Report and full results from the first round in the Imperial WInter Series at Hillingdon in West London
Race 1 Saturday 3rd December 2011
Lucy Collins writes … This time last year the race was cancelled because of snow and ice but this time around, although breezy, it was dry, sunny and 10°c – a perfect winter start. It was heartening to see the number of entries for both 3rd and 4th cat races, 48 and 46 respectively. Thirty three started the E123 race and it would be good to see more.
The standard of riding in both the earlier races was first class, in spite of many riders in the 4th race racing for the first time and this bodes well for the series. There also was far more aggression shown in all races and in the 3rd cat race a group of 6 detached themselves from the main group with the wind playing a part in splitting the group and many going off the back. Both finishes were contested cleanly without incident and both winners were very worthy.
The 4th cat race resulted in a clear win with a long sprint by Nick Baker (Zappi’s Cycling Club) by 2 seconds from Mark Longstaff (Colchester Rovers) in 2nd with 3rd taken by James Local (London Dynamo/ Prologue) by half a wheel from Karl Moseley (Stourbridge Velo). The WyndyMilla 4th cat. random prize is awarded to 19th place finisher Adam Capes (London Dynamo/Prologue), he can look forward to a WyndyMilla ‘go faster’ cycle fitting at their Manor Farm Cycle Centre in Seale.
The 3rd cat race was won by Joe Holloway (VC10), 2nd place was Jacek Reder and 3rd was Tim Benham (Wyndy Milla). The other 3 riders in the original split were Andy Lack (Kingston Wheelers), Robert LeMaster (London Dynamo/Prologue) and Steven Cottington (Cadence RT). The Maxifuel random prize is awarded to 24th place finisher James Walker (High Wycombe CC); he receives a Maxifuel rucksack comprising of Viperactive energy fuel, gels and bottle.
In the E123 race it was good to see longstanding supporters of the series return to the start line again, notably Bill Butterworth (back with Twickenham CC), Steve Golla (returning to High Wycombe CC), Phil Holloway (Southend Wheelers), brothers Ben and Chris Moores (Norwood Paragon), Rudie Marais (Archer RC), Vince Halpern (now Handsling Racing), Jo Skelton (Look Mum No Hands!) and Matthew Carden (Team Quest) to mention a few, along with Henry Furniss (WyndyMilla/MaxiFuel) who again is sponsoring the series and many newcomers making up a class entry. Notable absentees were Lewis Atkins, Jake Martin and the Sigma Sport Team.
The racing, as hoped for, was fast and furious from the start with many attacks and the wind in the back straight proving to be the determining factor. The race blew apart after only 15km and from the split two riders moved away ahead of the main group; Steve Golla having a day off from Cyclo Cross (and obviously in good form) and Conall Yates (InGear Quickvit RT). They rode together for 8km before being joined by Jamie Pine (London Dynamo/Prologue) last year’s overall 3rd cat winner, with a furious chase to bridge to gap to the leading two. The three shared the work well and although there were attempts to bridge from the peloton their lead held steadily at 55 secs. Three other riders did manage to pull from the main bunch as the group slowed – Peter Cole (Handsling Racing), Adam Brittain (High Wycombe CC) and Matthew Carden (Team Quest – recovering from an earlier mechanical) – and they too rode well together. Henry Furniss broke free also and made a frantic effort to get to the chasing trio but in the end rode in on his own to settle for a well-deserved 7th place.
In the run into the finish Conall Yates dropped off and left a very fast finishing Jamie Pine to hold off the strength of Steve Golla in a furious sprint for the line, it was an outstanding effort by all three but especially by Jamie. The same goes for 4th place with fast finisher Peter Cole having to give best to Adam Brittain in another very rapid sprint with Matt Carden hanging on for 6th place. All in all, a fascinating race worthy of the Elite category.
Some first race nerves (particularly amongst the Organisers!) but on the whole a great start; we are very much looking forward to Race 2.
