A huge field of 250 riders will line up for Merseyside’s early season classic at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday 3rd March 2012.
The 50 mile race, run on a handicap basis, always attracts a huge entry, but the entry in 2012 is the biggest field in the recent history of the event.
2011 and as you can see, the event doesn’t lack numbers! It is even bigger in 2012.
Race organiser Carl Lawrenson commented “It’s a phenomenal entry this year, and it was unprecedented for us to close entries two weeks before the cut-off date. The number of riders entered means that there will be no entry on the day this year. It will be an incredible sight to see so many riders on the start line!â€
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START SHEET
1 George Atkins 100% ME
2 Owain Doull 100% ME E
3 Samuel Harrison 100% ME
4 Joseph Kelly 100% ME
5 Thomas Moses 100% ME
6 Simon Yates 100% ME
7 Matthew Gee BC PM E
8 Stuart Reid BC PM E
9 Richard Hepworth Cyclepremier Racing Team
10 George Moore Cyclepremier Racing Team
11 Ian Bibby Endura Racing
12 Alexander Blain Endura Racing
13 Russell Downing Endura Racing
14 Jonathan McEvoy Endura Racing
15 Robert Partridge Endura Racing
16 Scott Thwaites Endura Racing
17 Ian Wilkinson Endura Racing
18 Dean Windsor Endura Racing
19 Tom Murray IG-Sigmasport
20 Andrew Udall Mammoth Lifestyle Racing Team
21 Dale Appleby Metaltek – Scott
22 Tom Barras Metaltek – Scott
23 Marcel Six Metaltek – Scott
24 Ben Stockdale Metaltek – Scott
25 Simon Wilson Metaltek – Scott
26 David Clarke Node 4 Giordana Racing
27 Matt Higgins Node 4 Giordana Racing
28 Pete Williams Node 4 Giordana Racing
29 Mike Cuming Rapha Condor Sharp
30 Luke Grivell-Mellor Rapha Condor Sharp
31 Richard Handley Rapha Condor Sharp
32 Chris Jennings Rapha Condor Sharp
33 Matthew Jones Team Corley Cycles/Blue
34 Matthew Holmes Team Raleigh – GAC
35 Liam Holohan Team Raleigh – GAC
36 Tobyn Horton Team Raleigh – GAC
37 Jeroen Janssen Team Raleigh – GAC
38 Evan Oliphant Team Raleigh – GAC
39 Jacob Tipper Teamwallis CHH Racing Team
40 Dillon Byrne Vanillabikes.com
41 Alistair Rutherford Vanillabikes.com
42 Alistair Slater 100% ME
43 Clem Berrill BC PM
44 Declan Byrne Cyclepremier Racing Team
45 Jamie Caldwell Cyclepremier Racing Team
46 Jon Mozley Cyclepremier Racing Team
47 Daniel Harris Halesowen A & CC
48 Milan Sihelsky Kuota – Spinergy – GSG
49 Anthony Gibb Metaltek – Scott
50 James Gullen Metaltek – Scott
51 Keiran Frend Node 4 Giordana Racing
52 Philip Lavery Node 4 Giordana Racing
53 James Sampson Node 4 Giordana Racing
54 Felix English Rapha Condor Sharp
55 Duncan Moralee Sportscover Altura RT 1M
56 Christopher Daddy Squadra RT
57 Ben Dean Team Bglobal
58 Shane O’Neill Team Bglobal
59 Matthew Pilkington Team Bglobal
60 Chris Sherriffs Team Bglobal
61 Michael Smith Team Corley Cycles/Blue
62 Russel Hampton Team Raleigh – GAC
63 James Sparling Team Raleigh – GAC
64 Brennan Townshend Team Raleigh – GAC
65 Luke Ryan Team Toachim
66 David McGowan Team UK Youth
67 William Penn Team Wheelbase.co.uk MGD
68 Ben Greenwood Vanillabikes.com
69 Harry Grey Vanillabikes.com
70 Samuel Jackson Vanillabikes.com
71 Julian Pearson Vanillabikes.com
72 Jack Pullar Vanillabikes.com
73 Jack Rees Velo29-OTR-Vankru
74 Karl Freeman Alpha Road Club
75 David Arthur BC PM
76 Simon Hayes BC PM
77 Ashley Marshall BC PM
78 Francis Pilkington Bill Nickson Cycles
79 Michael Ashurst Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos
80 Matt Limacher Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos
81 Michael Rawson Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos
82 John Rigby Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos
83 James Rutherford Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos
84 Dan Spashett Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos
85 Giles Pidcock Chevin Cycles.com
86 Matthew Smithson Clay Cross RT
87 Lee Tunnicliffe Clay Cross RT
88 Jordan Hargreaves Crosstrax
89 Martin Woffindin Cycle Sport Pendle
90 Tom Black Cyclepremier Racing Team
91 Matthew Bulmer Dirtwheels Cycles
92 Mark Perry Dirtwheels Cycles
93 James Ratcliffe Fred Williams Cycles
94 Jess Wieckowski GWR
95 Jordan Matthews Hetton Hawks Cycling Club
