Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Monday, 23 May 2011
Swashbuckler Primera Triathlon
Matt Molloy (Bike & Run) produced a solid all round performance to win the Swashbuckler Triathlon. Malloy finished 3 minutes ahead of Lee Piercy (TBAS) and nearly 9 minutes clear of third place Rob Brundish (Tri London). Held in the historic village of Bucklers Hard in the New Forest, the 18th century boatyard provided some of the ships for Nelsons navy and the Battle of Trafalgar. Heavy rain during the night had thankfully eased before the 05.15 swim start. The swim is in the lower reaches of
the Beaulieu river and the early start was necessary to avoid the stronger tidal currents. London-Based Molloy was wide awake however and had built a lead of 1.50 over Mark Westlake (Mccheesefour) by the end of the 1.2mile swim.
Local man Will Newbury (Primera-TBUK) was next out of the chilly water, a further minute down followed by the chasing pack that included Piercy & Brundish. They would chase in vain however, as once out on the rolling bike course across the New Forest, Molloy started to increase his lead. By now the sun was up but a cold wind blew across the exposed heathland, a wind that would test the resolve of the back markers.
Coming into T2, Molloy had a lead of some 5 minutes over Piercy, who had ridden strongly into 2nd place. Dave Woodgate (Team Endurance) had also put in a good effort on the bike and started the 14 mile run in 3rd spot. With a swim split of 27.50 and bike split of 2.02.08, Molloy had laid the foundations for a superb win. Piercy produced the fastest run of the day, his 1.26.16 consolidating second place. Brundish also had a storming run to overtake Woodgate and claim 3rd.
Tracy Cook (Primera-TBUK) was even more dominant in the ladies race. The world 35-39 age group champion led from start to finish. Cook was able to ease back on the run after building a lead of 10 minutes over Gill Fullen (Bedford Harriers) with Karen Axelsdottir (Optima Racing Team) a further 5 minutes back.
Result
1, Matt Molloy (Bike & Run) 27.50 2.02.08 1.28.45 3.58.44
2, Lee Piercy (TBAS) 31.05 2.04.28 1.26.16 4.01.49
3, Rob Brundish (Tri London) 31.20 2.9.10 1.26.31 4.07.02
Ladies.
1, Tracy Cook (Primera-TBUK) 33.04 2.16.04 1.41.06 4.30.14
2, Gill Fullen (Bedford Tri) 38.39 2.24.58 1.36.47 4.40.24
3, Karen Axelsdottir (Optima Racing) 34.34 2.17.04 1.54.00 4.45.48
What They Said:
Matt Molloy
“It was beautiful; I was dreading the start with the rain and cold and i did not know what to expect. I am a strong swimmer and my bike is strong I knew Lee was a strong runner, so if I was to have any chance of winning I had to put time into him on the swim & bike. I think I did that. I was running scared all the way through. It was hard work, every time I heard a breath I though it was Lee. It was only with 2 miles to go that I could relax. The conditions were good for racing fast, not too hot, the current was reasonably strong but that’s my strength. This is my main preparation for Ironman Austria so it’s a good confidence boost ahead of that. I am looking to go to Kona and my coach thinks I can qualify. Its my first one so i am not chasing a time, i am going to race it on feel. I am riding a 100 mile Time Trial next weekend, time trialling has bought my biking on no end, its a quality training session.
Lee Piercy.
“Actually I am really pleased; I have been suffering with a bad back and have struggled with my bike position. I was actually on a borrowed bike today that was too small for me, so I have to be happy with 2nd. I felt good on the second lap of the run and really pushed it. I was up till past midnight trying to sort my bike out so i only had about 2 hours sleep. Matt was very strong though and deserved to win. (Piercy is also racing Ironman Austria)
Tracy Cook
“It was amazing, the swim was not as tough as people said it would be, I did not kill myself in the swim, I felt really good on the bike, my shoulder is sore and I put that down to the rough road surfaces but I felt good. This time last year i was really poorly, i had anemia and came 10th, i was absolutely gutted. I have been persuaded to enter the world long course championships later this year. I am a teacher and my headmaster has given me some time off to train”
Dorset Rough Riders MTB Enduro
Paul Hopkins (Merida UK), stamped his authority on this 2 hour Enduro deep in Wareham forest on the first lap. Breaking away with teammate Gregg Shrosbree the Merida pair worked well together. However Shrosbree was unlucky to puncture and by the time he had rejoined the race he was left salvaging pride. Hopkins pushed on alone and steadily built a lead of over 4 minutes;
Hopkins & Shrosbree looked comfortable.
