Two days in Spring! Images from Perfs & Ludgershall

Double Click to enlarge Photos.

Early season racing in the UK can be pretty trying, wind, rain, snow and ice all conspire to make it a sport for “hard men”.

The will and determination of organisers, the unquestionable commitment from riders, and the optimistic stoicism of Marshalls and race officials are clearly on display.

Cyclists do not lie down easily!

Tough days are talked about fondly long after the suffering has been forgotten. Overshoes and grit in your eyes will be long forgotten,long, sunny days lie ahead!

Bournemouth Arrow Honored by Sport England

Sport England have recognised the Bournemouth Arrow as a ’2012 Club’, an award given to club’s whose grass roots development programmes have led riders onto Olympic and Paralympic success which, in the case of the Arrow, was Paralympian Darren Kenny.
Jim Barrett from Sport England praised the work of the Arrow in a ceremony at Winton Arts and Media College describing how the ’2012 Clubs Award’ recognised grass roots Club’s contribution to GB’s 2012 successes.
In accepting the Award, Alan McRae the Arrow’s Club Development Officer said, “We are proud that since 2008 Bournemouth Arrow riders have gone on to perform at the Paralympics, the Tour de France and the U18 World U18s Road Championships. Over the last 10 years, Sport England has been a major influencing factor and supporter to help establish the Club in the heart of the community”.
“It is entirely appropriate that the award should take place here at the College. The Arrow’s Partnership with the College has flourished through the vision of Ben Parnell who heads up both Winton and Glenmoor Schools. The Centre of Cycling Excellence provides a cutting edge training facility which can be used by novices and elite riders alike. Once again the Club has been grateful to the Sport England Small Grants Project for supporting this fantastic facility.”
“Supporting the College’s own Cycling Development Programme, the Arrow’s aim to progress even further through the introduction of cyclocross.”
Mark Adams, British Cycling’s Regional Development Officer said, “The development of Slades Farm to become a ‘multi-discipline’ facility would enhance the current activity at the facility and will mean that the potential for a Cycling Development Officer’s post will become eligible through the ‘Whole Sport Plan’. McRae added, “The provision of such a Regional Cycling Centre here in the heart of Bournemouth will provide the Arrow with the opportunity to grow our success even further. The visibility of the Regional Cycling Centre on this Site, just like at the Olympic Games, will then inspire the next generation to participate in all disciplines of our hugely successful sport”.

For further information on Bournemouth Arrow Cycling Club contact;

Alan McRae on alan.mcrae@uwclub.net or call on 07910 498826.

Jim Barrett from Sport England along with Arrow coaches; Alan McRae, David Gilham and Anne Stevens.

Bialoblocki Triumphs at a Deluged Perfs Pedal Race!!

Marcin Bialoblocki led a clean sweep for Team UK Youth, winning the season opening Perfs Pedal race in torrential rain in Hampshire. Perfs is no stranger to adverse weather conditions but race director Mick Waite showed some sympathy cutting the race by one lap. After an uneventful first lap a group of ten or so riders went clear the second time up Portsdown Hill, opening a gap of 15 seconds. All six of the UK Youth team had gone with the move and the lead increased as the pressure was put on into the strong wind. Bialoblocki attacked before the descent and by the third climb he had a slender lead of 10 seconds. One lap later, and that lead had grown to over a minute. A combination of strong riding at the front and good team work behind settling the outcome with 10 miles still to race. Bialoblocki made it look easy, it was anything but, with riders returning for an early bath almost from the start. The road at Boarhunt, leading to the climb was more like a river, the wind increased and the temperature dropped, it really was a tough day at the office.

The 29 year old from Poland, now living in Somerset spoke to “Local Riders,Local Races” back at the HQ “I have wanted to win this race for the last six years, I have been second, fourth, sixth, I am very pleased, I am in good form. It is important for the team also, the race gets good press coverage, because we are the only continental team in the race we had to show class. There were no real tactics on the road we just had to be near the front and chase any moves and counter attack. Next week we go back to Majorca for a training camp then we have some UCI races in France.”

