Report & Results – Shrewsbury GP

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Brit Tate & Robert Watson winners of the main events at the Shrewsbury Grand Prix on Sunday

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Report & Results – Shrewsbury GP
(thanks to John & Sue for the results, good we can rely on you for them!)

Thousands of people descended on Shrewsbury today (Sunday May 25) to watch the first major cycling race to be held in the town for decades. Spectators young and old lined the streets to experience the action packed Shrewsbury Cycle Grand Prix which saw more than 130 riders including Olympic gold medalist Joanna Rowsell MBE, tackle the tight, fast-paced town centre circuit.

ShrewsburyGP_Pic1

Above: Brit Tate, winner of the Women’s race, with boyfriend Robert Watson, winner of the Elite race, with Shrewsbury Mayor Beverley Baker.

Race organiser Ben Lawrence, managing director of Beaumont Lawrence, said: “It has been a really fantastic day. The quality of racing was superb and despite the forecast for showers the rain held off and the event has been a huge success. We know there has been a lot of preparation for today and the races were tight, fast and technical.”

The race action kicked off from The Square with a women’s only race which saw British champion Ms Rowsell take to the streets along with 34 other female riders including Shrewsbury rider Hayley Edwards to battle it out for the top podium positions. After 45 minutes of fast paced cycling, it was 20-year-old Brit Tate, from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, that emerged victorious.

The young rider, of team GB Cycles, has been cycling for three years said: “It is absolutely amazing to have won. I felt like I was riding in the Olympics on the last lap. The crowd were so supportive. I have never won anything like this before. I’m completely speechless. To have won against such a talented group of riders including Joanna Rowsell is fantastic, I’m just so pleased.”

The second and third finishers were just a fraction of a second behind the leader with Harriet Owen, of Matrix Fitness, finishing in second Lydia Gurley, of Merlin Cycles, in third. Twenty-five-year old British team pursuit champion Ms Rowsell finished in fourth after leading for most of the race.

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Graham South, of Shrewsbury-based Paramount CRT, crosses the line to win the support race.

The 50-minute amateur race, which drew competitors from local racing clubs proved an equally exciting race with local rider Graham South, of the Shrewsbury-based Paramount Cycling Racing Team, taking the top podium position. Kenny Cliff, of Hinkley TLC finished in second, followed by Christopher Allcott, of Fred Williams Cycles, in third.

The final race of the day was the fast and furious event which attracted 49 riders from across the UK. The hour-long action packed race thrilled crowds with riders reaching speeds of up to 40 mph as they raced around the cobbled streets of Shrewsbury. After a tight sprint to the finish it was Robert Watson, of Ilkley, West Yorkshire, that crossed the finish line first.

He was followed by James Notley, of Mammoth Lifestyle Racing, in second position and George Moore, of Bicicielo, in third. Speaking after the race, 22-year-old Mr Watson, said he felt “awesome”.
He also revealed that Brit Tate, winner of the female race, was his girlfriend of nearly two years. He said: “It is the first time I have been to Shrewsbury. When I came and saw the cobbles and tight corners I thought the circuit would suit me down to the ground and I decided I was just going to go for it”.

“I will definitely be back next year to defend my title.”

RESULTS

Womens
1 Brit Tate GB Cycles.co.uk
2 Harriet Owen Matrix Fitness – Vulpine
3 Lydia Gurley Merlin Cycles
4 Joanna Rowsell Wiggle Honda
5 Iona Sewell GB Cycles.co.uk
6 Nicky Healy Mammoth Lifestyle Racing Team
7 Maisie Duckworth Wolverhampton Whls
8 Emma Birtles Lichfield City CC
9 Eleanor Jones VC St Raphael
10 Gina Riley Chester RC
11 Ruth Taylor Manchester Whlrs Club
12 Victoria Grimmer Paramount CRT
13 Alison Kinloch PH-MAS Cycling
14 Sinead Burke PH-MAS Cycling
15 Lauren Humphreys Rugby Velo
16 Claire Offley Chester RC
17 Paige Milward Bike Pure-LeMond-Aspire Velotec
18 Sian Botteley Squadra Donne
19 Hayley Edwards Starley Primal Pro Cycling
20 Bethany Coupland Mid Shropshire Wheelers

Men’s Elite/1/2/3
1 Robert Watson
2 James Notley Mammoth Lifestyle Racing Team
3 George Moore Bicicielo
4 Jack Escritt Velocity WD-40
5 Preslav Dimitrov MJS Racing
6 Steven Roach
7 Alexander Royle BH-Solidor-WAM Youth
8 Ashley Marshall Aire Valley Racing Team
9 Gareth Jones Mammoth Lifestyle Racing Team
10 Alexander Simmons Swinnerton Cycles
11 James Ireson Wolverhampton Whls
12 Elliott Reynolds Clay Cross Road Team
13 Matthew Bonehill Mammoth Lifestyle Racing Team
14 James Ellmore Mid Shropshire Whls
15 Daniel McKimm Dream Cycling
16 David Griffiths Paramount CRT
17 Stephen Smith Champion System/Club Roost/Maxg
18 Nicholas Whitley Chester RC 49 @ 1 LAP
19 Jimmy Kershaw Mid Shropshire Whls 23 @ 1 LAP
20 52 @ 1 LAP
21 John Cooke Wrekinsport CC 12 @ 1 LAP
22 Jordan Peacock Rugby Velo 29 @ 1 LAP
23 Dave Starkey Mammoth Lifestyle Racing Team 37 @ 1 LAP
24 Todd Hotchkiss Audlem Cycling Club 14 @ 1 LAP

Men’s Support Race
1 Graham South Paramount CRT
2 Kenny Cliff Hinkley TLC
3 Christopher Allcott Fred Williams Cycles
4 Christopher Kay Fibrax Wrexham Road Club
5 Peter Brook Chester RC
6 David Williams Wrexham Roads Club
7 Nicholas Whitley Chester RC
8 Courtney Ricketts Mid Shropshire Whls
9 Jack Smith Wolverhampton Whls
10 Jamie Fletcher Chester RC
11 Benjamin Goddard Newport Shropshire CC
12 Lee Handley Paramount CRT
13 Ewan Caird Paramount CRT
14 Gary Brain Pearce Cycles RT
15 Peter Brook Chester RC

 

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