It’s a big weekend for the ‘early season classics’ and on Saturday, Hemel Hempstead hold their Spring Chicken/Roy Thame Cup double header
Larry Hickmott writes … The races have been held as long as I can remember (this year the 24th edition) and form part of two long running races that are held over the weekend with the Jock Wadley on the Sunday. On the Saturday morning is the category 3/4/Women road race, the Spring Chicken and then in the afternoon is the Roy Thame Cup.
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Roy Thame was one of the most influential people in the professional cycling scene in the UK for several decades from the 60’s. The former sailor had worked at a cycle shop in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, where he lived and Roy joined the Holdsworth (Bicycle) Company in 1953.
He worked with the company for more than 50 years and managed the professional team that the company established in the 1960s as well as Great Britain teams in World Championships. Thame also served on British Cycling Federation committees nationally and acted as commissaire on domestic multi-day races such as the Tour of the West. Roy Thame died aged 85 in 2006.
Previous winners of the trophy include Dan Staite (2007), Liam Holohan (2008), Justin Hoy (2009), Darren Lapthorne (Australian) 2010 and Tom Moses in 2011.
The event is held on a circuit around a rolling course in the Claydons in Buckinghamshire. Two races take place during the day: the Spring Chicken RR starts at 9:30am and is for 3rd & 4th (& women) category riders over 75km (just over four laps). The Roy Thame Cup starts at 13:30 and is for Elite, 1st & 2nd cats over a distance of 110km (just over 6 laps). Headquarters is at the East & Botolph Claydon Village Hall (Note the change to previous years).
Over the years, the race has attracted more and more of the top teams and while some are racing abroad at this time in 2012 (Endura Racing, Raleigh etc), the race features quite a few strong squads. The GB Academy may well be smarting from their defeat at the Eddie Soens where they were well beaten not just by the Endura Racing squad who filled the podium but also other teams like Scott-Metaltek. Simon Yates, winner of a Premier Calendar event in 2011 and also a stage in the Tour de Avenier is one of the favourites from the team.
A former winner, Justin Hoy, pictured below hamming it up for the camera way back in 2003, is entered as is Steve Golla who’s name seemed a permanent fixture in the results from the winter series this season at Hillingdon. Scott Metalk will be on a high after good results at the Eddie Soens and in a sprint, the likes of Marcel Six will be a danger for any of the riders wanting the victory. Marcin Bialoblocki though from Node4 seemingly won with ease the Severn Bridge Road Race last weekend and is backed up by a strong squad.
The name’s Hoy, Justin Hoy, prolific winner and never shy to ham it up for the camera as he did in 2003.
Rapha Condor Sharp also have a strong team of youngsters led by the experienced James McCallum. With the likes of Dean Downing and Kristian House overseas, the responsibility for going for the win and emulating the one by Darren Lapthore for the team in 2010 falls on the shoulders of the riders such as James, Richard Handley, Aussie Richard Lang and South African Chris Jennings.
Then there is the local mafia, Corely Cycles based in nearby Milton Keynes. Matt Jones did the business for them in the Severn Bridge with second place and will be confident on local roads. Finally, UK Youth have a team entered and David McGowan has already been looking strong and will be a threat as will James Stewart while Greg Mansell has already tasted victory this year.
It is a strong field and with the level of the sport stronger than it has ever been in the UK, and more team based, odds on a sprint finish are high. It used to be odds on that the field would split wide open on the rolling circuit but this year, that may not be the case and a group sprint may well be on the cards.
The course is rolling but not super hard. Not as hard as Severn Bridge I’d say if my memory serves me right from the days I’d train over those roads and I have seen bunch kicks on harder courses in recent years. It certainly looks like it will be a cracking race!