Official Results (Thanks to Sue & Tim Knight)
1st 3 Marcin BIALOBLOCKI Team UK Youth
2nd 5 Rob PARTRIDGE Team UK Youth @ 2-20
3rd 2 Yanto BARKER Team UK Youth st
4th 4 Josh HUNT Team UK Youth @ 3-24
5th 6 Ian WILKINSON Team UK Youth st
6th 1 Chris OPIE Team UK Youth st
7th 39 Gruff LEWIS Metaltek Knights of Old Racing Team @ 3-24
8th 65 Tom STOCKDALE SPIN Rotor Primal Europe C Originals RT/SPIN Rotor/Primal Europe/C Originals st
9th 41 Francis CADE Pedal Heaven RT / Colbornes / Tiger / Roadwheel /No 10 / VW Audi / PSI st
10th 33 Douglas DEWEY In Gear Quickvit Traininghelp RT st
11th 43 Dante CARPENTER Pedal Heaven RT / Colbornes / Tiger / Roadwheel /No 10 / VW Audi / PSI st
12th 44 Robert McCARTHY Pedal Heaven RT / Colbornes / Tiger / Roadwheel /No 10 st
13th 31 Alexander KING GPM10cycling st
14th 86 David CLARKE Pendragon Le Col Colnago / Synery baku cycling project @ 3-50
15th 18 Tristan ROBBINS Cardiff JIF st
16th 22 Al MURISON Equipe CMI st
17th 10 Robert WARD Asfra Racing Team st
18th 45 Chris McNAMARA Pedal Heaven RT / Colbornes / Tiger / Roadwheel /No 10 st
19th 38 Dexter GARDIAS Metaltek Knights of Old Racing Team st
20th 63 Sam REDDING SPIN Rotor Primal Europe C Originals RT/SPIN Rotor/Primal Europe/C Originals st
21st 11 James WILSON awcycles.co.uk st
22nd ?? st
23rd 74 Rowan HORNER VC St Raphael / Waite Contracts / Hewitt Cycles st
24th 55 Will STEPHENSON Rapha Condor JLT st
25th 47 Harry BULSTRODE Peter Hansford Racing st
26th ?? st
27th 35 Sam HUMPHESON Look Mum No Hands st
28th 32 Richard PHILLIPS-SCHOFIELD BC PM - South st
29th 62 Colin PARRY SPIN Rotor Primal Europe C Originals RT/SPIN Rotor/Primal Europe/C Originals st
30th 64 James SMITH SPIN Rotor Primal Europe C Originals RT/SPIN Rotor/Primal Europe/C Originals st
31st 72 Gregg SHROSBREE VC Meudon st
32nd 46 Allan RIDLER Pedal Heaven RT / Colbornes / Tiger / Roadwheel /No 10 st
33rd 84 Ryan BEVIS NFTO Race st
34th 7 Cameron CAMPBELL Army Cycling Union st
35th 48 Phill REYNOLDS Peter Hansford Racing st
36th 16 James CARTRIDGE Cadence RT @ 5:50
37th 40 Robert ORR Metaltek Knights of Old Racing Team st
38th 19 Robert EDGELL Cheddar Valley Cycling Club @ 7:00
39th 20 John DONOVAN G S Grupetto @ 9:30
40th 73 Simon BROOKS VC St Raphael / Waite Contracts / Hewitt Cycles st
41st 87 Phil DEMSPEY Aspire RT st
42nd 56 Steve ATKINSON Southdown Bikes Cycling Club / Southdown Bikes / World of Books st
43rd 82 Matthew TIBBUTT Wightlink - LCM st
44th 88 Fabio AMATI Aspire RT st
45th 23 Ashley MORRIS Fareham Wheelers CC st
46th 37 Will BJERGFELT MG-Maxifuel Pro Cycling @ 1 lap
47th 60 Ben STOCKDALE Metaltek Knights of Old Racing Team st

More photos to come
.

