Ellie Gilham (VC ST Raphael) enjoyed a great start to the season, winning her first race as a junior. Riding at the Mountbatten circuit in Portsmouth, Gilham had escaped with Nikki Wheeler (Wiggle), with just over a lap remaining she jumped Wheeler and quickly got a gap of 6 bike lengths. The Wiggle rider fought hard and closed the gap down the back straight but with 200m to go Ellie kicked again and opened the gap to take her first win in her first race as a junior. Sixteen year old Ferndown-based Gilham has moved up from the youth ranks and switched from Bournemouth Arrow to the VC St Raphael/Waite’s Contracts women’s racing team. The bitterly cold training camp she had been on in Bristol had obviously worked, the two day camp was also a chance for Ellie to get to know her new team. A tough winter training programme involving a mixture of long road rides, turbo & gym work has really brought the youngster on. This coupled with studying for 4 A Levels at Ferndown 6th form means Ellie has a very busy schedule. “I will be racing pretty much every weekend now up till my first objective of the year, the Cheshire Classic in April. ( She could well come up against Great Britain's new Junior World Champion, Lucy Garner). Looking further ahead there is the women’s road race series, the National road champs in May and the Track championships in August”. She says.
Gilham loves track racing, she first rode Calshot aged 9 and has been hooked ever since. Victoria Pendleton & Lizzie Armistead provide the inspiration; “My favourite events are the points & scratch races and I am really looking forward to the track league in Bournemouth this summer”. Having said that, Gilham is also eagerly anticipating her first season on the road and racing over the longer distances. She feels it will play to her endurance strengths and at just 49Kgs she enjoys the hills! There will be harder races ahead for Gilham but that, of course, is part of the attraction, a win is a win and no doubt there will be more to come.
Meanwhile, veteran roadman/sprinter, Steve Moss (Bournemouth Arrow/Hotel Collingwood) took the honours in the overflow 3rd category race at the Portsmouth venue. Moss has been around a long time and raced on the Continent in the early eighties. A stack of miles through the winter and crafty racing nous make Moss a favourite for most early season “Bunch Gallops”. Also in action at the outdoor track were Dave & Jordan Wade (Poole Wheelers) Hugo Walters (New Forest CC) and a first outing for the new Primera-Specialized team with Ian Legg, Jay Eastwood & Will Stephenson. Legg and Stephenson are both entered in the Severn Bridge road race on 4th March. Winner of the elite race was Gregg Mansell (UK Youth), Son of the former Formula 1 World Champion, Nigel Mansell. Gregg gave the UK Youth squad their second win of the season after Chris Opie’s success in the Perfs Pedal race.
Ten Minutes of Hell, subterranean speed.
Dorset Photo-Journalist Phil Gale reports......
New Forest-based Julia Shaw made the long journey to Liverpool on Sunday to take part in a new and different event. Organised by Liverpool bike shop Vita Cycles, in conjunction with Mersey Travel, the Ten Minutes of Hell saw riders do an out-and-back time trial through the Queensway Road Mersey tunnel. Normally a toll tunnel, open to cars, it was closed for the event so that riders could enjoy the fast descent followed by a long drag when riding through in either direction.
A total of 60 riders took part in the 7 kilometre event going off at 2 minute intervals. As the afternoon passed the “hitters” were sent off, with National Time Trial Champion and Team Sky rider Alex Dowsett the final rider to take on Hell in the tunnel.
He clocked the fastest time of the day taking the first place prize of £1000 pounds as well as a spot £500 prize and £3000 Tag Heuer SLR watch for the fastest split. Shaw won the women’s event also winning £1000 for her efforts as well as a Swift Carbon bike frame; she had a time which put her as one of the ten fastest riders of the day.
Shaw “This was my first event of the year so it was a real lung opener. Not knowing how to pace myself, I went off flat out and then hung on. What an incredible event, riding in a tunnel on closed roads with prizes equal to the men was definitely worth the trip.”
