velo/EE
17 Dexter Gardes Tora-Colnago
18 Cosmo Kendros Dulwich Paragon CC
19 Jamie Streather VC St Raphael

Results from Race 4 of the Winter Series at Hog Hill – 3rd January 2009.

Updated series standings and results from all the races so far can be found here.

More pictures from the day here.

The races was run in an anticlockwise direction. Conditions were cold but sunny and dry.

Regional B  3rd / 4th

Series leader Jonathon Tomlinson (East London Vélo), assisted by George Pearl (Southend Wheelers) set a fast pace from the off. Tomlinson showed his intent with a strong attack up the hill, which only his team mate David Barnes (East London Vélo), and Alexander McNeill (Rapha Condor) were able to follow. Tomlinson and Barnes had both won previous races with lone breaks, so the bunch had no intention of letting them repeat this feat. A fast paced pursuit put several riders in difficulty, and managed to hold the break at 15 seconds for a few laps. However, Tomlinson, Barnes, and McNeill rode well together and the trio’s lead inevitably grew.

With a decent gap established, Tomlinson and Barnes started to turn the screw on McNeill, and an exciting duel followed. The two East London Vélo men made McNeill suffer, dropping him on the hill, although he refused to give up, and his tenacity saw him hang on for 3rd place, as ahead of him Tomlinson outsprinted Barnes to cement his series lead.

The bunch were lead in by youth rider Hugo Humphreys (Lea Valley Youth CC), whose powerful sprint saw him cross the line several bike lengths in front of the remaining seniors.

1 Jonathan Tomlinson East London Velo/EE
2 David Barnes East London Velo/EE
3 Andy McNeill Rapha Coindor
4 Hugo Humphreys LVY CC Youth
5 James Sale Eagle RC
6 Oliver Rossi LYC CC Youth
7 Andy Wyloe St Ives CC
8 Rob Windsor East London Velo/EE
9 Henry Martin Oxford Uni CC
10 Richard De Silva Stevenage CC

Regional B Women

The race split in the first lap, as Anna Grundy (East London Vélo), Ruth Middleton (Velo Club de Londres), and Elizabeth Chittenden (Eagle RC) put the hammer down. They stayed together for the rest of the race, with Grundy and Middleton looking strongest, and Chittenden suffering on the hill but riding well to regain the group. In a dramatic sprint finish, Grundy edged out Middleton… but unfortunately there was still one lap to go. One lap later she was unable to repeat this, and Middleton took the win, with Grundy second and Chittenden third. Behind them, Stacy Cooley (East London Vélo), on her racing debut, rode with determination and placed fifth.

1 Ruth Middleton Velo Club Londres
2 Anna Grundy East London Velo/EE
3 Elizabeth Chittenden Eagle RC
4 Sophie Varlow unattached
5 Stacey Cooley East London Velo/EE
6 Debbie Knott Hamel Hempstead RC

National B

Despite a larger, and stronger than usual field, Phil Hershey (Eagle RC) refused to be intimidated, and powered away on the hill. Hershey, a fast man against the clock, soon established a good gap, although he would pay for this later. However, a series of probing attacks in the bunch lifted the pace, and Hershey was gradually reeled in. Continuing attacks, by Simon Bateson (East London Vélo) and Cosmo Kendros (Dulwich Paragon) saw some riders shelled out the back of the group but failed to get a gap. However, a counter attack on the climb by Andy Davies (Fit-For) and James Hawkins (Cambridge University CC) saw no response from the bunch, and the two riders got away, and would spend the rest of the race building an unassailable lead. At the finish, Davies took the win from Hawkins. Richard Hoult (London Dynamo) lead the bunch in, launching an explosive attack up the final climb, with only Mark Perry (Dulwich Paragon),  Kevin Ibbetson (Fietsen Tempo), and Bateson able to react. Hoult maintained his momentum to the line for third place, as behind him, Perry and Ibbetson faded and Bateson powered past them to take fourth.

1 Andy Davies Fit-For
2 James Hawkins Cambridge Univ CC
3 Richard Hoult London Dynamo
4 Simon Bateson East London Velo/EE
5 Mark Perry Dulwich Paragon
6 Kevin Ibbetson Fitsen Temp
7 Philip Murrell Finsbury Park CC
8 Simon Bird Dulwich Paragon
9 Julian Bray Dulwich Paragon
10 Ishmael Burdeau Agiskoviner
11 Philip Hersey Eagle RC
12 Ed Graefe East London Velo/EE
13 Henry Martin Oxford University CC
14 Jonathan Maher Sigma Sport
15 DNF

Regional C+  4th Cat

1 Sebastian Pancratz Oxford University CC
2 Jamie Anderson North Road CC
3 Tim Butt MAD
4 Lewin Chalkley Private Member
5 Phil Cloke SFA CC
6 Keith Gross Glendene CC
7 Andrew Baker Private Member
8 Jason Kettle LYY CC
9 Luis Rendon East London Velo/EE
10 Adam French East London Velo/EE Junior

RACE REPORT
Hog Hill Winter Series 27th December 2008

Several hours before the first race was due to start conditions were frosty but as race time approached the circuit had thawed and the surface was drying out with the aid of the very cold brisk east wind.

