Sophie Lankford and Jack Burgin winners in the Hopton Road Races for Men and Women on Sunday, in Suffolk
![]() |
Result: Hopton Road Races
Pictures and words Fergus Muir
WOMEN
Diss CC’s first promotion of a road race for women resulted in a win Sophie Lankford (Aprire/HSS) who won the 43 mile event in a bunch sprint finish.
The new 8.6 mile triangular circuit features a climb directly after each of the sharp corners at South Lopham, Kenninghall and Garboldisham and these were the scene of many brief attacks – but nothing stuck. An increasing wind and the dominance of the Aprire/HSS team were mentioned as relevant factors.
Rebecca Johnson (Fast Test Racing, 9th) and Gemma Melton (Pedal Power Ipswich, 11th) were the top local finishers.
1 Sophie Lankford Aprire Bicycles/HSS Hire
2 Charlotte Colclough Team Jadan-Weldtite
3 Rosie Lethbridge Norwood Paragon CC
4 Emma Jane Hornsby VC Londres
5 Amy Good GB Cycles.co.uk
6 Gemma Sargent Aprire Bicycles/HSS Hire
7 Tina Winzer Aprire Bycycles/HSS Hire
8 Sarah Walker VS Aster
9 Rebecca Johnson Fast Test Racing Team
10 Hannah Nicklin Dulwich Paragon CC
11 Gemma Melton Pedal Power Cycles Ipswich
12 Jennifer Lake CC Luton
13 Harriet Mellor Aprire Bicycles/HSS Hire
14 Jennie Tillott St Ives CC
15 Katie Scotter Iceni Velo
16 Gemma Hayes East Grinstead CC
17 Anneke Prins Welwyn Wheelers CC
18 Louise Marsden VC Norwich
19 Francesca Cutts CC London
20 Louise Laker Aprire Bicycles/HSS Hire
MEN
Twenty-nine year old Jack Burgin (St Ives CC) scored his first win for two years when he outsprinted Chris Thomas (East London Velo) to win the 60 mile Diss CC Road Race. The pair had escaped with one and a half laps remaining of the new South Lopham – Kenninghall – Garboldisham circuit through the cornfields of South Norfolk
Earlier, on as bright, breezy morning, Liam Gentry (VC Baracchi) and Andy Proffitt (Ipswich BC) had attacked on the climb out of Garboldisham, but had been caught. On the last lap Tommy Power (Strada Sport) used the same climb to launch a chase behind Burgin and Thomas. He was joined by Dougal Toms (Iceni Velo) and Rob Ormond (Fast Test). This trio failed to catch the two leaders, but shared the next three places, led by Toms who finished 13 seconds down on Chris Thomas.
The bunch came in a further eight seconds back, the sprint for sixth being won by Josh Andrews (Fast Test RT) who moves up to First Cat on the points won.
1 Jack Burgin St Ives CC
2 Christopher Thomas East London Velo
3 Dougal Toms Iceni Velo
4 Thomas Power Strada-Sport
5 Robert Ormond Fast Test Racing Team
6 Joshua Andrews Fast Test Racing Team
7 Harley Matthews Strada-Sport
8 Mark Smith Pro Cycle Hire UK Racing Team
9 Zak Coleman Strada-Sport
10 Charlie Wright VC Norwich
11 Liam Gentry VC Baracchi
12 Charlie Bratt St Ives CC
13 Rory Havis St Ives CC
14 Nicholas Esser Velo Club Baracchi
15 Ben Benyon Strada-Sport
16 James Moore Velo Club Baracchi
17 Dale Johnston VC Norwich
18 Paul Miller Velo Schils – Interbike RT
19 Paul Johnson Peterborough Cycling Club
20 Morris Bacon Strada-Sport
21 Jeremy Perks Chelmer CC
22 Mark Richards Velo Club Baracchi
23 Peter Blenkinsop Fast Test Racing Team
24 Robert Anderson Gt Yarmouth CC
25 Joshua Aiken Fast Test Racing Team
26 David Warwick Orwell Velo
27 Lubomir Belak St Ives CC
28 Stephen Grant Strada-Sport
29 Ian Perry Velo Schils – Interbike RT
30 Oliver Jones Ipswich Bicycle Club
31 Steve Noel Peterborough Cycling Club
32 Simon Hazelby Iceni Velo
33 Jake Towler West Suffolk Wheelers & Tri Club
34 Neal Hughes Stowmarket & District CC
35 Richard McShee Islington Cycling Club
36 Toby Miles Finchley Racing Team
37 Ian Sandall Gt Yarmouth CC
38 Philip Large Iceni Velo
39 Jack Hardwicke Strada-Sport
40 Tom Elwood CC London
