Report: Clifton CC Road Race

Daniel Shoreman wins a crash affected round 4 of the North Yorkshire road race league at Thornaby

Julie Rodman reports: A superbly run event by Clifton CC this evening on the Thornaby, Wheldrake course on the outskirts of York. The bad thunderstorms subsided for a lovely evening of racing, perfect sunny weather and not a cloud in sight.

Fifty one riders took to the start line for three laps of the Wheldrake circuit of 16kms where a few riders tried to get away from the main bunch which in previous races, has seen the race decided in one large bunch gallop.

Tonight, eventually, one ridergot away and was then chased by the odd rider who all regrouped into a nice break of six riders. With two laps to go, they worked well with each other and at one point had a 30 second gap. However on the final lap through Thornaby, the main bunch decided to try and pull them back with 3km to go.

This was to no avail as the break stayed away for a sprint finish with a well deserved win by Daniel Shoreman who had been a constant top ten finisher over the previous weeks. He was followed by Ady Rudd, then a close call for Chris Fothergill who got third by a lunge followed by Richard Siddle with Paul Hickman and David Henson taking the 5th and 6th places. Fifteen seconds later, Lewis Jackson who is leading the league, won the bunch gallop for 7th from Ben Roberts, Ed Nicholson and Mike Salkeld.

The only disappointing moment of the night was a crash with 2km to go to the finish from the main bunch when a rider went onto the grass then came back into the main bunch and caused the promoting clubs rider Toby Everett (Clifton CC) to touch wheels bringing down fellow team mate Ruben Barrett with six other riders having no where to go.

Toby sustained a badly injured knee and various abrasions and went in the ambulance to the hospital along with Ruben who went to check out a shoulder collarbone injury. Luckily for the riders, the police were passing through the village and where quickly onto the emergency services. We wish all the riders who fell especially Toby and Ruben a quick recovery.

On a positive note, it was lovely to see villagers along the route with signs lifted stating Allez Allez – the Tour de France came to Yorkshire villages tonight.

Results
1 DANIEL SHOREMAN
2 ADY RUDD
3 CHRIS FOTHERGILL
4 RICHARD SIDDLE
5 PAUL HICKMAN – MALTON WHS
6 DAVID HENSON
7 LEWIS JACKSON – COTTINGHAM C
8 BEN ROBERTS – BRIDLINGTON CC
9 EDWARD NICHOLSON
10 MIKE SALKELD