Photo by kind permission Henry Newbury

Ludgershall Winter Series Rnd 5

The Ludgershall winter series again fell victim to the winter weather. Snow & sleet caused race Commisaire Tim Knight to call a halt after the second of two 4th category races. It was disappointing but it was the only option as the 1km tank testing track in Wiltshire rapidly turned into an ice rink.

Ruan Vester won a bunch sprint in race 1 but the weather was already deteriorating. Mountain Biker Kim Little made his move with 3 laps to go in race 2. The gap was never large but the will to close it was not there, with the chasers battling the elements as much as Little!

The snow was heavy and the decision to cancel was met with no argument as most hurried back to the warmth of their cars. Rounds 2 and 3 were also cancelled because of snow and ice, one of the risks of early season racing. Organiser Darren Clarke is due some luck with the weather, hopefully for round 6 next Saturday.

Brief Results
Race 1

Race 2
1st Ruan Boster Bath Cycling Club
2nd Owen Barnes Salisbury Road and Mountain Bike CC
3rd Gary Shepherd Bath Cycling Club
4th Marc Diguisto
5th Joe Gray Cycle Club Basingstoke
6th Patrick Brown VC Venta
7th Joseph Henstridge Salisbury Road and Mountain Bike CC
8th David stoyle bath cc
9th Vittoria Bussi Zappi’s Ladies Team
10th Nick Skardon VC Walcot
11th Liam Walsh Salisbury Road and Mountain Bike CC
12th Liam Teesdale
13th Ben Davis Bristol Road Club
14th James Fulcher Portsdown Hill CC
15th Giles Prentice VC Walcot
16th Michael Ford Performance Cycles
17th David Peel Salisbury Road and Mountain Bike CC
18th James Chant Gillingham and District Wheelers
19th Martin Walker
20th Tom Bandy Portsdown Hill CC
21st Bonnie Van Wilgenburg Zappi’s Ladies Team
22nd Christopher Bennett Army Cycling Union
23rd Steve Lewis Salisbury Road and Mountain Bike CC
24th Barnaby Cox Gillingham and district wheelers

Stockbridge Down Road Race 2013

Andover Wheelers will once again promote the Stockbridge Down Road Race on Sun 5th May. The 79 mile race is open to Elite,1/2/3 category riders. .The tough, rolling course always provides an exciting race and is a welcome addition to the calendar in the Southern region.
1st £100 plus the “Weyhill Weekend” Trophy for 12 months
2nd £75
3rd £50
4th £40
5th £30
6th £20
7th £15
8th £15
9th £15
10th £15
1st Junior Rider (outside Top 10) £15
1st 2nd Cat Rider (outside Top 10) £15
1st 3rd Cat Rider (outside Top 10) £15
1st Hill Prime Lap 2 £10
1st Hill Prime Lap 3 £10
1st Hill Prime Lap 4 £10
1st Hill Prime Lap 5 £10



HQ Test Valley Community School
Roman Road, Stockbridge, Hants, SO20 6HA
Entry close date Sun, 28th Apr 2013
Organiser: Mr Michael Webber
13 Litchfield Close
Andover
Hampshire
SP10 4RR
mikeewebb@gmail.com
Andover Wheelers

Full Entry Details Here

41st Severn Bridge Road Race, Elite & Supporting Race.

ELITE RACE AT 12:00
3RD CATEGORY SUPPORTING RACE AT 11:30

Wessex Cyclo Cross Auction! Matt Goss Jersey from Milan-San Remo!

