Report: Downton Two Day Classic

Graham Robins reports on Glenn Longland’s Downton Two Day Classic won by Steve Whitewick

Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th October 2011
The Downton Two Day Classic is now in its fifteenth year held under TLI rules and was kindly supported by Mulebar.com who have their premises at the end of the lane where the Prologue took place in the town of Downton on the Hampshire/ Wiltshire border. The event was a three stage race held over two days starting with a 2.4km prologue followed by a 42km road race on Saturday and finally a 37km Time Trial on Sunday.

The event got underway just after lunch time with the Prologue which started right outside the race’s HQ and then made its way up a short sharp climb before flattening off on the run to the finish line. The quickest rider was 16 year old Will Stephenson (Bournemouth Arrow) in a time of 4 minutes 4secs, second was Tim Wallis (Southampton Uni) at 6 seconds with Andy Bryson (Cannondale Racing) a further 4 seconds behind.

Photo: http://www.grahamrobins.net/

Prologue Result
1  Will Stephenson  JUN  Bournemouth Arrow/Collingwood Hotel  4.04
2  Tim Wallis  SEN  Southampton Uni  4.10
3  Andy Bryson  SEN  Cannondale Racing  4.14
4  Alex Clayton  ESP  Durham Uni  4.15
5  Tony Kiss  SEN  Stratford C.C.  4.16
6  Olli Emmans  A  Antelope Racing Team  4.19=
7  Paul Matthews  A  Utag Yamaha  4.19=
8  Bryce Dyer  M2  V.C.St.Raphael  4.22=
9  Tom Alliban  C  Revo Racing  4.22=
10  Harry Bulstrode  SEN  Cannondale Racing  4.25=
11  George Crammond  SEN  Southampton Uni  4.25=
12  Ashley Martin  JUN  Chippenham Wheelers  4.26
13  Josh Day  JUN  Off Camber  4.29
14  Graham Waller  SEN  T.L.I.  4.31
15  Ewan Gibb  M1  Stratford C.C.  4.37=
16  James Atherton  SEN  V.C.St.Raphael  4.37=
17  Steve Whitewick  C  G.A.Cycles  4.37=
18  Martin Millington  M1  Stratford C.C.  4.41
19  Gawain Young  M2  Sotonia C.C.  4.42
20  Simon Barnes  B  G.A.Cycles  4.43

Stage 2

After a short break, the riders were put into handicapped groups and set off at three minute intervals, with the scratch group 9 minutes behind the leading group. The race was to be a frantic one with the finish on a sharp little climb. There was an annoying wind all around the course coming from all directions around the circuit, and a little bit of rain in the air.

Once the race started proper, they made their way across the New Forest National Park and onto the tight turn at Brook, before the village of Bramshaw then onto the famous village of Lover, popular with young lovers sending Valentines cards in February from the village post office, before the climb back up to Woodfalls and Redlynch to complete a lap.

Photo: http://www.grahamrobins.net/

The first group on the road were working very well together managing to stay away for most of the first lap, the middle group were a couple of minutes behind with the final group still hovering around the three minute gap which they started with.

Before the completion of the first lap, the two front groups were almost together with the scratch now hovering a minute behind. It took until the turn towards the finish at Redlynch before the race all came together. There were several attacks off the front until Tony Kiss (Stratford CC) attacked with Tim Wallis (Soton Uni) and these two then contested the sprint for the win with the rest of the bunch right on their wheels. Tony held on the lead with Tim on his wheel with Will Stephenson third.

Road Race Result
1  Tony Kiss  SEN  Stratford C.C.  1.09.45
2  Tim Wallis  SEN  Southampton Unii  @ST
3  Will Stephenson  JUN  Bournemouth Arrow/Collingwood Hotel  @ST
4  Ashley Martin  JUN  Chippenham Wheelers  @ST
5  Andy Bryson  SEN  Cannondale Racing  @ST
6  Simon Barnes  B  G.A.Cycles  @ST
7  Harry Bulstrode  SEN  Cannondale Racing  @ST
8  Graham Waller  SEN  T.L.I.  @ST
9  Steve Whitewick  C  G.A.Cycles  @ST
10  Tom Alliban  C  Revo Racing  @ST
11  George Crammond  SEN  Southampton Uni  @ST
12  Josh Day  JUN  Off Camber  @ST
13  Olli Emmans  A  Antelope Racing Team  @ST
14  Gary Allan  B  G.A.Cycles  @ST
15  Steve Howat  A  Stratford C.C.  @ST
16  James Atherton  SEN  V.C.St.Raphael  @ST
17  Ewan Gibb  M1  Stratford C.C.  @ST
18  Nick Best  C  Bournemouth Jubilee  @ST
19  Alex Clayton  ESP  Durham Uni  @ST
20  Martin Millington  M1  Stratford C.C.  @ST

