The road race championships for 40 – 60 year olds were held today in the Surrey lanes around Virginia Water and Chobham. We have the podiums with the full results to follow later.
Photos: David Reed http://www.davidreedphoto.com/mast-11
The field raced around 3 interconnecting circuits that were not to brutal but would test the riders and provide worthy winners. A full class entry took the line in brilliant hot conditions for the race, using three circuits around the Chobham area. An early break of three, Ashley Holding, Paul Holdsworth and rider No. 5, and it was the evergreen Holdsworth who dragged them up the Windsor Road climb. After they were caught the race settled down and on the second circuit of Staple Hill, the race failed to break up as expected, although there were many attempts and at most times the whole race was lined out across the top.
Photos: David Reed
Going on to the finishing circuit at Valley End, again there were many attempts to break away from the still complete main group, including several individual efforts, and finally with the distance telling a group of nine went clear with Holdsworth leaving the main group and bridging the gap to the break. At the bell, the leaders eased and were almost caught by the main group, but on the 4 km circuit they just held off the chasers. It was a very close finish with Martin Smith just getting the verdict. Paul Crook lead the main group in and almost catching the tiring Holdsworth.
The three circuit formula worked well and most of the riders were complimentary, although some riders made the comment about becoming giddy!
The riders also complimented the marshalling which as usual was brilliantly handled by Des Bennett and the number averted any problems, and the race was run without any incidents in spite of a Polo Match close to the circuit and nearby stables.
Photos: David Reed
Thanks to Mark Doel and Doug Collins.
L-R: Marcus Brueton, Martin Smith & Andy Lyons
L-R: Matthew Miles, Gary Dodd and Ben Luckwell
L-R: Paul Doel, Keir Apperley & Paul Caton. Photo: David Reed
L-R: Andrew Donaldson, Jimmy Rutherford  & Martin Hulbert. Photo: David Reed
Brief Results are:
130km 3:31:00
Cat C
1   Martin Smith       Primal Europe powered by Rutraining Today/BikeChainRicci
2   Marcus Brueton   Norwood Paragon
3   Andy Lyons      Twenty3C Orbea
Cat D
1   Gary Dodd      South Down Bikes
2   Matthew Miles      InGear Quickvit RT
3   Ben Luckwell      Wilier-GoSelfdrive.com
Cat E
1   Keir Apperley      CycleClub Hackney
2   Paul Doel      Team Quest / The Bike Shop
3   Paul Caton      Anders Electronics / TMG Horizon
Cat F
1   James Rutherford   Science in Sport
2   Andrew Donaldson   Ferryhill Mountain High
3   Martin Hulbert      VC Meudon
FULL RESULT
1      Martin    Smith   Primal Europe powered by RUTrainingtoday/Bike Chain Ricci   03:31:00
2      Gary    Dodd   SouthDowns Bikes   st
3      Matthew   Miles   InGear / Quickvit RT   st
4      Benjamin   Luckwell   Wilier/GoSelfdrive.com   st
5      Marcus   Brueton   Norwood Paragon   st
6      Andy   Lyons   Twenty3C / Orbea   st
7      Jamie   Kennedy   Glasgow Couriers   st
8      Paul   Holdsworth   Hounslow & District Wheelers   at 4sec
9      Simon   Hime   Finchley Racing Team   st
10      Richard   Prebble   Motorpoint   st
11      Gareth    McGuiness   Energy Cycles   st
12      Nick   Abraham   BC Private   at 8sec
13      Paul   Crook   West Drayton MBC   at 15sec
14      Andy   Eagers   Derby Mercury RC   st
15      Richard   Moore   Star Bikes RT   st
16      Tony    Grassby   Peak Road Club   st
17      Keir   Apperley   Cycle Club Hackney   st
18      Andrew   Pollentine   Dulwich Paragon   st
19      Andrew   Tinsley   Max Gear RT   st
20      Paul    Bell   Peak Road Club   at 26sec
21      Roland   Tilley   Ridebike.co.uk   st
22      John    Brown   ActivCycles-Corbridge RT   st
23      Jay   Eastwood   Hargroves Cycles / Specialized / Trant   st
24      Philip   Mason   Climb on Bikes   at 28sec
25      Paul   Doel   Team Quest / the Bike Shop   st
26      Paul    Caton   Anders Electronics / TMG Horizon   st
27      Pete   Smith   Team Jewson / MI Racing   st
28      Ashley    Holding   GB-Mstina   st
29      Adam   Ellis   Spalding CC   st
30      Jason   Edwards   GB-Mstina   st
31      Fraser   Wildman   Datateam Allstars   st
32      Andy   Edwards   Kingston Wheelers   st
33      Paul   Bell   Peak Road Club   st
34      Ralph   Carter   London Dynamo   st
35      Michael   Harrison   Congleton CC   st
36      James    Rutherford   Science in Sport.com   st
37      Jim    Moffatt   Virgin Active   st
38      Julian    Bray   Dulwich Paragon   st
39      Andrew   Donaldson   Ferryhill Mountain High   st
40      Lee   Desborough   St.Ives
41      Grahame   Davidson   Kenilworth Wheelers   st
42      Robert    Cranstone   Royal Navy & Royal Marine CA   st
43      Roy   Sumner   Port Sunlight Wheelers   st
44      Paul   Fielding   St.Ives   st
45      Courtney   Rowe   Cardiff JIF   st
46      Ian   Cowan   Solihull CC   st
47      Adrian    Goatley   Felt-Colbornes RT   st
48      Nigel   Williams   Python RT   st
49      Ian   Rees   Wilier/GoSelfdrive.com   st
50      Robin   Parker   East Grinstead CC   at 34sec
51      Graham   Hills   InGear / Quickvit RT   st
52      Paul    Hone   Addiscombe CC   st
53      John    Alderman   VC Meudon   st
54      Marc   Fruelett   Team Quest / the Bike Shop   st
55      Philip   Hargreaves   VC Norwich   st
56      Niall   Digby   La Fuga-Sigma Sport   st
57      Martin    Hulbert   VC Meudon    st
58      Tim   Carter   Virgin Active   st
59      Mark   Williams   Python RT   st
60      Wayne    Coombs   Primal Europe powered by RUTrainingtoday/Bike Chain Ricci   st
61      Stephen   Wharton   Finchley Racing Team   st
62      Brendan   Heaslip   Kenton RC   st
63      Simon   Williams   Hillingdon CC   st
64      Stephen    Gibson   Peak Road Club   st
65      Mark   Bottely   Bourne Wheelers   st
66      David    Mills   Bush Healthcare CRT   at 3.10
67      Peter Wilson   Wilson   Bournemouth Arrow   at 3.20
68      Robert    Stimpson   Python RT   at 4.28
69      Michael   Inder   Thames Velo   at 6.20
70      Richard   Pascoe   Primal Europe powered by RUTrainingtoday/Bike Chain Ricci   at 6.30
71      Brian   O’Kelly   Bristol RC   at 7.00