The damp roads from overnight rain were already drying out as the riders started in bright sunshine and a fresh south westerly and it was that fresh south westerly that made the 10 lap Lulworth circuit just a little more testing than it always is! The major break of the race stuck as five strong riders forced a gap on the third circuit which was already 40 seconds by the end of the lap 3. Mike Ford of VC St Raphael, Adrian Lawson & Calum Croft of Latchem Sunrsise RT, Matt Downie of Primera Sports – Team Jobs and Ben Davis of the Bristol Road Club constituted the break and they worked well together to gradually eke out an increasing gap over the bunch. TJ Key has been part of that group but fell back spending a couple of laps in no mans land before being reabsorbed by the bunch. Adrian Lawson took the first prime with apparent ease. Did the others contest it? Hard to tell – everyone looks like they suffer up Newtown Hill as everyone does suffer on it!
By the second prime on lap 7 the gap had grown to around 90 seconds and Calum Croft repeated his team mates earlier success looking ominously strong as he passed over the line ahead of the others. The gap seemed to stabilise on the bunch who were unable to make in roads. Its a course where individuals have won off long breakaway efforts: the 4000ft + of climbing gives no drafting advantage and everyone drops like a stone downhill solo or in a pack. The lead group only disintegrated by in the final mile or so when Adrian Lawson was the first to be distanced leaving the other four to fight out the uphill drag. It was Primera Sports-Team Jobs Matt Downie who outlasted Mike Ford for the win, Ben Davis was close third, with Calum Croft fourth and Lason fifth. Despite several attempts by riders from the bunch to get away the field essentially finished together. It was the home club’s John Samways who struck out for the line first but he was beaten by Nic McKibbin ot Bath CC who brought the bunch home in sixth with Samways seventh, winning the first third cat rider prize. The quality of the racing was such that only one other 3rd cat made the top 15.
Thanks to Bob Richardson, Warren Jesse & Chris Courage
1 Matt Downie Primera-TeamJobs 2nd
2 Mike Ford VC St Raphael 2nd
3 Ben Davis Bristol RC 2nd
4 Calum Croft Latchem Sunwise Race Team 2nd
5 Adrian Lawson Latchem Sunwise Race Team 2nd
6 Nic McKibbin Bath Cycling Club 2nd
7 John Samways Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 3rd
8 Mark Perry Ride 24/7 2nd
9 James Peckham Sotonia CC 2nd
10 Martin Rowland UK-Biking/Bmth Cycleworks/Trek 2nd
11 Phil Cole Mud Sweat n Gears CC 2nd
12 Ashley Hutchison VC St Raphael 2nd
13 Warren Jesse Excel Pedal Heaven Academy 2nd
14 Tom Temple Bath Cycling Club 2nd
15 Kim Little Merida Factory Racing 3rd
16 Andrew Carter Cycleworks.co.uk 2nd
17 Steve Thomas Ride 24/7 2nd
18 Grant Leavy DRK Racing 3rd
19 Sean Frost Tri UK 3rd
20 James Hywel-Davies Latchem Sunwise Race Team 2nd
21 Joseph Clark I-Team Cyclists' Club 2nd
22 Richard Moore Estera p’red by Adventure Cycles 3rd
23 Tom Sefton Team Vision Innovative Leisure 2nd
24 Ryan Weston UK-Biking/Bmth Cycleworks/Trek 2nd
25 Harry Chamberlain Southampton University RC 3rd
26 Sam Holder DRK Racing 3rd
27 Julian Lockwood Primera-TeamJobs 3rd
28 Philip Godfrey Sotonia CC 3rd
29 Jack Hardwicke Strada-Sport 3rd
30 Colin Parry Ride 24/7 2nd
31 Jos Kertzman Bath Cycling Club 3rd
32 Jack Salvidge Cycleservice Sidmouth 2nd
33 Luke Barfoot Tri UK 2nd
34 Samuel Wadsley Poole Wheelers CC 3rd
35 Ed Slot Sotonia CC 2nd
36 Ben Scott-Munden Sotonia CC 2nd
37 Brook Elgie Sotonia CC 2nd
38 Callum Dunford Sarum Velo 3rd
39 Frazier Carr Team Vision Innovative Leisure 2nd
40 Roland Tilley Weber Creative Interiors 3rd
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