ROY THAME
1 Tom Moses 100% ME Elite
2 George Atkins 100% ME Elite
3 Owain Doull 100% ME Elite
4 Joseph Kelly 100% ME Elite
5 Alistair Slater 100% ME 1st
6 Simon Yates 100% ME Elite
7 Stephen Bradbury AW Cycles 2nd
8 Harry Strudley AW Cycles 2nd
9 James Jones Beeline Bicycles RT 1st
10 James Cartridge Cadence Cannondale 2nd
11 Douglas Coleman CC Luton 2nd
12 James Fox CC Luton 1st
13 Mike Jackson CC Luton 1st
14 Kieran Brady City Cycle Centre.com 2nd
15 Jon Mozley Cyclepremier Racing Team 1st
16 Russell Falder Cyclepremier Racing Team Elite
17 George Moore Cyclepremier Racing Team Elite
18 Henry Latimer Dream Cycling 2nd
19 Andy Betts Felt-Colbornes RT Elite
20 Justin Hoy Felt-Colbornes RT Elite
21 Richard Mardle Felt-Colbornes RT Elite
22 Lee Smith Felt-Colbornes RT Elite
23 John Wager Felt-Colbornes RT Elite
24 Peter Wager Felt-Colbornes RT 1st
25 Steve Golla High Wycombe Cycling Club 2nd
26 Jake Hales ig markets/ sigma sport Elite
27 Andrew Udall Mammoth Lifestyle Racing Team Elite
28 Dale Appleby Metaltek – Scott Elite
29 Matthew Gee Metaltek – Scott Elite
30 Anthony Gibb Metaltek – Scott 1st
31 Andrew Hastings Metaltek – Scott Elite
32 Marcel Six Metaltek – Scott Elite
33 Ben Stockdale Metaltek – Scott Elite
34 Alex Peters Mosquito Bikes 1st
35 Marcin Bialoblocki Node4 – Giordana Racing Elite
36 David Clarke Node4 – Giordana Racing Elite
37 Kieran Frend Node4 – Giordana Racing 1st
38 Matt Higgins Node4 – Giordana Racing Elite
39 Philip Lavery Node4 – Giordana Racing
40 James Moss Node4 – Giordana Racing 1st
41 Anders Christiensen Pedal Heaven RT Elite
42 Tim Elverson Pedal Heaven RT Elite
43 Chris McNamara Pedal Heaven RT Elite
44 Alex Murison Performance Cycles CMI 1st
45 Todd Hotchkiss Performance Cycles-CMI 1st
46 Conor Ryan Performance Cycles-CMI 1st
47 Harry Bulstrode Peter Hansford Cycles 1st
48 Rory Townsend Prestige Velo Club 2nd
49 Adam Bright Primal Europe Powered By RuTrainingToday.co.uk Elite
50 Wayne Coombs Primal Europe Powered By RuTrainingToday.co.uk 1st
51 Tom Stockdale Primal Europe Powered By RuTrainingToday.co.uk 1st
52 Mike Cuming Rapha Condor Sharp Elite
53 Richard Handley Rapha Condor Sharp Elite
54 Chris Jennings Rapha Condor Sharp Elite
55 Richard Lang Rapha Condor Sharp Elite
56 James McCallum Rapha Condor Sharp Elite
57 Oliver Rossi Rapha Condor Sharp Elite
58 Paul Robertson Spin-Rotor Racing Team 2nd
59 Mark Baines Spirit Racing Team 2nd
60 James Wilson Supernovacycles.co.uk 1st
61 Richard Cartland Team Corley Cycles/Blue 1st
62 Ashley Cox Team Corley Cycles/Blue Elite
63 Matthew Jones Team Corley Cycles/Blue Elite
64 Richard Wood Team Milton Keynes 1st
65 Mike Wragg Team Milton Keynes 1st
66 Gruff Lewis Team UK Youth (UCI Team) 1st
67 James Lowsley-Williams Team UK Youth (UCI Team) 2nd
68 Greg Mansell Team UK Youth (UCI Team) 2nd
69 David McGowan Team UK Youth (UCI Team) 1st
70 James Stewart Team UK Youth (UCI Team) Elite
71 Richard Tanguy Team UK Youth (UCI Team) 1st
72 Ben Simmons Team Wiggle 1st
73 Edward Clemens VC10 2nd
74 Paul Crook WDMBC Beyond Mountainbikes/Rapidracer Products Elite
75 George Farrell Welwyn Whls CC 2nd
76 Joshua Maynard Welwyn Whls CC 2nd
77 Will Bjergfelt Wilier / Live2Ride Elite
78 Colin Parry Wilier/Live to Ride Elite
79 Henry Furniss WyndyMilla UK Youth 1st
80 Nickolas Baker Zappi’s CC 2nd
Reserves
81 Joe Holloway VC10 2nd
82 Alexander King Loughborough Students CC 1st
83 Liam Stones Team Corley Cycles/Blue 2nd
84 Daniel Crawley Pro Cycle Hire UK Racing Team 2nd
85 Ian Franklin Pro Cycle Hire UK Racing Team 2nd
86 Gavin Moore Pro Cycle Hire UK Racing Team 2nd
87 Simon Henley Team Corley Cycles/Blue 2nd
88 Scott Holmes Hillingdon Cycling Club 2nd
89 John Peters CC Luton 2nd
90 Will Jenkins Spirit RT 2nd
SPRING CHICKEN 3/4 CATEGORY