Final Stage

The time trial across the New Forest on the circuit of Fritham was a very windy affair and held under cloudy skies until the later runners who ‘enjoyed’ a little bit of warmth from the early morning sun. There were a few non starters, notably Andy Bryson who was lying in a useful 5th position, but woke up sporting a bad cough. The stage winner was Steve Whitewick (GA Cycles) who set a course record time of 53 min 32secs beating Harry Bulstrode (Cannondale Racing) by 2 min 34 secs on the 37km course. Third place was Will Stephenson (Bournemouth Arrow).

Time Trial Result

1  Steve Whitewick  C  G.A.Cycles  53.32
2  Harry Bulstrode  SEN  Cannondale Racing  56.06
3  Will Stephenson  JUN  Bournemouth Arrow/Collingwood Hotel  56.47
4  Olli Emmans  A  Antelope Racing Team  56.50
5  Tim Wallis  SEN  Southampton Uni  57.07
6  Tom Alliban  C  Revo Racing  57.12
7  Alex Clayton  ESP  Durham Uni  58.11
8  Tony Kiss  SEN  Stratford C.C.  58.46
9  Simon Barnes  B  G.A.Cycles  59.33
10  Gary Allan  B  G.A.Cycles  59.36
11  Vince Hounsome  B  Gillingham & District/Wheels Cycles  1.00.01
12  George Crammond  SEN  Southampton Uni  1.00.08
13  Ashley Martin  JUN  Chippenham Wheelers  1.00.35
14  Graham Waller  SEN  T.L.I.  1.01.00
15  Martin Millington  M1  Stratford C.C.  1.02.51
16  James Chant  A  Gillingham & District/ Wheels Cycles  1.03.51
17  Nick Best  C  Bournemouth Jubillee  1.04.29
18  Steve Howat  A  Stratford C.C.  1.05.26
19  James Atherton  SEN  V.C.St.Raphael  1.05.27
20  Richard Blake  M2  G.A.Cycles  1.05.30

Overall Result

Photo: http://www.grahamrobins.net/

1  Steve Whitewick  C  G.A.Cycles  2.07.54
2  Harry Bulstrode  SEN  Cannondale Racing  2.10.16
3  Will Stephenson  JUN  Bournemouth Arrow/Collingwood Hotel  2.10.36
4  Olli Emmans  A  Antelope Racing Team  2.10.54
5  Tim Wallis  SEN  Southampton Uni  2.11.02
6  Tom Alliban  C  Revo Racing  2.11.19
7  Alex Clayton  ESP  Durham Uni  2.12.11
8  Tony Kiss  SEN  Stratford C.C.  2.12.47
9  Simon Barnes  B  G.A.Cycles  2.14.01
10  Gary Allan  B  G.A.Cycles  2.14.05
11  George Crammond  SEN  Southampton Uni  2.14.18
12  Ashley Martin  JUN  Chippenham Wheelers  2.14.46
13  Graham Waller  SEN  T.L.I.  2.15.26
14  Vince Hounsome  B  Gillingham & District/ Wheels Cycles  2.17.03
15  Martin Millington  M1  Stratford C.C.  2.17.17
16  James Chant  A  Gillingham & District/ Wheels Cycles  2.18.55
17  Nick Best  C  Bournemouth Jubillee  2.19.08
18  James Atherton  SEN  V.C.St.Raphael  2.19.49
19  Steve Howat  A  Stratford C.C.  2.20.05
20  Ewan Gibb  M1  Stratford C.C.  2.20.28

There was a team prize which was won by GA Cycles with riders Gary Allen, Steve Whitewick and Simon Barnes collecting the spoils from Southampton Allstars and Gillingham Wheelers third.

Tags: , ,