Report: VC Venta Summer Critérium 2

 

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Lewis Atkins (Excel Pedal heaven Academy) was the winner of the second of four crits held at the South Winchester Park and Ride

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Report: VC Venta Summer Critérium 2

Sunday 24th July | by Graham Robins

Lewis Atkins (Excel Pedal heaven Academy) was the winner of the second of four crits held at the South Winchester Park and Ride and promoted by local club VC Venta. Atkins to the win by the narrowest of margins on the line from Matthew Webster (Wellingborough RT) with Paul Double from the promoting club third.

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The one kilometre circuit was bathed in sunshine but on the drag up towards the finish line there was a vicious head wind which caused rider to take shelter as much as possible.
The E/1/2 race was one hour and five laps in distance and it took the best part of half race distance to a strong group of five finally broke clear of the bunch and put some distance between them. Along with Atkins, Matthews and Double was Mike Smith (Cycleworks.co.uk) a previous winner on the circuit and Matthew Webster (Wellingborough RT).

On the forty minute mark the five leaders now had a 35secs lead. Over the next ten minutes their lead had extended out to over a minute, and on 52minutes they caught and passed the remains of the bunch which now consisted of ten riders. Paul Double still had some legs of 55 minutes to try a solo attack but6 was quickly collected by the attentive group.

So at the bell the five were all together and still looked like the finishing order but the twist in the tail was Mike Smith parting company with his bike on the top corner in an attempt to pull clear before the very tight hair pin bend on the bottom of the circuit. So as the four climbed towards the finish Scott Michaels slipped away and Double looked leggy thus leaving Matthews and Atkins to contest the sprint with the Pedal Heaven rider getting the nod on the line.

In the women’s race India Lee (PM) and Sophie Lankford (Aspire Bicycles/HSS Hire) lapped the field twice in the forty five minute race with the former even manage to pull a further ten seconds out in the latter stages of the race.

In the early stages of the race Lankford eased away from the bunch gaining a handful of seconds before Lee made the junction. Next to try to bridge the gap was Ashia Fenwick (VC Venta), but on junior gearing she soon found it difficult to stay with the other two and soon slipped back. Fenwick eased away but held a gap of 10secs with the rest of the bunch at 22secs.

With the women’s race 30mins old India Lee attacks once again as she sees the back of the chasers and Lankford manages to stay with her. In the next couple of laps the junction is made and Lee gets clear whilst Lankford took another lap to clear them. Once clear both Lee and Lankford picked up time and within another five minutes had set up another pass as the bunch had pretty much sat up already a lap down.

The two leaders were not content with a two lap lead continued to push but the bell beat them. Lee won the race from Lankford with Molly Haycock (Bournemouth Arrow) taking third and Ashia Fenwick taking a deserved fourth, just rewards for her efforts early on in the race.

The fifty minute 3rd Cat race almost went the distance when the ten man leading group were still all together at the bell. The win went right to the line when Tom Lane (Blazing Saddles) piped Ed Slot (Sotonia CC) and Rob Hardyman (North Hants RC).

The fourth cat race also ended up in bunch sprint after their 35minute race with Neil Pooley (VC Venta) taking it on the line.

Provisional Results

E/1/2
1st Lewis Atkins Excel Pedal Heaven Academy 60mins +5laps
2nd Matthew Webster Wellingborough RT @st
3rd Paul Double VC Venta @st
4th Scott Michaels Southampton Uni RC
5th Mike Smith Cycleworks.co.uk
6th Justin Hoy NFTO @1Lap +38secs

Women’s
1st India Lee PM 45mins +5laps
2nd Sophie Lankford Aspire Cycle/HSS Hire @14secs
3rd Molly Haycock Bournemouth Arrow @2laps
4th Aishia Fenwick VC Venta
5th Hilde Oudman Starley Racing

3rd Cat
1st Tom Lane Blazing Saddles Cycles 50mins +3laps
2nd Ed Slot Sotonia @st
3rd Rob Hardyman North Hants RC @st

4th Cat
1st Neil Pooley VC Venta 35mins +5laps
2nd Dexter Fox Army Cycling Union @st
3rd Mark Berry NFTO RC
4th James Pugh Sherston Velo

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