Pro stars headline the big entry for the Eddie Soens Memorial at Aintree on Merseyside on Saturday as the big teams come out to do battle at the famous Liverpool venue
![]() |
53rd Eddie Soens Memorial
This Saturday, 1st March, will be the 53rd edition of the Eddie Soens Memorial Cycle Race, the classic season-opening event in Merseyside cycling. Covering 50 miles (30 laps) of the ‘Club Circuit’ at the world famous Aintree Racecourse, the race is open to all categories and is run on a handicap basis.
Ed Clancy wins in 2013 but is on international duty in 2014
Created by Kirkby Cycling Club, the event is now promoted by Merseyside Cycling Development Group and has a list of former winners thats a who’s who of British cycling. Olympic champion Ed Clancy has won it twice and other household names on the winners list include Doug Dailey, Pete Matthews, Les West, Ian Hallam, Terry Dolan, Phil Thomas, Gary Sadler, Matt Bottrill, Steve Cummings, Rob Hayles and Russell Downing. There are many more because to be honest, the whole list of former winners are household names! There is a woman winner on the list, Julie Hill and two Juniors in Steve Cummings and Joshua Edmondson showing that the scratch riders don’t always catch everyone.
On this years list, there is a big entry from Rapha Condor JLT including Graham Briggs, Felix English, Kristian House, Chris Opie and Richard Handley. Last year’s winner Ed Clancy will be busy at the World Championships. Team Raleigh bring the famous colours to Aintree with Yanto Barker, Ian Wilkinson, Evan Oliphant, George Atkins, Joe Perrett, Liam Stones and World Madison Champion Morgan Kneisky. Giordana Velosure bring a strong team that had a good hitout at the Clayton Spring Classic whilst the winner of that race Simon Wilson also rides as does the runner up in David McGowan.
In a 1-2-3 for Endura Racing Russell Downing won in 2012 and the event is poorer for not having the likes of the NFTO rider racing the event.
That line up and the rest listed below may change on the day as I know some riders listed are due to be rested by teams who always confuse us by switching riders on the day! In all 172 riders are pre-entered and entries on the day are being taken as well. The race will see four groups set off a different times with the Elites the last group to go and 50 miles to catch the leading group. After that it becomes a free for all on the pan flat but windswept circuit and a bunch kick is the predicted outcome suiting riders like Felix English, Chris Opie, Ian Wilkinson, and Matt Cronshaw.
RIDERS
CATEGORY E/1 (Scratch group)
1 Michael Ashurst Biketreks Racing Academy E 4
2 Dillon Byrne Champion System/Club Roost/Maxgear E 4
3 Harry Tanfield KTM road-and-trail.com E 4
4 Graham Briggs Rapha Condor JLT E 4
5 Felix English Rapha Condor JLT E 4