Geoff Shergold, Wessex Cyclocross Chairman writes…………..The Wessex Cyclocross Association have been donated a Framed HTC HIGHROAD Jersey, signed by Matt Gross, after he won the 2011 Milan - San Remo
There is a Photo of the Framed Jersey on the Wessex cx Web Site
It can be viewed at my house in Shirley Southampton, tel 02380778113 by appointment
The Auction will be held at Wessex Cross Do on Saturday 16th February
Or by sealed proxy votes via Kerie Wallace Wessex League Treasurer ( details on Wessex cx Web Site )

Crabwood CC Open 10 CHANGE OF DATE

Due to a clash with the TLI Sandie Radford Memorial Road race, the Crabwood CC Open 10 (solo, 2-up and tandem) has been brought forward one week to Saturday 13th April 2013. (still a 3pm start).

Dorset Miles, Bear Cross Sunday Ride

Twelve riders at Bear Cross on a dull February morning. The strong, cold wind that had made Saturdays ride hard had eased but it was still nagging as we headed over to Wimborne and up Rowlands hill. Down to Deans Grove, Furzehill, Holt and across to Witchampton and up to Hogstock. The descent is fast and a car was trying to overtake but we talked him out of it! Tarrant Rushton, Tarrant Keynston , Tarrant Crawford and a rear wheel puncture at Langton Long. It was mended so quick it should be on YouTube. Through Blandford, up Bryanstone, then down to Winterborne Stickland. The lane to Winterborne Houghton goes nowhere else but a right turn offers a seldom used climb of Bulbarrow, steep at the bottom, muddy and narrow, it’s a bit of heartbreaker but mercilessly free of traffic. It eases up as it joins the road up from Hedge End, there is still a mile or so to the top but it is big ringable from here. Another puncture descending to Ansty, not so impressively sorted this time, then Hilton, Milton Abbas and Milborne St Andrew, the road here has been flooded since November and is full of potholes. As was the lane to Bere Regis, queues of 4x4s waited to pay £25 to park in a field for a point to point race, there was no empathy from either group. There were strong legs on the front, functional threshold power, anaerobic threshold, sweetspot? Call it what you want but it was time to concentrate. The wheel in front, potholes, flood water, gravel all had to be watched as heart rates rose through Lane End, Hyde and Worgret. Briefly on the main road through Sandford before a parting of the ways at Holton Heath, who came our way? The strongest & the fittest, Oh well! Organford and up to Lytchett, a puncture on Pardys took the sting out of the climb and another one a few miles further on suggested the flint was still in the tyre. 4hrs 04 52

Dewey Breaks Course Record in Southdowns TT, Full Reults Added

©Larry Hickmott

Held this morning on a 34km circuit based from Storrington the course record of 47mins 16secs was beaten by Doug Dewey of the In-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT in a time of 46 mins 29secs........ writes organiser, Martin Richardson. Second and a welcome return back to health after his horrendous crash in last years Tour of Britain was Wouter Sybrandy of the Team IG- Sigma Sport team followed in third place by Sebastian Ader of the a3crg team. Fastest team award went to the South Downs Bikes/World of Books team comprising Simon Macnamara, Roger Smith and Gary Brind. For the first time this year there was a fastest Schoolboy category won by James Hansford of the South Downs Bikes/World of Books team.

