Julia Shaw: A Quick Chat

I caught up with the newly crowned 10 mile Time Trial Champion, Julia Shaw (Drag2Zero.com) at the New Forest CC 32. Julia's time of 1.16.57 was 1 min 51 secs quicker than her ride in the same event last year, she is in form. She was happy to talk as she loaded her bike into her car, that familiar post race adrenalin still pumping. Having done a lot of 10s and shorter stuff ahead of the Nationals, the New Forest event felt "quite a bit different" for the Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist, “I felt better than I thought I would, so I am quite happy really” Shaw looked controlled and strong on the tailwind section of the course, heading East towards Lymington. I asked her how she paces her rides, heart rate, watts or feel.” “A bit of everything I think, certainly, at the beginning, more on watts to stop me going off too hard but I did actually go off too hard because it felt quite easy” she laughs "I kept telling myself, I think you need to slow down! I knew the last section was going to be into a headwind, my legs were sort of falling apart a bit but actually it was not as hard as it could have been, so I just about managed to hang in there!”

Hang in there she certainly did, catching and passing many of the riders in front of her and if her legs were falling apart, nobody noticed!
Targets for this year (after the 10) include this weeks National 25 mile Championships, “I have got to do well in that as I am hoping to get shortlisted for the Worlds in Copenhagen in September.” That’s the plan; it’s quite an ambitious plan” she openly admits.
“To get shortlisted, my targets were the 10 and the 25 and then it just depends on what happens at the British Time Trial Champs, I suspect!"

Shaw catches her two minute man. Commonly referred to as being "Chicked"!


I mention the 50 and the 100 “I'm going to do the 50 but I don’t think I will do the 100, its not really compatible really with going to Copenhagen. To get really fit for the National TT champs I do probably need a break in the middle of the season. I could do the 100 but it just doesn’t really fit, I have done it before and it is a long way up north” I suggest that Copenhagen is a more appealing target; “It is really, yeah, it’s an ambitious target, I may not make it, but it’s nice to have the chance. It’s not going to be easy.” We could all do easy things, I point out. “Yes exactly, for me it’s like the next step, I wanted to go to the Commonwealths last year. That was a target and to do it was fantastic really. Delhi suited me from a course point of view and so does Copenhagen in that it is flat. I’m in with a chance!”

Talking to Julia Shaw it is obvious she is focused and determined,professional even, certainly in her approach. Yet there is something more than that, there is a sense that she is seizing an opportunity. A chance that has to be taken now!

Rob Jefferies Remembrance Ride

On a chilly, damp, Bank Holiday Monday, over 70 cyclists turned out to show their respect for the late Rob Jefferies, who died after being hit by a car whilst out training. They filled the chain link ferry across to Shell Bay, where even more were waiting. Rob's widow, Jane, Daughter Eve and stepson George had all courageously come out to ride. Jane admits to being “not very fit” but, complete with wicker basket on the front of her “sit up and beg” she led the bunch across Studland Heath.

The weather closed in but riding along, sharing tales of Rob, spirits were lifted, cyclists are a resilient lot, of course they are, it goes with the territory.

Dropping down into Swanage, where Rob lived, the bunch came to a halt at the pier. More tales were told, a few photographs were taken and, cyclists being cyclists, a few cups of tea were drunk.

It was a fitting tribute to a very popular man. Well done to Chris Ball, who, touched by the loss of a “very close friend” pulled this ride together. Several of the group had ridden the Hounslow 100 the day before but still found the legs to pay their dues to the Big Man. Spare, also a thought for Bryce Dyer, who was riding with Rob on that fateful day. Bryce had helped in the aftermath of the accident and no doubt that will live with him. However he was happy to be back "in the wheels" and was very appreciative of the support shown.

"See you up the Road Rob"

Eve And Jane Jefferies.