6 Richard Handley Rapha Condor JLT E 4
7 Kristian House Rapha Condor JLT E 4
8 Thomas Moses Rapha Condor JLT E 4
9 Chris Opie Rapha Condor JLT E 4
10 Jack Pullar Starley Primal Pro Cycling E 4
11 Stephen Abbott Team Hoppers Rollers E 4
12 George Atkins Team Raleigh E 4
13 Yanto Barker Team Raleigh E 4
14 Morgan Kneisky Team Raleigh E 4
15 Evan Oliphant Team Raleigh E 4
16 Joseph Perrett Team Raleigh E 4
17 Liam Stones Team Raleigh E 4
18 Ian Wilkinson Team Raleigh E 4
19 Thomas Bustard Velosure – Giordana RT E 4
20 Matt Cronshaw Velosure – Giordana RT E 4
21 James Gullen Velosure – Giordana RT E 4
22 Richard Hepworth Velosure – Giordana RT E 4
23 Robert Partridge Velosure – Giordana RT E 4
24 Tom Barras Wheelbase Altura MGD E 4
25 Tom Murray Wheelbase Altura MGD E 4
26 Simon Wilson Wheelbase Altura MGD E 4
27 Tim Allen Arrow Cycles 1 4
28 Ben Dean BC PM 1 4
29 Sebastian Baylis Champion System/Club Roost/Maxgear 1 4
30 Benjamin Kellett Champion System/Club Roost/Maxgear 1 4
31 Michael Rawson Kuota – Spinergy – GSG 1 4
32 James Notley Mammoth Lifestyle Racing Team 1 4
33 David McGowan Metaltek – Knights of Old Racing Team 1 4
34 James Jobber Neon-Velo.com 1 4
35 Symon Lewis Nuun-Sigma Sport-London Race Team 1 4
36 Robert Watson PH-MAS Cycling 1 4
37 Hugh Carthy Rapha Condor JLT 1 4
38 Michael Cuming Rapha Condor JLT 1 4
39 Edward Laverack Rapha Condor JLT 1 4
40 Elliott Porter Rapha Condor JLT 1 4
41 Will Stephenson Rapha Condor JLT 1 4
42 Mark Christian Team Raleigh 1 4
43 Steven Lawley The Racers 1 4
44 Andrew Coupe Wheelbase Altura MGD 1 4
45 Nathan Wilson Wilsons Wheels Race Team 1 4
GROUP 3 (Cat 2)
46 David Micklethwaite 3 RT 2M 3
47 Martin Lonie BC PM 2 3
48 George Richardson BC PM 2 3
49 Richard Baldwin Bike Box Alan/Whiston Velo 2 3
50 Frank Pilkington Bill Nickson Cycles RT 2 3
51 Jordan Hargreaves Champion System/Club Roost/Maxgear 2 3
52 Andrew Martin Champion System/Club Roost/Maxgear 2 3
53 James Eastbury Chester RC 2 3
54 Giles Pidcock Chevin Cycles.com Trek 2M 3
55 Darren Howitt Clay Cross Road Team 2M 3
56 John Holt County Cycles Racing Team 2M 3
57 Sam Dobson Green Jersey RT 2M 3
58 Leigh Cowell Kuota – Spinergy – GSG 2 3
59 Luc Hall Kuota – Spinergy – GSG 2 3
60 Kirk Vickers Mid Shropshire Whls 2 3
61 John Coolahan Nuun-Sigma Sport-London Race Team 2 3
62 Cameron Fraser Nuun-Sigma Sport-London Race Team 2 3
63 Joshua Moody PH-MAS Cycling 2 3
64 Luke Grivell-Mellor Rapha Condor JLT 2 3
65 Jack Sadler Rapha Condor JLT 2 3
66 Jonathan Gildea Seamons CC 2 3
67 Andy Edwards Sigma Sport.co.uk 2M 3
68 Stephen Johnson Slipstream Bikes Race Team 2M 3
69 Paul Barnard Southdowns Bikes Cycling Club 2 3
70 Stuart Bettis Southdowns Bikes Cycling Club 2 3
71 Simon McNamara Southdowns Bikes Cycling Club 2 3
72 Christopher Daddy Squadra RT 2 3