1 James Roberts Amersham Road Cycling Club 3rd
2 John Lacey Anders Electronics/TMG Horizon RT 3rd
3 Eugene Rack Anders Electronics/TMG Horizon RT 3rd
4 Neil Wass Anders Electronics/TMG Horizon RT 3rd
5 Duncan Thorp Arbis LLP – Roy Pink Cycles 3rd
6 Mark O’Brien Archer RC 3rd
7 Joseph Crolla AW Cycles 3rd
8 William Macke AW Cycles 3rd
9 George Withers AW Cycles 3rd
10 Stephen Morrell Aylesbury CC 3rd
11 Daniel Tamplin Aylesbury CC 3rd
12 Luke Souter Banbury Star CC 3rd
13 Mark Anstee Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club 3rd
14 Steve James Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club 3rd
15 Rowland Wallbank Bedfordshire Road Cycling Club 4th
16 Paul Bennett Bio Cadenza RT 3rd
17 Dean Wagner CAF/Operation Rebound
18 Anthony Goodwin CC Luton 3rd
19 Glenn O’Brien CC Luton 3rd
20 Matthew Barrett cycle shack /forme coaching 3rd
21 Vaughan Luff De Ver Cycles 3rd
22 Rob Yeatman Dream Cycling 3rd
23 Peter Hudson Durham University Cycling Club 3rd
24 Thomas McLaren East London Vélo 3rd
25 Gavin Atkins Hemel Hempstead CC 3rd
26 Ian Baynes Hemel Hempstead CC 3rd
27 Chris Grange Hemel Hempstead CC 3rd
28 Sam Williamson Hemel Hempstead CC 4th
29 Joe Clark High Wycombe Cycling Club 3rd
30 James Walker High Wycombe Cycling Club 3rd
31 Will Houghton Hillingdon Cycling Club 3rd
32 Christopher Stuart-Leach ICycle 3rd
33 Doug Baldock In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp Racing Team 3rd
34 Damien Breen Kingston Whls CC 3rd
35 Simon Edwards-Parton Kingston Whls CC 3rd
36 Andy Lack Kingston Whls CC 3rd
37 Stuart Tillbrook Leighton Buzzard Road Cycling Club 4th
38 Chris Clarke London Phoenix CC 3rd
39 Paul O’Sullivan London Phoenix CC 3rd
40 Joshua Swords Pedal Heaven RT
41 Wayne Maguire Pro Cycle Hire UK RT 3rd
42 Mark Williams Python Racing Team 3rd
43 Timothy Kearley Rapha Condor Cycling Club 3rd
44 Robert Mackenzie Rapha Condor Cycling Club 3rd
45 Callum Oliver Rapha Condor Cycling Club 3rd
46 Stuart Williams Reading CC 3rd
47 Sacha Wilson Reading CC 3rd
48 Jason Painton rides on air 3rd
49 Simon Howes Spirit Racing Team 3rd
50 Simon Moss Spirit Racing Team 3rd
51 Spencer Turnbull Spirit Racing Team 3rd
52 Philip Adkins Strada Cycles 3rd
53 Sean Dines Team Corley Cycles 3rd
54 Paul Dring Team Echelon – Rotor 3rd
55 Adam Elderfield Team Quest – The Bike Shop 3rd
56 Andy Sykes Team Quest – The Bike Shop 3rd
57 Gavin Mitchell Twickenham CC 3rd
58 Alex Toghill Twickenham CC 3rd
59 Kevin Holloway VC10 3rd
60 Simon Oxenham VC10 3rd
61 Michael Ward Velo Club Montpellier 3rd
62 Roland Clark Velo Club Rutland/Rutland Cycling.com 3rd
63 Paul Bird Virgin Active 3rd
64 Neil Heffernan Vivelo-Bikes/Inverse Cyclaim RT 3rd
65 Rob Jackson Vivelo-Bikes/Inverse Cyclaim RT 3rd
66 Mark Lawn ViVelo-Bikes/Inverse CyClaim RT 3rd
67 George Aston Welwyn Whls CC 4th
68 Lubomir Belak Welwyn Whls CC 3rd
69 Henry Farrell Welwyn Whls CC 3rd
70 Samuel Gilzean Welwyn Whls CC 3rd
71 Richard Jerome Willesden Cycling Club 3rd
72 Lindz Barral www.twenty3c.co.uk 4th
73 Stephen Goodman www.twenty3c.co.uk 3rd
74 Jason Lazard www.twenty3c.co.uk 3rd
75 Glenn McMenamin www.twenty3c.co.uk
76 Andrew Daniels Zappi’s Cycling Club 3rd
77 Peter Giddings Zappi’s Cycling Club 3rd
78 Andy Mckay Zappi’s Cycling Club 3rd
79 Jacek Reder 3rd
80 Rich Cooper Willesden Cycling Club 3rd
Reserves
81 Hamish Floyd G.S. Henley 3rd
82 Richard John Spirit Racing Team 3rd
83 Chris Parks Spirit Racing Team 3rd
84 Graham Warby Spirit Racing Team 3rd
85 James Archibald G.S. Henley 3rd
86 Justin Radford Python Racing Team 3rd
87 Harry Walton Cheltenham & County CC 3rd
88 Edward Griffin Cycology Bikes 3rd
89 Gareth Dickinson Farnborough& Camberley CC 3rd
90 Stefan Pantos ICycle 3rd
91 Brian Parry Swindon RC 3rd
92 Darren Farr 3rd
