Bournemouth Twilight Criterium: Justin Hoy Wins Seaside Sprint!

Justin Hoy (Felt-Colbournes-Hargroves RT) won the first Bournemouth Twilight Criterium, sprinting to victory in the heart of the seaside town. Hoy finished a good three lengths clear of Al Murison (Equipe CMI) & Joe Barry (Ride 24/7) after an hour of fast, cat & mouse racing. The 1 km circuit took the riders through the town square, up Exeter road, down past the pier and seafront, up Bath hill before the tight, race deciding, left hander down to the finish in Westover Road. The fast course called for little technique and a breakaway always seemed unlikely as the pace remained high. Joe Barry took a £20 prime at half distance, his teammates putting the brakes on to allow the escape. Robert Ward (Felt-Colbournes-Hargroves) had a dig off the front as did James Smith (Spin-Rotor-Primal C-Originals) as the Felts, Pedal Heaven, Spin-Rotor & 24/7 teams started to control the race. The pace eased in the last two laps as the inevitable bunch sprint loomed, into the final corner, the only place to be was on the front and that’s just where Hoy was. Barnaby Cox (Gillingham & Dist Wh) won the 3rd/4th event that got the evening underway. The sixteen year old only started racing in April this year and took his second win, easily outsprinting James Horton (Cannondale) & Samuel Sturgeon (NRG Sports Massage.co.uk). Credit must go to Bournemouth Council who closed the town centre roads down on a busy Saturday night, their vision was rewarded with great weather and a bumper crowd. The event also included a twenty minute corporate race, a night Sky ride & Night glow cycle spectacular and one lucky nine year old went home with a free £900 Cannondale bike. Organiser Richard Dickson of Full Force Events is already planning for next year and hopes to put on a full day of racing including elite races for both men & women.

Brief Result.
E/1/2
1, JUSTIN HOY (FELT-COLBOURNES-HARGROVES RT)
2, AL MURISON (EQUIPE CMI)
3, JOE BARRY (RIDE 24/7)
4, JAMIE PINE (PEDAL HEAVEN RT)
5, LEE SMITH (FELT- COLBOURNES –HARGROVES RT)
6, BEN HOMA (BEELINE BICYCLES)
7, JAMES WILLIAMS (SPIN-ROTOR PRIMAL C-ORIGINALS)
8, JAMES JONES (BEELINE BICYCLES)
9,ROBERT McCARTHY (PEDAL HEAVEN RT)
10,GRAY TURNOCK (FINSBURY PARK CC)
11,JAY EASTWOOD (PRIMERA-SPORTS.COM)

3/4TH CAT
1, BARNABY COX (GILLINGHAM & DIST WH)
2, JAMES HORTON (CANNONDALE RACING)
3, SAMUEL STURGEON (NRG SPORTSMASSAGE.CO.UK)
4, VINCE AVERY (MID DEVON RC)
5, HUGO CRABB (LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS CC)
6,ROBERT EDGELL (PERFORMANCE CYCLES)
7, DARYL PRICE (POOLE WH)
8, NICK WATSON (RIDE 24/7)
9, NICOLAS HELSING (EXETER WH)
10,SIMON MERRITT(UK-BIKING PRIMERA)
What Was Said
Justin Hoy “ I sussed it out early on that you needed to be on the front in the final corner, if you are not in the first two you are stuffed, you have lost a lot of speed and accelerating downhill everybody is going to go pretty much the same speed. My teammate, Carlton Jarisch was really strong, riding on the front in the last few laps. There was a dead spot round the back of the course into the wind, it was like riding through treacle, you could not stay away. I always intend to win, I thought if it was a bunch sprint, then I had a reasonable chance. I knew Al (Murison) would be up there. It was good to come into the last corner first. There was people all the way, the people in the bars at the back of the circuit were all shouting, it was brilliant ”
Al Murison “ It was a good fast flowing course, but it was really difficult to get away,. The four main teams were controlling everything. I tried to get away once but after that I just sat in. It was a good positive race though. It got a bit messy towards the end as you would expect, I am happy with second, everyone likes to win but Justin is fast. I was on the brakes round the last bend, I got squeezed into the barriers, I just salvaged what I could”
Grant Bayton “The circuit was not that technical, it lent itself to stay together. There were people attacking but you really have to put the hammer down to stay away, it kept coming back, nobody was really staying out there, most of the riders knew it was getting controlled and would come down to a sprint finish. It was an amazing event with a great crowd, lets hope it is on next year."
Barnaby Cox “ It was awesome, never done one before, it was buzzin, good fun, I want to do another one!”