Report: LVRC Crit Champs

Report and results from the LVRC (veterans) Crit champs at Marsh Tracks in North Wales

LVRC A/B/C Crit Champs organiser Graham Weigh was forced to amalgamate the A’s with the B’s when only 11 entered the events at Marsh Tracks, Rhyl, North Wales. He said:’ It was a move I have hoped to avoid as the interaction of the age groups can often effect the outcome. This proved to be unfounded when the B’s dominated the race and in fact the resultant splits left a leading group of four A’s contesting their sprint behind the B bunch.’

Former Milk Race stage winner Mike Twelves and Andy Parr moved away from the bunch as early as lap two, opening a 100 yard advantange. Roy Sumner crossed quickly on the next lap and a lap later with the advantage at 12 seconds Jon Stephenson, riding very strongly joined up after a full lap of 1.2 km effort.

The leading four riders then established a 20 seconds advantage which never looked like being challenged. By the halfway mark the gap was holding steady at 40 seconds. With 10 minutes to go a chasing group of four established itself with Paul Wain, Robin Parker, David Kent and Richard Binks.

Whilst never making much headway on the leaders they succeeded in distancing the peleton. With two laps to go the lead group was suddenly a man short, with a finishing straight benefitting with a growing tail wind meant the following corner was entered very quickly and though the circuit is very wide and well surfaced there is a limit to the adhesion available and Stephenson overcooked it and fell heavily dislocating his shoulder.

The long grass meant that on the finishing line officials had no idea what had happened, fortunately the on hand medic was in a better position at the top of the circuit so was quickly on the spot. The sprint was very close with Twelves taking the line inches ahead of Parr and Sumner 10 lengths back.

In the A’s despite being led out by Stone Whs teammate Paul Belfield, Wayne Lacey had to settle for second pipped on the line by Neal Preston. After a delay while Stephenson was treated and the ambulance left the circuit, the C race started. With the pedestrian pace in the first few laps, Martin Hopkinson slipped away to a 10 second lead, while the favourites looked at each other for a lap. Steve Marrows bridged in a solo burst and were joined a lap later by Fred Easton and although their biggest advantage was 20 seconds and at times dropped to seven, they stayed away to the end.

Throughout the race Nick Giles, Keith Jones, Steve Davies, Phil Wilkins and Graham Payne headed chasing groups which edged towards the break, but never quite overcame the relentless pace the leaders set. No one appeared to miss a turn in the break and deserved their rewards. With two laps to go a small group of Jones, Payne and Ralph Carter managed to slip the bunch to take fourth to sixth.

Before that the leading trip contested a very fast tail wind assisted sprint Marrows took the decision from Hopkinson and Easton.

Results

A
1. Neal Preston, Team V Sprint Racing
2. Wayne Lacey, Stone Wheelers
3. Paul Belfield, Stone Whs
4. Ron Plumbley, Liverpool Mercury
5. Steve Marsland, Graham Weigh Racing

B
1. Mike Twelves, Team Jewson
2. Andy Parr, Revolution Fitness
3. Roy Sumner, Port Sunlight Whs
4. Paul Wain, Team Jewson
5. Robin Parker, East Grinstead CC
6. David Kent, St Helens CC

C
1. Steve Marrows, ALP Action Ettridge Cycles
2. Martin Hopkinson, Fietsen Tempo
3. Fred Easton, Doncaster Whs
4. Keith Jones, Graham Weigh RT
5. Graham Payne, Whitfield RT
6. Ralph Carter, London Dynamo