Team Tor 2000 Circuit Series Event 3Thursday 4th June 2009Somerset RC all the moves were covered and nothing was allowed to get away so early on.Somerset RC) put in a massive effort and rode off the front of the bunch taking Doug Dewey (Pendragon) with him. These two were setting the pace as the bunch strung out behind as attempts were made to bring them back. To their credit, they held on and were soon to be joined by 8 others bridging across along the back straight. These riders were Richard Tangay (Pendragon), Gary Chambers (Cyclelogic), Steve Dring (Echelon Spuik), Dave Moffett (Chard Wheelers), Blake Pond (Southfork Racing), Ian Rees (Team Type 1), Phil Borrett (Bikinmotion) and the yellow jersey of Rob Willcocks (Somerset RC).Somerset RC and Pendragon policing the moves it was proving extremely difficult to get away.
Merryfield Airfield,
With summer finally here, the sunshine brought out another mass of riders for the third of seven circuit events at the Merryfield airfield. There was yet another record number of entries from the youths, women and senior men, showing that this series is continuing to grow in popularity.
Youth racing action started the evening off as usual followed by the masses in the 4th, 3rd and E/1/2’s. The weather remained fine with winds only picking up slightly as a slight South Easterly cross wind came across the finishing straight.
The riders gathered for the usual safety briefing and President Obama gag with some anxiety as all the favourites were there. The whistle blew and the E/1/2’s started with the 3rd and 4th category rider’s right behind.
The race started almost too casually as riders slowly got into a rhythm, but it wasn’t long before attacks started firing off from the front. With a good team representation from Pendragon and Yellow jersey holders
Attacks kept on coming but the bunch was sticking together. As they approached half way the whistle sounded to indicate the intermediate sprint. James Smith (
At the mid-way sprint prime the 8 chasers were almost on top of the two leaders, but they held on to take the prime, Dewey first, Smith second closely followed by Willcocks, Pond and Borrett as the 10 came together.
The break represented a good balance of the strongest teams and riders and it wasn’t long before they were pulling away from the main bunch. With a few exceptions, these 10 were working well going through and off to build on the gap they had.
Meanwhile, back in the bunch things were far from over. Riders who missed the break were still eager to jump across to the leaders. This included event number 2 winner Ben Luckwell (Sport Beans/Wilier). But with
The breakaway was now clear by a considerable margin and the bunch was no longer a threat as they entered the final few laps. A quick glimpse behind saw a group of 3 chasers who had managed to slip away from the bunch, but again, were no threat to the break.
Just before the bell it was Richard Tangay who was pushing the break with a quick flex of the muscles to try and drop a few of the weaker riders off the back. His attempts were in vain as the 10 stayed together through the bell and into the final few moments of racing.
Somerset RC in the form of power house James Smith kept the pace high to stop anyone jumping away at the last minute. Another massive effort saw the break strung out as they cornered the back of the circuit for the final time.
It was then that Phil Borrett tried his luck and attacked the break with half a lap to go and was closely followed by Steve Dring and Dave Moffett. Borrett had a few seconds over the 2 chasers as the remaining break watched them ride away. Into the final mile and in another display of strength Smith found his way to the front once more and started to reel the escapees in.
Into the last 200 yards the three were within touching distance as Pond went early followed by, Willcocks, Chambers and Rees. They got up to sprint speed, passed Dring and Moffett just before the line, but Borrett had done enough to narrowly secure the win with Willcocks taking second from Rees in third and Pond fourth.
Provisional Results:
E/1/2
1 Phil Borrett Bikinmotion
2 Rob Willcocks Somerset RC
3 Ian Rees Team Type 1
4 Blake Pond Southfork Racing
5 Dave Moffett Chard Wheelers
6 Steve Dring Echelon Spuik
7 Gary Chambers Cyclelogic
8 Richard Tangay Pendragon Kalas
9 Doug Dewey Pendragon Kalas
10 James Smith Somerset RC
11 John Hollier Pendragon Kalas
12 Josh Yetman Qoroz Novotec
13 Graeme Lackford Pendragon Kalas
14 Greg Sandy Somerset RC
15 Jamie Howard Exeter Wheelers
Gary Chambers, www.cyclelogic.co.uk leading the ten man break at Ilton.
[caption id="attachment_245" align="aligncenter" width="384" caption="Gary Leading the break - Picture By Richard Owens"]
[/caption]