73 Andy Hayton Squadra RT 2 3
74 Daniel Keena Squadra RT 2M 3
75 Richard Moore Squadra RT 2M 3
76 Jacob Trotter Squadra RT 2 3
77 Duncan Smith Team Hoppers Rollers 2 3
78 Karl Freeman Team Wheelguru 2 3
79 Zack Williamson Team Wheelguru 2 3
80 Jordan Rigby Teamwallis CHH Racing Team 2 3
81 Jack Barrett The Racers 2 3
82 Christopher Williams Velo Club Melyd 2 3
83 Nathan Edmondson Velosure – Giordana RT 2 3
Group 2 (cat 3)
84 Joshua Cutler 3 RT 3 2
85 Daniel Stocchero 3 RT 3M 2
86 Stephen Robinson 3RT 3M 2
87 Charlie Tanfield Adept Precision RT/NE Healthcare 2J 2
88 Lee Jackson BC PM 3 2
89 Darren Perry Beeston RC 3M 2
90 Aaron Handley Bike Box Alan/Whiston Velo 2J 2
91 Adrian Hatton Cadence Sport 3 2
92 Jayson Rees-Hughes Chester RC 3M 2
93 David Bolland Clay Cross Road Team 2J 2
94 Elliott Reynolds Clay Cross Road Team 2J 2
95 Charlie Evans Congleton CC 3 2
96 Joe Holt County Cycles Racing Team 2J 2
97 Joseph Wiltshire Cwmcarn Paragon Cycle Club 2J 2
98 Chris Whittle Deeside Thistle CC 3M 2
99 Joseph Donohue Fareham Wheelers Cycling Club 2J 2
100 Hamish Graham Green Jersey RT 3 2
101 William Fotheringham Halesowen A & CC 3M 2
102 Daniel Posnett Hull Thursday RC 3 2
103 Mark Walker Hull Thursday RC 3 2
104 Philip Gray Kuota – Spinergy – GSG 3 2
105 Robert Palmer Kuota – Spinergy – GSG 3 2
106 Ben Trotter Macclesfield Wheelers 3 2
107 Alex Harvey Marsh Tracks Race Team 2J 2
108 Stephen Williams NFTO Race Club 2J 2
109 Paul Molyneux North Cheshire Clarion 3 2
110 Paul Wilkinson North Cheshire Clarion 3 2
111 Paul Lally Onimpex Bio Racer RT 3 2
112 Nicholas Armitstead PH-MAS Cycling 3 2
113 Oliver Payton PH-MAS Cycling 2J 2
114 Richard Hughes Rhyl Cycling Club 3M 2
115 Paul Ray Ribble Valley CRC 3M 2
116 Alex Dalton Squadra RT 2J 2
117 Ryan McGillick Summit Cycling 2J 2
118 Sean Noon Team ASL360/The Health Boutique 2J 2
119 Ivan Boyes Team Cystic Fibrosis 3M 2
120 Martin Dainty Team Cystic Fibrosis 3M 2
122 Darran Acton Team Leapfrog 3M 2
123 Zak Loney Team LFH 2J 2
125 Lee Cairns Team Swift 3M 2
126 Darren Bendelow Team Vertex 3M 2
127 Christian Ellis Team Wheelguru 3M 2
128 Philip West VC St Raphael 3 2
129 Fabian Brennan Velocity WD-40 2J 2
130 Jack Escritt Velocity WD-40 2J 2
Front Group (1) 4th cat
131 Brendan Devlin 3RT 4M 1
132 Wayne Renshaw AllterrainRC 4M 1
133 Matt Hallam BC PM 4 1
134 Paul McNerney BC PM 4M 1
135 Kevin McSweeney BC PM 4M 1
136 Ross Miller BC PM 4 1
137 Oscar Williamson BC PM 3J 1
138 Ian Hodson BC SDL 4 1
139 Martin Jalowiec BC SDL 4 1
140 Ashley Marshall BC SDL 4 1
141 James Powell BC SDL 4 1
142 Max Spedding Birkenhead North End CC 3J 1
143 William Mansfield Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles 4M 1
144 Nicholas Jones County Cycles Racing Team 3J 1
145 Joe Westwood Cycle Sport Pendle 3J 1
146 Peter Anderson Elite CC 4M 1
