Giles Drake wins the Featherstone RC promotion, Pete’s Race on the challenging Ackworth circuit
![]() |
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
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League #4
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (LVVP #13)
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (Hillingdon #6)
- CX Result: NWCCA CX League Round 9
- CX Result: London/SE CX League Rd 10
- CX Result: Wessex CX League Rd 13
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 11
- CX Result: East Kent CX League 5
- British Track Championships: Day 3 Report
- Track Results: British Track Championhip Results (para)
- Track Results: British Track Championship Results (M)
- Track Result: British Track Championships Results (W)
- British Track Championships: Day 2 Report
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- Team Feature: Sam Watson’s Journey to WorldTour
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- 2022/2023 National Trophy Cyclocross Series Final Standings
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclo-Cross League Rd 7
- CX Result: Wessex CX League, Rd 12
- CX Result: Eastern Region CX League Rd 10
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: LVYCC Winter Races 1
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 2
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #11
Other News on VeloUK
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
- Event News: Midlands handicap league returns in 2023
- News: Alba DRT Riders Inspired to Step Up
- Race Dates: Track Events 2023
- News: Santini Cycling UK
- News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Report
- Events: Velo Club St Raphael Time Trial
- Startlist: British Cyclocross Championships 2023
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
- News: Brother UK Continues to Sponsor Cycling
- Dave Rayner Fund Supported Riders
- Event news: British Team Cup
- National Trophy: Final Round, Cyclopark
- News: Pedal Club December Lunch Report
- Team News: Velo Bavarian Race Team 2023
- 2023 British teams – Richardson’s Trek
- Team News: 26th Year for Arctic-Aircon RT
- Event News: British Masters RR Champs
- News: West Midlands RR Calendar
- Team News: New cycling team in Central Region
- News: UCI World Masters Track Championships
- 2023: National Under 23, Youth & Junior Road Series
- National Trophy Cyclocross Round 5: Startlist
- News: 2023 British National Road Series
- New Bikes! Ribble’s Reynolds 725 (Gravel bike)