Giles Drake wins the Featherstone RC promotion, Pete’s Race on the challenging Ackworth circuit
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Thanks to Ian Hirst
Several riders missed the opportunity to race in the well organised and marshalled Featherstone RC Pete’s Race, run over 6 laps of the challenging Ackworth circuit. With only 42 riders pre-entered compared to the usual full field, the club was left wondering where the entries had disappeared to.
With 8 entries on the line a total of 45 riders headed off from HQ to the start line for a cool and windy 90 miles of racing.
With less than 10 miles of racing covered, a break of 7 riders had 10sec on a chasing goup of 3 followed closely by the bunch at 17sec. That group of 7 contained riders who would finish in the placings nearly 80 miles later – Giles Drake, Alastair Hepworth, Matthew Kipling, Jake Womersley, Alastair Kay, Colin Humphrey and one rider with his gilet hiding his race number.
The break continued to forge ahead and on lap 2 increased their lead to one minute on the bunch with 20 miles covered. Between break and bunch at 30 sec was the chasing group now increased from 3 to 8, including more riders who would feature in the list of prize winners – Ashley Brown, Duncan Moralee, Matthew Williams, Matthew Bulmer, James Alder and Tom Murray.
With so many riders up the road the bunch lost impetus, even though there were still points up for grabs, by the start of lap 4 they were at 4m 12s behind the break and the miles, the course and the wind were all taking their toll, 11 riders having abandoned by this point.
Over the final 2 laps the break split, with lone rider – and eventual winner – Giles Drake, Herbalife building a lead of 40s over the remnants of the break, which increased to 45s on the bell lap on a group of 3 followed by 6 riders a further 17s back. The bunch were at over 13 min by this point.
The race winner crossed the line alone after 90 miles of hard racing in 3hr 30m with last rider, no. 29 Sean Newbould from promoting club Featherstone RC crossing the line 15 minutes later.
RESULT
1. Giles Drake, Herbalife-Leisure Lakes
2. David McGowan, Metaltek at 30sec
3. David Shackleton, Wilson’s Wheels
4. Matt Kipling, Velo 29
5. Ashley Brown, Sportscover
6. Tom Murray, Metaltek
7. Anthony Moye, Velo 29
8. Colin Humphrey, Achieve-Skinnergate Racing
9. Matthew Williams, Team Hope
10. Jake Womersley, Sportscover
11. James Alder, Velo29
12. Alastair Hepworth, Clay Cross
13. Alistair Kay, Herbalife
14. Duncan Moralee, Strategic Lions
15. William Brown, Velo29
16. Matt Bulmer, Dirtwheels
17. Richard Jones, Achieve
18. Connor Swift, Bikebox
19. Peter Barasevicus, Dirt Wheels
20. Jack Rees, Acheive
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