41 Bjorn Krylander Cambridge CC
42 Andrew Proffitt Ipswich Bicycle Club
43 Mark Howard Pro Cycle Hire UK Racing Team
44 Thomas Doe VC Norwich
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Result: King and Queen of the Bowl Crit Series #11
- Result: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League Rd 12
- GB Team for Track Euros
- Result: West Thames League Rnd 13
- Result: RCR Goodwood Series #8
- Result: Portsmouth Evening Circuits
- Result: Thank Crit it’s Friday 4
- Result: Swindon Summer Race Series 3
- Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series 14
- Result: National Circuit Series – Guildford
- TT Result: Westerley Cycling Club 25
- TT Result: Ross on Wye & Dist CC 25
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 12.7m TT
- TT Result: Border City Whs CC 25
- TT Result: Ferryhill Whs 25
- RESULT: Salt Ayre Tuesday Series 13 (Lune RCC)
- Result: A Bridge Too Far Road Race
- Result: Lichfield No Frills #3
- Result: Chorley CC UCLAN Series Round 2
- Result: Seacroft Wheelers Summer Road Races
- Result: Junior Road Championships
- TT Result: Mid Devon Cycling Club 25
- TT Result: The Nifty Fifty
- TT Result: East Lancashire RC 10
- Result: King and Queen of the Bowl Crit Series 10
- TT Result: VC Norwich 10
- TT Result: Ross on Wye & Dist CC 10
- TT Result: City RC (Hull) 10
- TT Result: Dan Ward Memorial TT
- TT Result: Bristol South Cycling Club 50
- Result: Banbury Star Festival of Racing
- Result: Mid Shropshire Wheelers Severn Valley Youth Series
- Result: Fete du Velo (Redbourn)
- Result: Ilkley Town Centre Races
- HC Result: Winster Hill Climb
- Result: Mallory Park Youth Road Race League 4
- Result: RCR Goodwood Series #7
- Result: Schils Summer Circuit Races
- Result: Tameside Cycling Development League
- Result: West Thames League Circuit Race League 12
Other News on VeloUK
- GB Team for Track Euros
- Opening of Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway
- Bike News: Ribble Cycles Alloy Bikes
- This Weekend: Junior Road Championships
- Wednesday: Otley Cycle Races
- Mid Shropshire Wheelers celebrates 100 Years of Cycling
- Team Feature: Prologue Junior Racing Team Spring Review
- New: Ribble Cycles Ultra-Grit & Allgrit Ranges
- START LISTS FOR BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- STARTLIST: Two day Giant Tugby Ronde van Wymeswold
- NEWS: MAJOR JUNIOR TEAMS TO MERGE FOR 2026
- Entries Wanted: Ilkley Town Centre Races
- Report/Result: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 2
- Report: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 1
- STARTLIST: Owen Blower Memorial Road Races
- Events: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- News: May Pedal Club Lunch
- RIBBLE PARTNERS WITH THE BIKE FITTERS
- Monday: Witham Wheelers Road Races
- British Stars for Women’s Tour of Britain
- Women’s Tour of Britain Riders 2025
- BIKES: RIBBLE UNVEILS ULTRA-RACE
- Women’s Tour of Britain Routes
- STARTLISTS: 2025 Lincoln Grand Prix
- STARTLIST: The Witham Hall Grand Prix
- Startlist: Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix
- FEATURE: PEDAL CLUB LUNCH REPORT (APRIL)
- 2025 BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS – ROUTES
- STARTLIST: Sloan Trophy (April 27)
- News: Teams Revealed for the Women’s Tour of Britain
- Startlist: CiCLE Classic International
- Sunday: CiCLE Classic UCI Road Race
- News: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage Hosts
- PERTH GRAND PRIX (SCOTLAND)
- April 19: PNE National B Road Race
- STARTLIST: East Cleveland Classic
- Startlists: Witham Hall Junior Two Day (Men & Women)
- Startlist: Totnes-Vire Two Day
- STARTLISTS: Cold Dark Capenwray Road Races
- News: CiCLE Classic – Volunteers Wanted