Local Cycling News 24/06/11

It was Groundhog Day at the Moreton Village Evening series, as Jason Eastwood (Hargroves Cycles) strolled to his fourth win in five races. A bright sunny evening greeted the fifty- plus field and despite the recent rain; the roads were dry for this 33 mile handicap.

The riders ahead of the scratch group don't lack the will, perhaps just the fitness, to avoid being swallowed up by that fast moving train, and with more than two laps to go the race was all together.

Stuart Bowers, fresh from his win in the Heath Road Race on Tuesday was full of riding and delivered his team mate to the line perfectly. Bowers held on for second with Steve Groome (Bournemouth Jubilee), finishing strongly in third.

23/06/11 RACE 7
1, JASON EASTWOOD (HARGROVES CYCLES)
2, STUART BOWERS (HARGROVES CYCLES)
3, STEVE GROOME (BJW)
4, SIMON PETTIFER (UNNAT)
5, JOHN HAYES (RIDEBIKE.CO.UK)
6 ANTHONY BIRKBECK (UNNAT)
7, ANDY BOYD (REVE RACING)
8, ROBERT KOPPENHOL, (DRR)
9, SIMON WILLATS (RIDEBIKE.CO.UK)
10, ROLAND TILLEY (RIDEBIKE.CO.UK)

• Clinton Castellar (I-team CC) out sprinted Shaftsbury’s Paul Hopkins (Merida) to win the CC Weymouth Road Race on the Gallows Hill/Monkey World circuit.

A sprint finish always looked likely in this 45 mile race and Portsmouth based Castellar proved the strongest. A touch of wheels, 2 miles from the finish brought down six riders, fortunately all remounted with no serious injury. Scot Oatridge (cc Basingstoke) grabbed third,

• Chris Ball (Biobike RT) came out on top in the Poole Wheelers 10 mile Time Trial. Held on the ski slope course, Ball’s time of 20.14 was 44secs quicker than Benjamin Pearce (Andover Wheelers). Bryce Dyer (VC ST Raphael) claimed third with 21.15. Dyer was putting the finishing touches to his preparation for the National Masters track Championships in Newport next weekend. Dyer had finished 3rd the day before in the Omega stage race at the Mountbatten Track, Portsmouth. Winning the 3 lap time trial (1 mile) in 2.05.18, before a 10th place finish in the following circuit race. Carl Silver (BJW) finished 4th on GC

• The New Forest’s multi- national Champion, Julia Shaw (drag2zero) won her seventh National 50 title at Bentley, Hampshire. Shaw’s impressive time of 1.51.42 in the windy conditions was more than seven minutes clear of her nearest challenger. Bournemouth Jubilee pair Lawrence Down & Phil Harvey recorded times of 2.07.23 &2.18.20 respectively.

• This Saturday sees the official opening ceremony of the new Olympic sized cycle track at Slades Farm. Entrance is free for the event, which will include Cycle track Demonstrations, taster sessions, free bike health checks and local cycle shop displays.

CLUB EVENTS
BOURNEMOUTH JUBILEE WHEELERS 10 P412 21/06 16 STARTERS
1,J CLEMAS 22.12
2,M SAVAGE 22.32
3,I HAPGOOD (PRIMERA) 22.45

NEW FOREST 25 P304 21/06
1,J HEFFERNAN 1.01.12
2,L ANDREWS (SALISBURY TRI CLUB)1.01.21
3,S ROBERTS 1.05.47

CC WEYMOUTH 10 P451 21/06 14 STARTERS
1,B RIGLAR 23.49
2,J CHAPMAN 24.16
3,G PARKER 24.30


POOLE WHEELERS 10 P459 22/06 16 STARTERS
1,G DIGHTON 22.34
2,T ICKE 22.45
3,S BIRTWISTLE 23.08

GEORGE HERBERT STANCER DISTRICT CHAMPS 10 P459 22/06 7 STARTERS
1, W STEPHENSON (BOURNEMOUTH ARROW) 22.42
2. T ROBBINS (CARDIFF JIF) 23.13
3,R BUNN (GUERNSEY VC) 23.52

BOURNEMOUTH ARROW 10 P311 23/06 15 STARTERS
1,S WHITEWICK (UTAG-YAMAHA) 20.38 (COURSE RECORD)
2,D PICKERING (BJW) 22.24
3,G ALLAN (G A CYCLES) 22.41

Local Clubs, odd one out?

Poole Wheelers 10

Chris Ball (Biobike RT) came out on top in the Poole Wheelers 10 on the P415. Known locally as the Ski-Slope course, Ball set a super fast, course record time last year of 18.51. The wind that seems to have been blowing since the beginning of May put paid to a repeat ride this year. However, Ball’s time of 20.14 gave him a cushion of 44 seconds over Benjamin Pearce (Andover Wheelers), Bryce Dyer (VC ST Raphael) claimed third spot with 21.15. Claire Fraser (Army Cycling Union) with 27.14 won the ladies event.

Back at the HQ, Organiser Dave Wade spoke movingly of the late Rob Jefferies, who was tragically killed in a road accident. “As all of you probably know Poole Wheelers lost a very dear friend and member, Rob was not just an ordinary cyclist, he was a stalwart of British Cycling. One of the saddest days of my life was to receive Rob’s entry for this event the day after he died, it did bring a tear to my eye”. Gathered around the result board, everybody observed a minutes silence in Rob’s memory before a spontaneous round of applause.

BRIEF RESULTS

1, CHRIS BALL (BIOBIKE RT) 20.14
2, BENJAMIN PEARCE (ANDOVER WH) 20.59
3, BRYCE DYER (VC ST RAPHAEL) 21.15
4, ANDREW BRYSON (SOTONIA) 21.27
5, GARY DIGHTON (POOLE WH) 21.32
6, STEVE BIRTWISTLE (POOLE WH) 21.33
7, TERRY ICKE (POOLE WH) 21.37

Speaking after his winning ride Chris said "I was not going to race Rob was the only reason i rode, i kind of feel this is Robs race, but i am glad i rode, Rob was on my mind the whole way round.I was just going to ride round, at the start i was in a small gear but then i hit the hill and this red mist descended"

Rob Jefferies Remembrance Ride

On a chilly, damp, Bank Holiday Monday, over 70 cyclists turned out to show their respect for the late Rob Jefferies, who died after being hit by a car whilst out training. They filled the chain link ferry across to Shell Bay, where even more were waiting. Rob's widow, Jane, Daughter Eve and stepson George had all courageously come out to ride. Jane admits to being “not very fit” but, complete with wicker basket on the front of her “sit up and beg” she led the bunch across Studland Heath.

The weather closed in but riding along, sharing tales of Rob, spirits were lifted, cyclists are a resilient lot, of course they are, it goes with the territory.

Dropping down into Swanage, where Rob lived, the bunch came to a halt at the pier. More tales were told, a few photographs were taken and, cyclists being cyclists, a few cups of tea were drunk.

It was a fitting tribute to a very popular man. Well done to Chris Ball, who, touched by the loss of a “very close friend” pulled this ride together. Several of the group had ridden the Hounslow 100 the day before but still found the legs to pay their dues to the Big Man. Spare, also a thought for Bryce Dyer, who was riding with Rob on that fateful day. Bryce had helped in the aftermath of the accident and no doubt that will live with him. However he was happy to be back "in the wheels" and was very appreciative of the support shown.

"See you up the Road Rob"

Eve And Jane Jefferies.