James Champken (VC Venta) and Peter Allan a private member were winners in a puncture strewn couple of races at the lovely venue nestled in the heart of the South Downs.
![]() |
By Graham Robins | Saturday 24th August
Photo Album from Graham Robins
The morning race for third cat riders was a complete wash out in the heavy rain with five riders suffering flat tyres even before the start and several unable to complete the recce lap. A total of fourty two riders started and only sixteen finished and everyone of the DNFs was due to punctures.
The event was promoted by local bike shop Southdowns Bikes and the Surrey League and held in the town of Storrington, West Sussex. The lap was 3.1 miles in length and most of it was off road in the lovely Parham Park which was built in 1577 and covers 875 acres.
After a rolling lap start, Duncan Rimmer (Morden CRC) clipped off the front and got a few seconds lead but the heavy conditions brought him safely back into the bunch. On the fourth lap, the rain got heavier and more and more riders were forced out. So after ten laps it all came down to a bunch sprint which was won by James Champken (VC Meudon) from Declan Egan (Kingston Wheelers) and Matthew Bubear (Southdowns Bikes).
Provisional Result
1st James Champken VC Venta
2nd Declan Egan Kingston Wheelers @st
3rd Matthew Bubear Southdowns Bikes @st
4th Matthew Farren Brighton Mitre
5th Duncan Rimmer Morden CRC
Category 2/3/4
The second race of the day was for second and third cat riders and consisted of twelve laps. The rain had cleared up and the course had started to dry but the morning’s deluge had dragged more gravel onto the course causing even more punctures.
As the race rolled through the grounds, the bunch got smaller and smaller. It took five laps before the first attack to stick as Tim Wiggins (Wightlink-LCM Systems CRT) and Paul Flynn (Brighton Mitre) eased off the front and they were soon joined by Stuart Bettis (Southdowns Bikes).
These three riders worked well and soon open up a lead of 17secs, but there lead was short lived as by lap eight it all came back together. Two laps later Peter Allan clipped off the front and along with M Hawkins (Norwood Paragon) they opened up a 10 second lead.
Peter is a strong time trial rider and with just over ten miles to go, he pushed on through the finish line and waited to see who went with him. He looked back and saw he was alone so he kept pushing and at the bell his lead was over 35 seconds and he now had a secure lead which he held on to the finish.
As the bunch turned towards the finish line, Gareth Thomas (Kingston Wheelers) eased away from the chasing bunch to claim second spot and leaving the remainder of the bunch to sprint for the minor places.
Provisional Result
1st Peter Allan PM
2nd Gareth Thomas Kingston Wheelers @18secs
3rd David Webborn London Dynamo @33secs
4th James Bevan VC Meudon @st
5th Richard Unwin VC Meudon @st
6th James Mickelburgh London Dynamo @st
7th Paul Flynn Brighton Mitre @st
8th Ryan Visser Redhill CC @st
9th Stuart Bettis Southdowns Bikes @st
10th Andrew Carter PNECC @st
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- RR Result: Beaumont Trophy/Curlew Cup
- Features, Reports, Results
- 2023 UCI World Masters Track Cycling Championships Day 1
- Series Table: Isle of Man Youth League 2023
- BMCR Result: Victoria CC Criterium
- 93rd VeloViewer Monsal Hill Climb Event Preview
- CX Result: London and South East CX League 3
- RR Result: JGCC Road Race
- CX Result: Central Cyclocross League 2
- HC Result: Cheltenham & County CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Westerham CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Ayr Roads CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Kingston Wheelers Hill Climb
- HC Result: Mid Devon CC Haytor Hill Climb
- HC Result: Mid Devon CC Widecombe Hill Climb
- TT Result: East Anglian VTTA 25m TT
- TT Result: VC Sevale 10m TT
- HC Result: Team Lifting Gear Products (Pea Royd Lane)
- HC Result: Team Lifting Gear Products Hill Climb
- TT Result: Paceline RT 25m TT
- HC Result: Watford Velo Sport Hill Climb
- HC Result: Cleveland Whs Hill Climb
- HC Result: Withington Wheelers Hill Climb
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer WMCCL Rd 4
- BMCR Result: Moda RT E/F/G/H/W Stallard Finale
- Dedication to the late Steve Knight
- TT Result: SVTTA (Speed Trophy) 15m TT
- RR Result: 360cycling Junior National Series Finale
- TT Result: Bramley Wheelers 25m TT
- TT Result: New Forest CC Autumn 10
- TT Result: Berkhamsted CC Sporting 10m TT
- TT Result: Saint Piran 19m TT
- HC Result: Exeter Wheelers Hill Climb
- HC Result: Wigmore CC Hill Climb
- Track Result: 2023 Derny Championship
- Crit Result: West Thames Autumn Crits 2
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League Rd 2
- CX Result: CXNE Series Round 2
- CX Result: Western Cyclocross League Rd 1
- CX Result: 3 Peaks 2023
- CX Result: Lincolnshire CX League Rd 1
- CX Result: Wessex CX League Rd3 (Foxhill)
Other News on VeloUK
- 93rd VeloViewer Monsal Hill Climb Event Preview
- Dedication to the late Steve Knight
- Saint Piran’s Remarkable Journey
- GB Riders for European Road Championships
- News: Ribble Launches Stone into Gravel
- Report: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT 2023
- News: East Cleveland Classic Rescheduled
- ENTRIES NEEDED: Severn Valley GP
- EVENTS: Criterium des Vainqueurs
- RR Result: Scottish National Road Race Championship
- Startlist: BMCR National Road Race Championships(C/D)
- PREVIEW – AA Brown Road Race
- Startlist: Beaumont Trophy/Curlew Cup
- Team News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT
- News: Ribble adds 105 12 speed to Bikes
- Startlist: RTTC National 10 Mile Championships
- News: Jenny Holl races Rás na mBan with Alba DRT
- WORLD TRACK MASTERS – LESS THAN A WEEK TO ENTER!
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Start List
- News: Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclocross League (WMCCL)
- JUNIOR TOUR OF WALES (Podiums)
- This Sunday: Time Trial’s Blue Ribbon Event – 25 mile Championship
- News: new Womens Cycling Team
- News: Reviving Elite Cycle Racing Taskforce
- News: Charlie Tanfield Extends with Saint Piran
- News: West Midlands Road Race League
- Report: World Championships (August 13, Sunday)
- News: Pedal Club Lunch (August ‘23)
- Report: World Championships (Aug 12, Saturday)
- Report: World Championships (August 11)
- Report: World Championships (August 10)
- Events: Ryedale Grasscrete GP (Men/Women)
- Feature: Handsling Bikes
- News: Tao Geoghegan Hart Signs for Lidl-Trek
- World Championships (Wed, Aug 9)
- Report: World Championships (Aug 8, 2023)
- 2023 World Championships: (Monday)
- Report: World Championships (Sunday)
- Report: Golden Day for GB in Glasgow
- World Championships Report: Scottish Cycling (Aug 4)