New Forest 32

Steven Whitewick (UTAG-YAMAHA) took 1 min 34 secs off Steve Walkings 6 year old course record to win the Circuit of the New Forest Time Trial. Whitewick, who placed 8th in last weeks National 10, produced a storming ride on a less than perfect day. A strong south westerly wind blew the riders out to Lymington and across Beaulieu Heath. However as they turned onto the A35 at Lyndhurst they felt the true strength of this cruel wind, that seems to have blown away May on the south coast. Of course the fast men never seem to suffer like the rest and Whitewick was scything his way through the field. His time of 1.11.15 was over two minutes quicker than second place Russell Kober (Hainault RC) with World age group triathlon Champion, James Gilfillan (Team feat) third with 1.15.20. Whitewicks teammate Julian Jenkinson was a non starter, having ridden and won the Manchester Wheelers 50 the previous afternoon with a 1.43.15

Julia Shaw (Drag2Zero.com) was off last in the 44 strong field, a nod of respect to the Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist. Fresh from her gold medal winning ride in the National 10, Shaw was over a minute quicker than her time last year, 1.16.57 putting her in the top ten.

Russell Kober

James Gilfillan


What they said:
Stephen Whitewick, "I had my eye on Steve's course record, i took a couple of time checks and was going well so i knew it would be close. I was really pleased with my ride in the 10, i am doing every national championship, up to the 100, i struggle with the 100, not the physical side, i like to ride fast, i like the intensity of the shorter stuff, i like the feeling of nearly getting a heart attack i like that sort of buzz. With the 100 you sit there for 2 and half hours and wait for the fatigue to set in " I will also ride the Time Trial Champs and maybe next year the Rudy Project, i love those courses, technical, got to think about it a bit, some horrible dead junctions, it feels like you are actually riding your bike"

Julia Shaw: "I have done lots of tens,going into the National 10, it was quite a bit different today, i felt better than i thought i would, i am about 1.40 quicker than last year so i am quite happy with that really. I did go off too hard today but it felt really easy with the tail wind. I kept telling myself to slow down as i knew the last section was into a headwind. My legs were falling apart a bit on the last stretch"


Provisional result

1, STEPHEN WHITEWICK (UTAG-YAMAHA) 1.11.15
2, RUSSELL KOBER (HAINAUL RC) 1.13.42
3, JAMES GILFILLAN (TEAMFEAT) 1.15.20
4, RAY HUGHES (CLARENCE WHEELERS) 1.16.29
5, ANDREW BRYSON (SOTONIA CC) 1.16.37
6, PAUL MATTHEWS (UTAG-YAMAHA) 1.16.39
7, JAMES GOWARD (TEAM SCOTT PLASMA) 1.16.42
8, JULIA SHAW (DRAG2ZERO.COM) 1.16.57
9, HARRY BULSTRODE (SOUTHAMPTON RC) 1.17.00
10, TERRY ICKE (POOLE WHEELERS ) 1.18.22

Whitewick Post Race

The Start

More Images from Swashbuckler Triathlon

Rob Jefferies

Rob Jefferies was tragically killed in a road accident on Thursday Evening (26/05/11}. Rob was out training with Bryce Dyer when the accident happened near Wareham.

I spoke at length with Rob just last Sunday at the Dorset Rough Riders MTB event and I can still hear his voice.
I was taking photographs, Rob was Commisaire. He had ridden the Wessex 50 mile TT that morning and recorded 2.03.11. He was enjoying a good start to his season having ridden a PB for 25 in a club event the week before.

Rob talked about his hopes for the future; he had left his job with British Cycling and was hoping to get a teaching job. It was a “courageous move” he told me but he was sure it was the right move for him. We talked about the new Bournemouth Track, due to open next month. Track was Rob’s real passion and he spoke enthusiastically about the prospect of track racing on his doorstep. We shared a table at the Poole Wheelers dinner in the winter and he spoke of nothing else. It’s very difficult to know what to say. Here is Rob riding the EDCA 24 in April. See you up the road Rob.

