In a Box on Bulbarrow Hill!, Elliot Porter wins "One Day in Dorset"

Elliot Porter (Rapha Condor JLT) won “One Day in Dorset” on top of Bulbarrow Hill, outsprinting Jack Beezer (Arbis-Colbert Cycles RT) after 80 tough, wet miles in the county. Heavy rain left standing water on large parts of the course, forcing commisaires to run the race entirely on the 10 mile finishing circuit. Porter had held a 10 second lead at the bell with Andrew Feather (Bikeshed UEX), which was up to 30 seconds as they descended the hill for the 8th and last time. Beezer forced his way across after Milton Abbas as the remains of the bunch hesitated. It was Beezer who lead out but Porter looked confident as Feather faded and the Rapha man celebrated with style and a touch of relief.

The bad weather had put the event in doubt; the two bigger circuits were flooded in places and deemed unsafe. The race was shortened from 97 miles to 80 miles, 8 laps of the Milton Abbas loop would take their toll but at least we had a race! And there was a determination from the race officials that was rewarded with a positive, attacking peloton. Early punctures dashed the hopes of a few including Dave Clarke (KTM road-and-trail.com) & Jozef Metelka (Spirit Bikes) as Robert Moore (Pedal Heaven Colbornes RT) held a lead of 28 seconds after two laps, Moore was riding strongly but needed some company.

His teammate Francis Cade tried to ride across but only succeeded in bringing the race together. Russell Falder (Clay Cross RT) lead the third time up through Milton, Falder persisted and the gap grew, it looked promising. It looked even better when Owen James (BH-Solidor-WAM Youth) bridged across but it was just a signal for Falder to drop back. James, though, looked good and pressed on building a lead of over two minutes. BH-Solidor had control of the race with James up the road and strength in the, by now splitting bunch.

The onus was on Pedal Heaven and driven by the power of Moore, the gap started to tumble, James had looked smooth and strong but the cold, wet conditions were starting to tell. With two laps to go the gap was 1 min 28sec but the chase was speeding up and James’s brave move was over.

Through Milton Abbas the penultimate time, Elliot Porter (Rapha Condor JLT) put the pressure on, Andy Feather (Bikeshed-UEX) matched Porters effort and the two were away, working well together.

Beezer had punctured early in the race but helped by senior teammate, Richard Wood, was soon safely back in the wheels, following the moves. BikeShed UEX team boss, David Walters had talked about the last two laps being “the race” in his pre-match team talk at the HQ and he was proved right. Jack Beezer buried himself to get across to Porter & Feather, then, knowing Porter had more speed tried to win from the front but Porter was just too good. Less than half of the 65 starters finished and most were "in a box" after 9 ascents of Bulbarrow Hill.

Rider Reaction:
Elliot Porter
“ I did not really put the hammer down, I just put a really hard pace, I had Andy with me and he was willing to ride, he was fantastic. Andy was saying there was a group coming but I said no, no, they are going to lose heart, they will give up, it’s a big effort when you are chasing after the climb everyone looks at each other and I knew that was going to happen so just ride. I was a bit scared when Jack (Beezer) got to us with a kilometre to go, he looked strong but had done a big effort to get to us, as soon as saw the chequered flag I just went. It was a bit sketchy early on, good riders were getting dropped on the descent, the decision to change the course was good it made it safer. I am absolutely over the moon, I am sure my team manager will be really happy, we have just won the tour series yesterday with Felix (English) and Hugh Carthy is doing really well in Japan. I am riding a Pro-Kermesse in Belgium next week then after that the Tour of Korea”
Jack Beezer
“ I am really pleased, I punctured early on but managed to get back on and recover in the bunch. I won the Tour of the Milburys two weeks ago and am in good form”
Andy Feather
“ It was a very good race, Elliot kicked on the steep climb and I just followed him, when Elliot was drilling it on the front it was really hard.” Everyone had spoken about the course being super hard but it was not that bad”
Mikey Mottram
“ I liked the course, but I struggled on the descent I like a hard race and it was all about sticking in that front group, I knew Dave (Clarke) had punctured but he could not get back on, we probably left it a bit too late to chase down the front three”
Henry Latimer, Ashley Dennis, Lawrence Carpenter
Catford CC/Equipe Banks
“It was a really good race, tough, riders dropping off, punctures, it was just about sticking in there, the first couple of laps were really hard I got dropped early on managed to get back on and started to feel better. It was the hardest course we have ridden this year, just a shame we could not use the whole circuit, the organisers did really well to put it on, its nice to see some sponsorship and go away with something”

1, ELLIOT PORTER (RAPHA CONDOR JLT) 3.59.54
2, JACK BEEZER (ARBIS –COLBERT CYCLES st
3, ANDREW FEATHER (BIKESHED-UEX)@1 s
4,MICHAEL MOTTRAM (KTM ROAD & TRAIL .COM)@14s
5, ASHLEY COX ( CC LUTON)@45
6, HENRY LATIMER (CATFORD CC)
7, ROBERT MCCARTHY (PEDAL HEAVEN COLBORNES RT) @1.13
8, COLIN PARRY (BH-SOLIDOR ) ST
9, RYAN PERRY (ARMY CU) ST
10, RICHARD WOOD (ARBIS COLBERT CYCLES) ST
11, RICHARD CARTLAND (SOUTHDOWN BIKES ST
12, LAWWRENCE CARPENTER (CATFORD CC) ST
13, ASHLEY DENNIS (CATFORD CC) ST
14, CONOR RYAN (BH-SOLIDOR WAM YOUTH)
15, ROBERT MOORE (PEDAL HEAVEN) @ 1.38
16, ALEXANDER ROYLE (ARMY CU) ST
17, DEAN SHANNON (RICHARDSONS TREK) @3.43
18, CALUM CROFT (MUD,SWEAT N’GEARS) @4.09
19, RUSSEL FALDER (CLAY CROSS) @4.12
20, MITCHELL WEBBER (PEDAL HEAVEN) ST
21, LOANNIS SPANOPOULOS (BH-SOLIDOR WAM YOUTH) ST
22, JAMES WALSBY (CATFORD CC) @5.51
23, MAX STEDMAN (PEDAL HEAVEN COLBORNES RT)
24, EWAN FARROW(ILKLEY CC)@7.01
25, BENDAVIS (BH-SOLIDOR WAM YOUTH) @8.17
26, OWEN JAMES (BH-SOLIDOR WAM YOUTH) @8.45
27, JOZEF METELKA (SPIRIT BIKES) @1 LAP
28, DAVE CLARKE (KTM road-and-trail.com) @1 lap
29, JAMES PHILLIPS (DREAM CYCLING) @ 1 LAP
30 THOMAS BOUREN (VC MEUDON) @1 LAP
PRIME 1 ROBERT MOORE
PRIME 2 OWEN JAMES
TEAM CATFORD CC EQUIPE/ BANKS
"One Day in Dorset" was sponsored by "Local Riders,Local Races, Jurassic Cabs, ImageSports & members & friends of Poole Wheelers.