Race 2 of 12 Saturday 10th December
4th & 3rd race start 13:00
E/1/2/3 race start 14:15
www.imperialracingteam.com
Photos: Guy Swarbrick (www.Swarbrick.com)
RESULTS
E/1/2/3
1st      Jamie Pine   London Dynamo
2nd      Steve Golla   High Wycombe
3rd      Conall Yates   InGear Quickvit RT
4th      Adam Brittain   High Wycombe CC
5th      Peter Coll   Handslingracing
6th      Matthew Carden   Team Quest
7th      Henry Furniss   WyndyMilla/MaxiFuel
8th      Rory Townsend   Prestige VC
9th      Vincent Halpern   Handsling Racing
10th      Pete Wager   Felt-Colbornes RT
11th      Rudie Marais   Archer RC
12th      James Norris   High Wycombe CC
13th      Phil Holloway   Southend Wheelers
14th      William Macke   AWCycles.co.uk
15th      Jerzy Kuzminski   London Phoenix
16th      Chris Moores   Norwood Paragon
17th      Maximilian Stedman   Palmer Park Velo
18th      Henry Latimer   Zappi’s CC
19th      Ben Moores   Norwood Paragon
20th      James Leach   Twickenham CC
21st      Stuart Harvey   Ultimate Fitness
22nd      Ralph De Kanter   Norwood Paragon CC
23rd      Bill Butterworth   Twickenham CC
24th      Geoff Powell   High Wycombe CC
3rd Cat race
1st      Joe Holloway   VC10
2nd      Jacek Reder   private member
3rd      Tim Benham   Wyndy Milla
4th      Andy Lack   Kingston Wheelers
5th      Robert LeMaster   London Dynamo/Prologue
6th      Steven Cottington   Cadence RT
7th      Samuel Gilzean   Welwyn Wheelers
8th      Andy Mckay   Zappi
9th      Mark Northover   CC Giro
10th      Ajelo Christides
11th      Peter Hudson   Durham University – AURA Cycles
12th      Rob Griffiths   London Phoenix
13th      Richard Jerome   Willesden CC
14th      Rune Sanbeck Nilsson   London Dynamo
15th      Mark Lawn   Inverse Racing/Cyclaim
16th      Nick White   East London Velo
17th      Vaughan Luff   Team De ver
18th      Dominic Clegg   Redhill CC
19th      James Di Rico   High Wycombe CC
20th      Jeremy Brougham   London Dynamo
21st      Adam Elderfield   Team Quest
22nd      Brian Stokes   ViVelo-bikes/Inverse CyClaim RT
23rd      Aaron Tayler   Swindon RC
24th      James Walker   High Wycombe CC
25th      Karla Boddy   High Wycombe CC
26th      Darren Waters   Team De ver
27th      Lubomir Belak   Team Welwyn
28th      Christian Yates   East Grinstead CC
29th      Andrew Harvey   Kingston Wheelers
30th      Michael Widera   ViVelo-bikes/Inverse CyClaim RT
31st      Rich Cooper   Willesden CC
32nd      Ben Hurford   Hemel Hempstead CC
33rd      Taimur Tanwir   London Dynamo/Prologue
34th      Craig Mclean   London Dynamo
35th      Jake Norman   WyndyMilla
36th      Neil Heffernan   Inverse Racing/Cyclaim
37th      Alex Tollo   Private Member
38th      Mark O’Brien   Archer RC
39th      Simon Parton   Kingston Wheelers
40th      Martin Porter   Thames Velo
41st      Simon Hawkesworth   Private member
42nd      Nick Franzini   London Dynamo
43rd      Liam Bremer   London Phoenix CC
44th      Callum Oliver   Rapha Condor CC
45th      James Curry   ViVelo-bikes/Inverse CyClaim RT
46th      Andy Angwin   London Phoenix
4th Cat race
1st      Nick Baker   Zappi’s Cycling Club
2nd      Mark Longstaff   Colchester Rovers
3rd      James Local   London Dynamo/Prologue
4th      Karl Moseley   Stourbridge Velo
5th      John-Paul Brophy   Neon-Digital.co.uk
6th      Duncan Schwier   Twickenham CC
7th      Charles Batho   Dulwich Paragon CC
8th      Michael Tocknell   London Dynamo/Prologue
9th      Marc Townsend   Neon-Digital.co.uk
10th      Ed Everett   Private member
11th      Mike Holborow   Swindon RC
12th      Stephen Morrell   Aylesbury CC
13th      Andrew Macey   Ashford Wheelers
14th      Malcolm Binns   High Wycombe CC
15th      Dave Spragg   Kingston Wheelers
16th      Brett Greenwood   Kingston wheelers
17th      Michael Van Loenen   London Phoenix
18th      Warren Hannington   I-TEAM
19th      Adam Capes   London Dynamo
20th      Andrew Wright   La Fuga/Sigmasport
21st      James Roberts   Amersham
22nd      Jogenes Senorin   Private member