Race 1;    4th cat ; Regional C+    Race Time; 40 minutes         11 Laps
Just twenty one 4th cat riders on the line for this one, once under way no 36, Nigel Stephens (Rapha Condor) led the way opening up a small gap. His lead had grown to 28 seconds over chasers Dan Corby (Finchley RT) and Tim Butt (MAD CC) by the end of lap 3. By the end of lap 6, Stephens had doubled his lead to 57 seconds over loan chaser corby. Lapping consistently the lead grew, and by the end (11th lap) Stephens crossed the line 1min 28sec clear of 2nd placed rider Corby with 3rd going to Butt.

Race 2;    3rd -4th  Regional B    Race Time; 1 hour               16 Laps
Nineteen riders for this one, and again an attack from the start saw two East London Velo riders away, 109 followed closely by 130, David Barnes. At the end of lap 2 Barnes led the way with the bunch at 13 seconds. Impressive riding saw his lead over the chasers grow on each lap, and by lap 11 his lead was 1.07.  The bunch did manage to reduce this lead by the finish (16th lap) to 50 seconds when no 135, Nick Calverey (Finchley RT) won the sprint for 2nd place just ahead of Michael Corke, (London Dynamo) but it was Barnes that took the win.

Race 2;    Women        Race Time; 1 hour              15 Laps
Starting 45 seconds behind the men’s race, the four ladies stayed together until the final lap when No 52, Ruth Middleton, (VC Londres) put in a big effort at the bell to open up a small gap. Lyndall Newton-Earley gave chase to no avail finishing 3 seconds behind Middleton. Anna Grundy (East London Velo) at 10 sec, Elizabeth Chittenden (Eagle RC) at 15 sec was 3rd, and Chittenden 4th.

Race 3;    E, 1,2,3, National B     Race Time; 1 hour            16 Laps

A steady start to this race with Mark Perry, (Dulwich Paragon) leading the way for the first 3 laps. On lap 4 Emma Trott, (Halfords Bikehut) had lost contact on the steep climb up to the finish but worked hard on the decent to get back on only to lose contact again on the very next time up the climb to the finish.
By lap 12 three riders led the way, No 72 Philip Murrell, (Finsbury Park CC), Perry and team mate Cosmo Kendros, (Dulwich Paragon) with No 158, Simon Bateson, East London Velo at 21 sec.
At the bell the three leaders were only 9 seconds ahead of Bateson who was giving his all. As the riders climbed the hill the final time to the chequered flag it was a four man sprint. Kendros crossed the line 1st followed closely by Murrell 2nd, Perry 3rd with Bateson crossing the line a very tired 4th.

Regional C+
1  Nigel Stephens Rapha Condor
2  Dan Corby Finchley RT
3  Tim Butt MAD
4  Phil Cloke SFA CC
5  Glen Carr Met Police
6  Keith Gross Glendene CC
7  James  Conway Met Police
8  Matthew  Harper London Phoenix
9  Martin Orpen Interbike CC
10  Michael Wright Dulwich Paragon

Regional B
1  David Barnes East London Velo/EE
2  Nick Calverey Finchley RT
3  Michael  Corke London Dynamo
4  James  Sale Eagle RC
5  Scott  Bentley Dulwich Paragon
6  Rob Windsor East London Velo/EE
7  Rob Jeffrey London Dynamo
8  Darren Cainey East London Velo/EE
9  Christopher Baldwin Eagle RC
10  Samuel Fry Glendene CC
11  Dermot Kearly Mosquito Bikes

Women Only
1  Ruth Middleton Velo Club Londres
2  Lyndall  Newton-Earley Finchley RC
3  Anna Grundy East London Velo/EE
4  Elizabeth Chittenden Eagle RC

National B
1  Cosmo Kendros Dulwich Paragon
2  Philip Murrell Finsurby Park CC
3  Mark Perry Dulwich Paragon
4  Simon  Bateson East London Velo/EE
5  Ed Graefe East London Velo/EE
6  Emma Trott Halfords Bikehut

Well done to everyone who braved the rain.