147 Anthony Crabbe Graham Weigh Racing 4M 1
148 Patrick Fotheringham Halesowen A & CC 3J 1
149 Mark Horrocks Hope Factory Racing 4M 1
150 Neil Dean Hull Thursday RC 4M 1
151 Matthew Johnson Hull Thursday RC 4J 1
152 George Leighton Hull Thursday RC 4J 1
153 Will Thomas Hull Thursday RC 4 1
154 Paul Brady I-Ride.co.uk 4 1
155 Declan Hudson Liverpool Century RC 4 1
156 Francesc Xavier Manel-La Pujol Liverpool Century RC 4 1
157 James Meadows Liverpool Mercury (Dolan) CC 4 1
158 Max Gethin Lyme RC 4 1
159 Chris Gibbons Manchester Whlrs Club 4 1
160 David Tudor Marsh Tracks Race Team YA 1
161 Adam Wilkinson North Cheshire Clarion 4 1
162 Callum McBrearty Nottingham Clarion CC 3J 1
163 Billy Harding Orange Monkey Pro Team 3J 1
164 Matthew Cosgrove Sportcity Velo 3J 1
165 Harris Redgrove Sportcity Velo 3J 1
166 Carl Finney St Helens CRC/D.Sparrow P & H Services 4M 1
167 Claire Munton Vegetarian C & AC 3W 1
168 Jake Beach Velocity WD-40 YA 1
169 Matthew Walls Velocity WD-40 YA 1
170 Reece Wood Velocity WD-40 YA 1
171 Jacob Booth Weaver Valley CC 4J 1
172 James Risk Weaver Valley CC 3J 1
FORMER WINNERS
1962 Bruce O’Prey Liverpool Premier
1963 Doug Dailey Kirkby CC
1964 Doug Dailey Kirkby CC
1965 Ken Hill Liverpool Mercury RC
1966 Billy Whiteside Kirkby CC
1967 Pete Matthews Liverpool Mercury RC
1968 Les West Tunstall Wheelers
1969 Billy Whiteside Kirkby CC
1970 Doug Dailey Kirkby CC
1971 John Clewarth Kirkby CC
1972 Andy Whitehead Deeside Olympic
1973 Willi Moore Merseyside Wheelers
1974 Brian Rourke Tunstall Wheelers
1975 Kevin Apter Kirkby CC
1976 Ian Hallam Beeston RC
1977 Doug Dailey Kirkby CC
1978 Terry Dolan Liverpool Mercury RC
1979 Alan Nichols East Bradford CC
1980 Bob Barlow Manchester Police CC
1981 Phil Thomas Liverpool Mercury RC
1982 Gary Sadler GS Strada
1983 Neil Mitchell Kirkby CC
1984 Dennis Lightfoot Manchester Wheelers
1985 Eamonn Rooney VC Slough
1986 Karl Smith Clayton Velo
1987 Eamonn Rooney Alpha CC
1988 Bernie Burns Bradford Wheelers
1989 Pete Maxwell Kirkby CC
1990 Mark Gornall Manchester Wheelers
1991 Julie Hill Liverpool Mercury RC
1992 Matt Illingworth GS Strada
1993 Simon Lillistone North Wirral Velo
1994 Matt Illingworth North Wirral Velo
1995 Dave Williams RT Italia
1996 Dave Williams Team Ambrosia
1997 Glen Holmes Adidas Sci-con
1998 Matt Bottrill North Wirral Velo
1999 Steve Cummings Birkenhead North End CC
2000 Julian Ramsbottom Scunthorpe Poly CC
2001 Tony Gibb Team Quest
2002 Tony Gibb Team PCA – Orbea
2003 Chris Newton Corima RT
2004 Tony Gibb Plowman Craven RT
2005 Rob Hayles Recycling.co.uk
2006 Event cancelled due to snow
2007 Ian Stannard Team 100% Me
2008 Tony Gibb Plowman Craven RT
2009 Ed Clancy
2010 Joshua Edmonson
2011 James Stewart
2012 Russell Downing Endura Racing
2013 Ed Clancy Rapha Condor
2014 ???
