Report: Downton 2 Day Glenn Longland Classic

James Gilfillan (Contre la Montre) won the Downton 2 day race after dominating both stages against the clock.

Eamonn Deane writes …

Gilfillan took the opening 2.4km Prologue Time Trial, clocking 4.01 for the climb up Whitsbury Hill, 4 seconds clear of Rowan Horner (VC ST Raphael/Waites Contracts). Tony Kiss (Stratford CC) improved 5 seconds and 2 places on last year to take third place. The short, big ring test is never steep but always hard and the mud on the lane from heavy overnight rain made a mess of clean bikes.

Based in the Hampshire village of Downton, south of Salisbury, the 16th edition of the Glenn Longland Classic attracted a healthy entry of 60, the biggest in the history of the event although last year’s victor, Steven Whitewick was forced to withdraw to attend a funeral. The afternoons 42km handicap road race saw 4 groups, separated by 2, 3 & 5 minutes, gaps that soon started to tumble.

It was the race leader who led the charge in the scratch group as the race headed out across the heathland roads. Gilfillan, followed by Phil Reynolds (Peter Hansford Cycles) and Tony Kiss opened up a small gap as they started to reel in the slower groups in front. 42km allows little time for thinking; Reynolds had no less than five teammates in the fast group but the three were allowed to ride away catching the leading group with still 7 miles to race.

Into the uphill finale and Kiss came round Reynolds to win the road stage for the second year running. Gilfillan did not contest the sprint, happy with the time gap to the, by now, awake scratch group. The big loser through the indecision though was Rowan Horner who was left to chase. Horner is a good time triallist but the job had just got harder.

“James was beasting it on the front, he did about 90%, I did what I could, my legs felt pretty fresh going into the final climb” said Kiss. Sunday’s 37km Circuit of Fritham time trial in the south west corner of the New Forest was made for the triathlete- turned tester Gilfillan. He regularly trains on the rolling roads and quickly started to extend his overall lead, first in bright autumn sunshine, then, on the higher roads, in thick mist. “I worked hard,I did what I do” said a smiling Gilfillan.

A mention for Glenn Longland and his hard working team of marshals & helpers who each year put on a great race with a good prize fund.This years race was supported by Contre La Montre and Longland, a former British Best All-Rounder and Time Trial Champion confirmed at the prize presentation that the classic that bears his name will be on next year.

Click here to see photos of the race from Eamonn

BRIEF RESULTS

Stage 1 2.4km Prologue
1, J GILFILLAN (CONTRE LA MONTRE) 4:01
2, R HORNER (VC ST RAPHAEL) 4:05
3, T KISS (STRATFORD CC) 4:11
4, A BRYSON (PETER HANSFORD CYCLES) 4:13
5,K LITTLE (GILLINGHAM & DIST) 4:14
6,P REYNOLDS (PETER HANSFORD CYCLES) 4:16

STAGE 2 42KM HANDICAP ROAD RACE
1, T KISS 1HR 19
2, P REYNOLDS ST
3, J GILFILLAN ST
4, S WARD (FUL ON TRI) ST
5, C DIXON (PORTSDOWN HILL CC) ST
6, N RICHARDSON (UNATT) ST

STAGE 3 37KM INDIVIDUAL TT
1, J GILFILLAN 54:11
2, R HORNER 55:56
3, H BULSTRODE (PETER HANSFORD CYCLES) 56:23
4, A BRYSON 58;36
5, T LEWIS (FUL ON TRI) 58:57
6, T KISS 59:18
7, C DIXON 59:45

FINAL OVERALL
1, J GILFILLAN
2, R HORNER
3, H BULSTRODE
4, A BRYSON
5, T KISS
6, T LEWIS
7, C DIXON
8, G CRAMMOND (SOUTHAMPTON UNI)