Roland Tilley (ridebike.co.uk) & James Horton (Primera) chased hard but could make no impression. The reigning national Veterans Points Champion, Hopkins, looked very comfortable on the mix of Single track, fire trails and dusty gravel paths that made up the bone dry course.
The long drag up to the finish line broke more than a few dreams but Hopkins looked very smooth. "I am racing elite in the SAMS series this year To bring me on a bit more” said the 40 year old Hopkins; he went on “I am as strong as I have ever been”. “We did say before the race we (Greg) would work together because it was quite windy, Gregg is getting really strong, and if he had not punctured it would have been close. I have been getting some more training in and it makes a difference. The next couple of months are pretty busy, I am getting married in July and I am on a 6 week pass!” he joked. Hopkins, who lives in Shaftesbury, is looking to win both the season long point’s competition & the national vet’s title.
Roland Tilley (ridebike.co.uk) & James Horton (Primera) rode most of the race together. Tilley was doing most of the work but could not shake Horton till halfway round the last lap. The experienced roadman/sprinter, twice a winner of the South Division Road Race Title, spends most of his time Off-Road these days and is also targeting the National Championships. Tilley had finished 2nd at the Moreton RR on Thursday evening.
Leading lady was Liz Gilmour,(ridebike.co.uk), who held off the challenge of Heidi Gould. (cc Weymouth) with Carol Tilley (ridebike.co.uk) rounding out the top three. Dorset Rough Riders put on a cracking event, with enthusiastic marshals, free post race massage and plenty of tea and cake on offer.
Friday, 20 May 2011
Moreton Village Road Race Series: The Midweek Fix!
The disappointing loss of the Wessex league has left the “cupboard bare” as far as road racing is concerned in Dorset. Pressure of work for Wessex League organisers Mark & Don Standaft has meant that race promoting this year must take a back seat. There is a possibility that the flagship, 3 Day Tour of Dorset Event will go ahead but this is far from certain. Barnsfield Heath (arguably the best closed circuit in the U K) effectively disappeared from the race calendar a few years ago. The few races run under British Cycling regulations never lived up to the TLI events of 10 years ago. Warm summer evenings would see over 100 riders on the traffic free circuit and with plenty of daylight, midweek races of 40 miles were possible
Whilst not replacing Barnsfield, Moreton has now become the midweek “fix” for Dorset roadies. Pete Washington and CC Weymouth put the first series on some seven years ago. Preferring the more relaxed approach to racing, they have promoted under The League International regulations, so successful at Barnsfield.
Always the driving force behind the Moreton series, Pete Washington has been reluctant to give up the reins. However this season he is taking more of a back seat. A meeting, appropriately held at Moreton Village Hall, race HQ, earlier this year, was called to discuss the future of the series. The outcome was a co-operative approach to running the events. Community Cycling if you will! Local clubs are all involved but the fundamental principal is “If you want to race you must be prepared to marshal”
Its early days, we are only two races in, but things have gone well, with riders registering to marshal on the event website. If all the riders take their turn at helping, then only once will be necessary
Perhaps it is the way forward; there is certainly a great vibe down at Moreton on Thursday evenings with post race cups of tea and cakes, fuelling the usual “I could have won” conversations. The Moreton Village Evening Road Race Series is proudly grass roots and there is nothing wrong with that. It is certainly no Premier Calendar but it is keeping racing on the roads down in Dorset.
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