96 Mark Barfield MJS Racing
97 Matthew Jones New Brighton CC
98 Dan Whelan Onimpex Bio Racer RT
99 Graham Payne R Whitfield Heating & Plumbing
100 Richard Lang Rapha Condor Sharp
101 Oliver Rossi Rapha Condor Sharp
102 Dan Evans Rhos On Sea Cycling Club
103 Matthew Ryan Rhos On Sea Cycling Club
104 Paul Ray Ribble Valley CRC
105 Jody Warrington Rock Racing Team UK
106 Alex Mitchell Sheffrec CC
107 James Wagner Sportscover Altura RT
108 Richard Moore Squadra RT 2M
109 Richard Barnett Stone Whls CC
110 Stephen Leigh Team Bglobal
111 Joshua Teasdale Team Jewson/Thule/Kinesis
112 John Holt Team Tredz
113 Andrew Brind – Surch VC St Raphael
114 Thomas Timothy Velo29-OTR-Vankru
115 Robert Adlard Wheelguru
116 Mark Hammersley Wheelguru
117 Nathan Wilson Wilsons Wheels Race Tea
118 James Dyson 3RT
119 David Micklethwaite 3RT
120 Stephen Robinson 3RT
121 Alastair Wood Aire Valley Racing Team
122 Hamish Graham ASFRA Racing Team
123 Matt Chester BC
124 Neil Hamilton BC
125 Dean Hitchings BC
126 Darren Howitt BC
127 James Lyon BC PM
128 Stephen Pomfret B
129 George Richardson
130 Tom Dalton Bill Nickson Cycles
131 John Findley Bill Nickson Cycles
132 Nick Hall Bury Clarion Cycling Club
133 Luke Beswick Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles
134 Richard Binks Clay Cross RT
135 Mike Salkeld Crosstrax
136 Jason Livesey Dirtwheels Cycles
137 Ian Donohue Fareham Wheelers Cycling Club
138 David Spencer Fibrax Wrexham Road Club
139 John Guy High On Bikes RT
140 Ryan Pike High On Bikes RT
141 Ivan Boyes Huddersfield Star Whlrs
142 Mark Walker Hull Thursday RC
143 Julian Ramsbottom I-Ride.co.uk
144 Thomas Lowe Kingsnorth International Whlrs
145 David Christian Liverpool Century RC
146 Andrew Horrobin Lune RCC
147 Robert Bishop MJS Racing
148 David Hooper MJS Racing
149 Rik Waddon Para-T Cycling Team
150 Gary Williams R Whitfield Heating & Plumbing RT
151 Jonathan Clarke Rhos On Sea Cycling Club
152 Sion Jones Rhos On Sea Cycling Club
153 Aled Roberts Rhos On Sea Cycling Club
154 Neil Hanson Ribble Valley CRC
155 Scot Bullivant Rock And Road Cycles
156 Michael Collins RST Racing Team
157 Mark Thwaites Sportscover Altura RT
158 Stewart Dwyer St Helens CRC/D.Sparrow
159 Duncan McLaren Stockport Clarion CC
160 Darren Reynolds Stockport Clarion CC
161 Paul Belfield Stone Whls CC
162 Michael Knight Team Hope Factory Racing
163 Dave Cockram Team Jewson/Thule/Kinesis
164 Gareth Owen Team Swift
165 Roland Clark Velo Club Rutland/Rutland Cycling.com
166 Stephen Smith Vita Cycle Team
167 John Wright Wakefield CC
168 Christian Ellis Wheelguru
169 Paul Johnson Wheelguru
170 James Newey Cadence Sport
171 Christopher Latham Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos
172 Samuel Lowe Hargroves Cycles-Specialized
173 Ryan Mullen Planet X
174 Harry Tanfield Teamwallis CHH Racing Team
175 Hugh Carthy Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos
176 Luc Hall Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos
177 Chris Lawless Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos
178 Jacob Ragan Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos
179 Tom Armstrong Mountivation Academy
180 Matt Flynn Mountivation Academy
181 Jack Sadler Mountivation Academy
182 Jacob Scott Planet X
183 Joseph Moses Sportscover Altura RT
184 Ashley Proctor Sportscover Altura RT
185 Jake Womersley Sportscover Altura RT
186 Oliver Wood Sportscover Altura RT
187 Adam Holt Team Tredz
188 Peter Barusevicus VC Bradford/Pennine Cycles
189 Joshua Ferguson Wheelguru
190 Adam Lewis Wolverhampton
191 Richard Walkerdine Wolverhampton Whls
192 Daniel Stocchero
193 Adam Baxendale BC
194 Roberto Conte BC
195 Chris Lawrence BC
196 James McGhee BC
197 Geraint Parry BC
198 Mark Russell BC
199 James York BC
200 Simon Fortune Condor RC
201 Warren Gell Coveryourcar
202 Darren Biggs Deeside Olympic
203 Steven Cartwright Deeside Olympic
204 Alex O’Sullivan Deeside Olympic
205 Martin Spencer High Peak Cycles
206 Paul Campbell Hull Thursday RC
207 Andrew Carroll Hull Thursday RC
208 Neil Dean Hull Thursday RC
209 Darran Acton Lancashire RC
210 Mark Tickle Leigh Premier
211 Adrian Hatton Lichfield City CC
212 Mike Welburn Lichfield City CC
213 Andrew Howard Liverpool Century
214 Anthony Weston Liverpool Century RC