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Crit Result: Sussex Cycle Racing League Circuits 1/14
- Result: Hillingdon Slipstreamers Spring Series Event 1
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #15
- RESULT: 2nd Portsdown Classic
- Track Result – Manchester Regional Track League
- News: John Barclay Academy Launch
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #14
- QUIZ TIME! Q&A with Zack Lowe (Prologue Race Team)
- NEWS: 2025 ELITE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series Rd 1
- Crit Result: Chilly City Crits Rd 2
- CX Result: London/South East CX League 10
- Track Result: 2025 Manchester Regional Track League
- Another World Title for Zoe Backstedt
- TRAGIC NEWS: Aidan Loses His Life in Training Accident
- Tom Pidcock wins the AlUla Tour
- Q&A with Elliot Fraser (360cycling)
- GB Team Win World Title at CX Worlds
- Second stage win for Tom Pidcock in AlUla Tour
- 2025 West Midlands road race league
- NEWS: Ribble Cycles Bike Sponsor for Smurfit Westrock Team
- QUIZ TIME! Q&A with young talent Mark Ketteringham
- Startlist: RCR Portsdown Classic Road Race (February 9)
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #13
- Crit Result: Chilly City Crits Rd 1
- CX Result: Linlithgow Cross 2025
- QUIZ TIME!! REBECCA WOODVINE
- CX Result: London and South East CX League 9
- CX Results: Eastern Region CX League Rd 10
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Round 12
- QUIZ TIME! Q&A with Oscar Nisbett
- CX Result: NWCCA League Round 11
- Track Result: Manchester Regional Track League
- QUIZ TIME: Britain’s Joe Turnbull
- CYCLOCROSS: 2025-26 LLOYDS NATIONAL TROPHY SERIES CALENDAR
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Circuit Series #12
- QUIZ TIME! Dan Kemp (Prologue Junior Race Team)
- CX Result: Jersey Cyclocross League Jan 19
- CX Result: Army Cyclocross Champs 2025
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclocross League Rd 6
Other News on VeloUK
- News: John Barclay Academy Launch
- NEWS: 2025 ELITE DEVELOPMENT TEAMS
- Another World Title for Zoe Backstedt
- TRAGIC NEWS: Aidan Loses His Life in Training Accident
- Tom Pidcock wins the AlUla Tour
- 2025 West Midlands road race league
- NEWS: Ribble Cycles Bike Sponsor for Smurfit Westrock Team
- Startlist: RCR Portsdown Classic Road Race (February 9)
- CYCLOCROSS: 2025-26 LLOYDS NATIONAL TROPHY SERIES CALENDAR
- 2025 British CycloCross Championships Day 2
- 2025 British CycloCross Championships Day 1
- TEAM NEWS: RAPTOR FACTORY RACING
- STARTLIST: 2025 British Cyclocross Championships
- Q&A: Louis Herring (Prologue Junior Race Team)
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS RIDER LIST
- NEXT WEEK: BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS – CYCLOPARK
- 2025 EVENTS: RTTC 10 mile TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP
- THIS WEEKEND: NATIONAL TROPHY SERIES 2024/25 ROUND 5
- BMCR Newsletter January 2025
- TEAM NEWS: BCC Race Team 2025 Squad Announcement
- TEAM NEWS: 2025 Handsling Alba Development Road Team
- Q&A with Paul Opie & Tom Mead
- Team News: New Junior team for West Lothian Clarion
- 2025 Events: Plymouth Corinthian
- News: Junior/Youth National Series 2025
- Startlist: Round 4 National Trophy Cyclocross (Dec 7/8)
- ELITE ROAD AND CIRCUIT RACES CALENDAR
- Sad News: No Saint Piran team for 2025
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (November)
- Team Update: Brother UK / Onform 2025
- 2025 NATIONAL TRACK CALENDAR ANNOUNCED
- CHS CICLISMO – Complimentary daily massage and spa!
- Team News: Fensham Howes – MAS Design 2025
- National Trophy Cyclocross: Round 3 (Torbay)
- Tofauti Everyone Active announces new partners and new name for 2025
- Rider News: Matt Thompson signs for French Team BMC Bezier
- News: Youth Tour of Scotland 2025
- FEATURE: Billy Ladle’s Stellar Season Recognised at British Cycling Awards
- 2025 Prologue Junior Race Team
- STARTLIST: BUCS Hill Climb Championships