Regional C+

A completely new set of Regional C+ riders for this weeks event. A stunning finish from the CC Hackney rider, Clem Berrill, a junior. Well done to him in 2nd place and I’m sure a name we will see more of in the future. Good finish from Alex McNeill found him 1st. An improvement on his 4th position last week.

1 Alexander McNeill Rapha Condor
2 Clem Berrill CC Hackney Jnr
3 James Wallace Private member
4 Nigel Stephens Rapha Condor
5 Jamie Anderson North Road CC
6 Lewin Chalkley Private member
7 Dan Corby Finchley RT
8 David Dryburgh CC Hackney Jnr
9 Matthew Harper London Phoenix
10 Tom Bishop London Phoenix

Regional B

Jonathan Tomlinson, East London Velo/Economic Energy, improved on his 2nd position last week to win in a close finish. Have we a series winner here? 3 broke away to make a dash for the finishing line.

1 Jonathan Tomlinson East London Velo/EE
2 Nick Sparks Private member
3 Henry Martin Oxford Uni CC
4 George Pearl Southend Wheelers
5 Rob Windsor East London Velo/EE
6 Dermont Kearey Mosquito Bikes
7 Craig Pack Newmarket CC
8 Grant Grant Private member
9 Ian Coles North Road CC
10 Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC
11 Paul Bird East London Velo/EE

Women Only

Only 3 riders, which is disappointing as such a good series prize of a Ladies bike frame, donated by Viner Bikes.

1 Alli Northcott Shredordead CC
2 Ruth Middleton Veloclub Londres
3 Anna Grundy East London Velo/EE

National B

11 hard men mostly stayed together sheltering from the wind and rain. Phil Hersey, Eagle RC, showed strength to finish 1st in the tough conditions.

1 Phil Hersey Eagle RC
2 Richard Hoult London Dynamo
3 Andy Hastings Finchley RT
4 Philip Murrell Finsbury Park
5 Ed Graefe East London Velo/EE

The inaugural winter race series at the new Hog Hill circuit, began on December 6.

A spectacular weather day for the start of the Winter Series at the newly opened Redbridge Cycle Circuit (Hog Hill), Hainault.

The new circuit of 2.1k gave good racing, with its many turns, descents and the, so called, “Hoggenburg” hill providing a challenger for tired legs. 76 riders and many supporters braved the cold at an excellent afternoons racing.

Viner Bikes, who are presenting a frame to the winner of the Women’s series, were at the event to show off their prize.

Regional (C+)
1 Fred Clark Evan Cycles
2 Jamie Anderson North Road CC
3 Gonzalo Rodriguez Team Economic Energy
4 Wayne Crombie Private member
5 Keith Gross Glendene CC
6 Dan Corby Finchley RT
7 B Mackie LVYCC
8 Glen Carr MP CC
9 William Taylor Victoria CC
10 Martin Orpen Interbike
11 Phil Jarvis Colchester Rovers
12 Michael Wright Dulwich Paragon
13 Taz Porter East Essex Tri

Regional B
1 George Brent Addiscombe CC
2 Jonathan Tomlinson Team Economic Energy
3 David Barnes Team Economic Energy
4 Alexander McNeill Rapha Condor
5 Christian Spencer Davies Private Member
6 Dermont Kearey Mosquito Bikes
7 Tim Smith Arctic Shorter
8 Greg Conti Private Member
9 John Meehan Stratford CC
10 Ian Coles North Road CC
11 Daryl Gannon Finchley RT
12 George Pear Southend Wheelers
13 Paul Bird Team Economic Energy
14 Graham Wheeler Team Economic Energy
15 joint Slyvian Guarde Addiscome CC
15 joint Steve Green PCA Ciclos Uno

Women Only
1 Ruth Middleton Veloclub Londres
2 Jo Allen London Dynamo
3 Tracy Corbett London Dynamo
4 Elizabeth Chittenden Eagle RC
5 Anna Grundy Team Economic Energy
6 Debbie Knott Hemel Hempstead RC

National B
1 Joe Skipper Interbike
2 Graham Galvin Team Economic Energy
3 Andy Davies Fit for
4 Richard Mason London Dynamo
5 Phil Hersey Eagle RC
6 Richard Hoult London Dynamo
7 Dominic Gabellinni Rapha Condor
8 Simon Bateson Private Member
9 Cameron Austin London Dynamo
10 Ed Graefe Team Economic Energy
11 Kevin Ibbetson Fitsen Tempo
12 G Grant Private member