Doswett “That was horrible! I went off harder than planned and just hung on. I would ride this again any day just to hear the sound of the disc wheels echoing in the tunnel. Plus with a couple more races with prizes like this I could retire for the season!”
RESULTS, Top 10
1. Alex Dowsett Team Sky 08:28 (Halfway split) 04:08
2. Ryan Mullen Planet X 09:12 (Halfway split) 04:20
3. James Ratcliffe Fred Williams Cycles 09:13 (Halfway split) 04:30
4. Andrew Wilkinson Port Sunlight Wheelers 09:16 (Halfway split) 04:33
5. Ken Buckley Reading Cycling Club 09:20 (Halfway split) 04:35
6. Liam Stones Team Corley Cycles Blue 09:28 (Halfway split) 04:41
7. James Coleman Witham Wheelers CC 09:35 (Halfway split) 04:45
8. Stuart Wells Scunthorpe Poly CC 09:59 (Halfway split) 04:53
9. Julia Shaw Drag2Zero 09:59 (Halfway split) 04:56
10. Roy Sumner Port Sunlight Wheelers 10:03 (Halfway split) 05:01
Thanks to Sportful, Swift Carbon, DHW Enterprises and Mersey Travel for their assistance with Vita Cycles, without whom this event would not have happened.
Raymond Brown Track Cycling League
Bournemouth Cycling Centre has announced their plans for the summer track league. Sponsored by the track builders, Raymond Brown and run by Bournemouth Arrow CC, the league will run every Tuesday at 18.30, from 1st May to 31st July. Events will include sprint, scratch, elimination and point’s races, racing will be split into A&B groups, to ensure competition at all levels. All riders must hold BCC accreditation and pre-register to be allocated a number which they will keep for the series. Race entry fee on the day will be £10 for seniors/youth and £3 for youth.
2012 Track Cycling League Team
Key to the success of Bournemouth’s first Track Cycling League is the organisational Team.
Drawing valued assistance from local Clubs, Organisations and Individuals the Arrow are delighted to have on board;
Alan McRae - Overall Programme
Graham Hurst – Youth Programme
Jackie Storey – Entry and Signing on Administration
Steve Staniland – Competition Equipment Set up
Dave Maclean – Track Security and Rider Safety
Gerry Gray – Track Centre Race Officials and support Team
Gerry Gray – Results and League Tables Administration
Roger Papp – Facility Operation and Rider Accreditation
All these volunteers will require additional assistance every Tuesday evening so anyone able to join the rota of their helpers should contact the above or info@bournemouth.cc (Link on Right)
The time trial season gets underway this weekend with the Poole Wheelers/Wessex RC 27km event. Held on the sporting Gallows Hill-Moreton circuit, the race is the first of six in an inter club series. Entry is on the line with the first rider off at 10:00.
A few images from the UCI Track World Cup at the London Olympic Veodrome.
BATH 100 SUNDAY 1ST APRIL 2012
From Tracy Edwards, Community Fund Raising Manager for Action Medical Research
“Starting from Bath Racecourse the Bath 100 offers a great opportunity to put your winter training to the test, with some lung busting hills and breath-taking descents.
The Bath 100 offers a choice of a 100 mile or 100 km through scenic Somerset & Wiltshire and is perfect for anyone who wants to set themselves a real challenge. The ride passes through many famous landmarks including Stourhead, King Alfreds Tower, Bratton, Westbury White Horse & Lacock.
The Bath 100 is fully supported with great route signs, marshalls, bike mechanics, back-up vehicles, regular refreshment stops, a fantastic lunch stop & chip timing. (Link on right for more info)
On the 06th March as the schools all ride and scoot in as part of The Big Pedal 2012,(link on right) local Sustrans officer, Jason Falconer, is planning an epic ride on the track.
Jason will ride 84 miles.
This equals 134 Kilometres / 537 laps and Jason reckons it will take him 4 and half hours starting at 9.30 a.m.
I am sure he will appreciate your support if you are in the area!