ROB JEFFERIES (Poole Wheelers)

Local Weekly Round Up

Image courtesy of Graham Robins

• Will Stephenson (Bournemouth Arrow/Hotel Collingwood) won the South Division junior road race title after a 30 mile solo breakaway. Pretty impressive as there was a very strong wind blowing. Stephenson, enjoying a great season, won by over two minutes on the rolling 50 mile course over Stockbridge Down in Hampshire.

• Strong winds made the going tough in the Wessex Road Club 50 mile time trial, held at Lytchett Matravers Reigning national 12 hour champion, Julian Jenkinson (Utag-Yamaha) was victorious but his time of 1.49.47 was only 18 seconds ahead of Jon Wynn, 1.50.05, with Tom Alliban (Revo Racing) in third, 1.52.56. Terry Icke,66, (Poole Wheelers) rode strongly to claim 4th in 1.56.28. Icke is also enjoying a good season, and is planning to ride the World Masters Track Champioships, at Manchester later this year. Icke will target the 3,000 metre pursuit.

• Last years overall series winner, Jason Eastwood (Hargroves Cycles) sprinted to victory in round 2 of the Moreton Road Race series. A field of 66 lined up for what proved to be a fast race. The scratch group caught the handicap groups in front, with two of the ten 3 mile laps remaining. Eastwood proved unstoppable in the dash for the line. Roland Tilley (ridebike.co.uk) and Andrew Boyd (revo racing) took the minor places. Speaking about his plans for this season Eastwood said, "I am aiming to podium at the world masters track champs in September and also intend to do a bit of time trialling, as i have just bought a TT bike. I have just come back from racing in Holland which was great, so am hoping to do more out there and Belgium too. Also doing a couple of Crits in California in August, just for the experience"
(I dont have many details yet, but a crash in the finishing straight at Moreton, last night, Thursday 25 resulted in ambulance being called)

Paul Hopkins (Merida UK) was a clear winner of the Dorset Rough Riders MTB 2 hour Enduro. Held at Coldharbour, deep in the Wareham Forest, Hopkins led from the first lap. Working well with teammate Gregg Shrosbree, the pair built a healthy lead. However, Shrosbree suffered a punctured and by the time he rejoined the race, he was left salvaging pride. Hopkins pushed on alone and built a lead of over 5 minutes, and looked very comfortable on the mix of single track, fire trails and dusty gravel paths. Roland Tilley (ridebike.co.uk) & James Horton (Primera) chased hard but could make no impression. Tilley finally dropped Horton on the last lap to take second, the Primera rider hanging on for third. Liz Gilmour (ridebike) won the ladies race from Heidi Gould (CC Weymouth) with Carol Tilley third.

Club Events
BJW 10 24/5 P472c 21 STARTERS
1,L PIERCY (DRAG2ZERO) 23.36
2,K RIDGE 25.21
3,C WHITE 26.02

NEW FOREST 10 24/5 P311 33 STARTERS
1,J GILFILIAN (TEAM FEAT) 21.58
2,S BARNES (GA CYCLES) 23.18
3,C HUMM 23.22

CC WEYMOUTH 10 24/5 P451 18 STARTERS
1,B RIGLAR 22.48
2,J CHAPMAN 23.09
3,C LAWSON 23.48

POOLE WH 25/5 P459 22 STARTERS
1,T ICKE 22.44
2,G DIGHTON 23.47
3,S.BIRTWISTLE 23.20

BOURNEMOUTH ARROW 26/05 10 P3II 17 STARTERS
1,J GILFILIAN (TEAM FEAT)
2,J DIBBEN (HARGROVES CYCLES)
3,P MATTHEWS (UTAG-YAMAHA)


And Finally a few lines from Andy Preston (CC Weymouth)

"I was getting ready for, and doing, my first 400 km audax from Shrewsbury to Holyhead and back …first time I've ridden through the night, which really was quite an experience – although I expect more enjoyable for being in a group than being on a TT - I can understand how you'd get into it ;-). Our main problem was the incredible storm that rolled around snowdownia for the whole afternoon and night, which made it more challenging than I'd expected."

Images from Dorset Rough Riders MTB Enduro