1 Douglas Dewey In-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT 46.29
2 Wouter Sybrandy Team IG-Sigma Sport 48.00
3 Sebastian Ader a3crg 49.30
4 Chris McNamara Pedal Heaven RT 49.38
5 Peter Tadros In-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT 50.20
6 Rob McCarthy Pedal Heaven RT 51.57
7 Simon McNamara Southdowns Bikes 52.23
8 Roger Smith Southdowns Bikes 53.37
9 GARY BRIND South Downs Bikes 53.54
10 David Shepherd GS Stella 54.02
11 Keith Lea Addiscombe CC 54.34
12 Stuart Martingale Sotonia CC 55.06
13 Chris Twine Worthing Excelsior CC 55.12
14 Thomas Rae Kingston Wheelers 55.27
15 robin kirk Dorking CC 55.39
16 Ishmael Burdeau GS GAZZETTA 56.16
17 Stuart Bettis South Downs Bikes 56.42
18 Adrian Cansfield South Downs Bikes 57.03
19 Jason Gilbert Brighton Mitre CC 57.45
20 Geoff Smith Eastbourne Rovers CC 58.05
21 Connor Innes Southdowns Bikes 58.45
22 Ben Ware Dulwich Paragon CC 59.21
23 Mel Roberton Worthing Excelsior CC 1.00.01
24 Jason Burkisnhaw Blazing Saddles Cycles Ltd 1.00.05
25 Jon Fry Horsham Cycling 1.00.16
26 Mark Tyler Steyning Athletic Club 1.01.04
27 simon atkinson Worthing Excelsior CC 1.01.39
28 Stephen Atkinson Southdowns Bikes 1.01.45
29 NATHAN GALE Worthing Excelsior CC 1.01.48
30 James Horan Southdowns Bikes 1.02.33
31 Jay chisnall Brighton Mitre CC 1.02.48
32 Charlotte Easton Look Mum No Hands! 1.03.21
33 Ross Stringer Sussex Nomads CC 1.04.07
34 Michael Leonard Brighton Mitre CC 1.04.20
35 Bruce Samual Brighton Mitre CC 1.06.00
36 Rachel Przybylski Wyndymilla-uk Youth 1.07.38
37 James Hansford Southdowns Bikes 1.07.58
38 Claire Leonard Brighton Mitre CC 1.10.00
39 Kevin Plummer Southdowns Bikes 1.10.21
40 Moyra Amess Steyning Athletic Club 1.10.27
41 Ian McIlroy Bognor Regis CC 1.14.20
42 Joan Lennon Worthing Excelsior CC 1.16.13
43 Elaine Scott Brighton Excelsior CC 1.22.09
Stephen Morgan Tooting BC DNS
olly stevens Kent Velo Boys DNS
Mathew Bubear Southdowns Bikes DNS
Christian Faires Tuff Fitty Tri Club DNS
Nigel Stevens VTTA (Surrey & Sussex) DNS


Winner 23 year old Doug Dewey told "Local Riders, Local Races"
“The race result is obviously very pleasing, as a win to start off the year is always good for morale. In all honestly I didn't feel that comfortable during the ride itself, as I only borrowed the TT bike on Friday so other than a spin yesterday I haven't ridden it for four months! It always feel a bit odd getting onto a TT bike after a winter on the training hack, but once you get your head around the handling differences it feels really good to go fast again.
It was quite windy today so I was struggling to hold it up in the crosswinds sometimes, particularly on the fast descent, and I had a little issue with seeing through my fogged up visor but it's all character building! I felt very strong at in the last few miles so I'm happy with that.”
Dewey enjoys the road as well as riding against the clock and will be in action again next week at Perfs, What is he hoping for?
“Perf's is always a bit of a funny race as some people are going well early season and some are trying to smash their legs into shape, so I'm just hoping to get round and test my legs a bit at the end. I'm off to France the next day to race for Hennebont Cyclisme (www.hennebontcyclisme.com) so it's definitely good mentally to get a road race under the belt before I'm off.”
http://www.hennebontcyclisme.com/
www.hennebontcyclisme.com

Time Trial Season gets Underway in West Sussex!