215 Adam Blakeley Pendle Forest CC
216 Marc Colclough Rhos On Sea Cycling Club
217 Paul Harvey Rhos On Sea Cycling Club
218 Alan Forrester Rhyl Cycling Club
219 Alan Gay Team Swift
220 Andy Daley Vita Cycle Team
221 Steven Hilton Warrington RC
222 Alexander Welburn BC PM
223 Sam Mansfield Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles
224 Ben Matthews Fibrax Wrexham Road Club
225 James Knox Kent Valley RC
226 Elliott Pike Lichfield City CC
227 Zack Williamson Mossley CRT
228 James King Mountivation Academy
229 James Knox Mountivation Academy
230 Gerallt Allen Rhyl Cycling Club
231 Joshua Cutler RST Racing Team
232 Jack Robinson Seamons CC
233 Joshua Townson Southport CC
234 Edward Laverack Team Tredz
235 Kieran Rees Team Tredz
236 Rhys Thomas Team Tredz
237 Ashley Clitheroe Teamwallis
238 Henry Hunter Teamwallis CHH
239 Samuel Birchall Velocity
240 Andrew Leigh Velocity Race
241 William Thomas Velocity Race
242 Josh Knights Mountivation
243 Jordan Rigby Teamwallis CHH
244 Melissa Bury Champion System/Maxgear/Kyklos
245 Sarah Gleave Vortex
246 Joseph Donohue Fareham Wheelers
247 Samuel Turton Liverpool Mercury (Dolan)
248 Gwyn Lovibond Rhyl Cycling Club
249 Christian Braybrooke Velocity Race Team
250 Matthew Gibson Warrington RC
As ever, the race will feature riders from all across the UK, with most of the top teams represented. The new look Rapha Condor Sharp and Node 4 squads will take on a strengthened Endura Racing while Team Raleigh has also shuffled their line up to mount a new challenge in 2012.
UK Youth, who are not at the event this year, win the 2011 edition thanks to James Stewart.
Local teams feature too, with Revolution Series winners Champion System/Maxgear taking on Mountivation, Team BGlobal and Team Wallis. Meanwhile from Yorkshire, Aire Valley RT and Sportscover Altura are sure to figure in the action. Contested over 30 laps alongside Aintree’s world famous Grand National course, it is the 51st edition of the race which was created by Kirkby Cycling Club, and is now promoted by Merseyside Cycling Development Group.
Leading Liverpool solicitors Silverbeck Rymer are once again the event’s title sponsor and Impsport will provide the winners yellow jersey. Further support comes from Aintree Golf Centre. The race gets underway at 9.30am and access for spectators is free.
Star names abound in the start list you can see on the event’s website. Endura Racing have an international entry including former Academy rider Erick Rowsell currently riding the Challenge Majorca, Lincoln GP winner Scott Thwaites, King of the Mountains from the Tour of Britain Jonathan Tiernan-Locke, Lancashire hero and prolific winner Ian Wilkinson and Aussie Dean “the Duke” Windsor.
A background of the stands of Aintree … shame the race can’t fill them too!
That alone is quite impressive but Rapha Condor Sharp have also added an international flavour to the race with the likes of Chris Jennings of South Africa and Richard Lang (Australia). They are joined by Mike Cuming, Felix English, Luke Grivell-Mellor, Richard Handley and first year senior Oliver Rossi. Raleigh also enter a strong team with the likes of Russell Hampton, Liam Holohan, Tobyn Horton, Jeroen Janssen, Evan Oliphant, James Sparling and another talented first year senior a long way from home (Devon), Brennan Townshend.
Tom Murray is the lone IG-Sigmasport rider while Marcel Six will be representing a new team, Metaltek-Scott. Pete Williams and Dave Clarke (among others) will be representing Phil Griffith’s new team, Node 4-Giordana Racing. The GB academy have a team of seven riders including top pursuiter Sam Harrison while Chris Lawless and Jacob Ragan are but two of many top juniors that also includes Hargroves Cycles team rider, Same Lowe.
VanillaBikes.com send a strong team and the flying postman, Julian Ramsbottom is also entered as is Dan Whelan from the Onimpex Bio Racer team. Further details of the event can be found on the website at www.ccs-uk.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk. Also keep in touch with the latest news on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SoensRace and by following us on Twitter @SoensRace
Former winners of the Eddie Soens