Southdowns Bikes CC gets the time trialling season underway with their Sporting Classic event at Storrington, West Sussex on Sunday. The 34km sporting course is typical of early season racing, with hills and narrow, winding roads preferred to the drag strips of summer. Wouter Sybrandy (Team IG Sigma Sport) returns to racing after his accident at the Tour of Britain last September. The Dutchman crashed heavily on stage 8 fracturing his cheekbone & eye socket. He also incurred fractures to three lower vertebrae. Sybrandy holds the course record with 47:16 but the 27 year old is not the last man off. That privilege goes to Doug Dewey (In Gear QuickvIt Trainsharp RT) who will start two minutes behind Sybrandy. The seeded riders go off at the back of the field at two minute intervals and include Pete Tadros (In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT), Chris McNamara (Pedal Heaven), who along with Dewey will be warming up for the following weeks Perfs Pedal race. Roger Smith of the promoting club and Seb Ader (A3crg) could also be in with a shout. “Numbers are up on last year” says organiser Martin Richardson. HQ is Storrington village hall with the first rider off at 10:02.
Start List
1 10:01
2 Ben Ware Dulwich Paragon CC 10:02
3 Charlotte Easton Look Mum No Hands! 10:03 W
4 Kevin Plummer Southdowns Bikes 10:04
5 Rachel Przybylski Wyndymilla-uk Youth 10:05 W
6 Claire Leonard Brighton Mitre CC 10:06 W
7 Robin Kirk Dorking CC 10:07
8 Elaine Scott Brighton Excelsior CC 10:08 W
9 Mel Roberton Worthing Excelsior CC 10:09
10 Jon Fry Horsham Cycling 10:10
11 Jason Gilbert Brighton Mitre CC 10:11
12 Jason Burkisnhaw Blazing Saddles Cycles Ltd 10:12
13 Jay Chisnall Brighton Mitre CC 10:13
14 Joan Lennon Worthing Excelsior CC 10:14 W
15 Stephen Morgan Tooting BC 10:15
16 Keith Lea Addiscombe CC 10:16
17 Michael Leonard Brighton Mitre CC 10:17
18 Moyra Amess Steyning Athletic Club 10:18 W
19 Nathan Gale Worthing Excelsior CC 10:19
20 Adrian Cansfield South Downs Bikes 10:20
21 Olly Stevens Kent Velo Boys 10:21
22 Mathew Bubear Southdowns Bikes 10:22
23 Christian Faires Tuff Fitty Tri Club 10:23
24 Stephen Atkinson Southdowns Bikes 10:24
25 Chris Twine Worthing Excelsior CC 10:25
26 Nigel Stevens VTTA (Surrey & Sussex) 10:26
27 Simon Atkinson Worthing Excelsior CC 10:27
28 Ross Stringer Sussex Nomads CC 10:28
29 Stuart Martingale Sotonia CC 10:29
30 Ishmael Burdeau GS GAZZETTA 10:30
31 James Horan Southdowns Bikes 10:31
32 James Hansford Southdowns Bikes 10:32
33 Bruce Samual Brighton Mitre CC 10:33
34 Connor Innes Southdowns Bikes 10:34
35 David Shepherd GS Stella 10:35
36 Stuart Bettis South Downs Bikes 10:36
37 Thomas Rae Kingston Wheelers 10:37
38 Ian Mcilroy Bognor Regis CC 10:38
39 Geoff Smith Eastbourne Rovers CC 10:39
40 Gary Brind South Downs Bikes 10:40

42 Roger Smith Southdowns Bikes 10:42

44 Rob Mccarthy Pedal Heaven RT 10:44

46 Simon Mcnamara Southdowns Bikes 10:46

48 Sebastian Ader a3crg 10:48

50 Roger Smith Southdowns Bikes 10:50

52 Chris McNamara Pedal Heaven RT10:52

54 Peter Tadros In-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT 10:54

56 Wouter Sybrandy Team IG-Sigma Sport 10:56

58 Douglas Dewey In-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT 10:58
GS/989 -
Start on B2139 by footpath sign at entrance to Kithurst Farm and almost opposite New Town Road, Storrington (TQ077141).
Proceed southwest on B2139 via Amberley and Houghton to Whiteways Lodge roundabout (Marshals). Take second exit (straight on) now on A29 and proceed to Fontwell East roundabout (15.5km).(Check & Marshal). Take first exit (left) and follow A27 to Arundel West roundabout. Take first exit on to A284 to climb to Whiteways Lodge roundabout (Marshals). Take third exit to retrace outward route on B2139, taking care on the descent through Houghton village to
Finish at point opposite large oak tree situated approximately mid-way along lay-by on south side of road approximately 1km short of start.