Result: Jock Wadley Road Race

Veteran rider Yanto Barker wins the 2022 Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race in Colchester on Sunday, March 13

Result: Jock Wadley Road Race

By Fergus Muir including photos

A wind-blasted Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race near Colchester was won by 42 year-old former pro Yanto Barker riding for his own Le Col team. Barker had been part of a six man break that established itself less than an hour into the race on the seven mile Abberton circuit finishing at Layer-de-la-Haye.

Barker attributed the break’s success in staying away partly to the group’s willingness to accept being carefully organized to minimize wasted energy. On the short seven mile circuit, between, at best, leafless hedges, the strong wind hit the break from ever-changing angles, and rotation was adjusted to suit.

“Small things all count” he said afterwards

That break consisted of Barker and Oli Bang-Andeasen (Le Col), Sam Asker (Richardsons-Trek-DAS) ,Jordon Peacock (Spirit BSS), Matthew Lord (PM) and Matt Clements (Kuwait Pro CT). Two hours into the 84 mile race a powerful group attempted to bridge to the leaders and three riders made it across.

Behind, the once massive bunch was in tatters, scattered by the wind and a crash. As rain began to fall and the finish approached, Barker and Alex Richardson rode off the front of the lead group and forged ahead on their own. The pair crossed the finish line near Layer church side by side, hands linked, with Barker’s wheel judged just ahead.

Two minutes 43 seconds later Tom Portsmouth took third followed by Oli Bang-Andreasen and Bury St Edmunds ride Sam Asker, who was the first local man over the line. Race organizer Malcolm Hargreaves of Colchester Rovers MCed the prizegiving where awards were presented by Simon Blaxill of main event sponsors Kent Blaxill.

Mr Blaxill’s final service of the day was to rescue a missing prizewinner who was well and truly lost in “Britain’s Oldest Recorded Town”, the signs to the HQ having been flattened by the wind – completing the element’s domination of the day.

1 Yanto Barker
2 Alexandra Richardson
3 Tom Portsmouth
4 Ole Bang-Andreasen
5 Samuel Asker
6 Jordon Peacock
7 Matthew Lord
8 James Jenkins
9 Jack Freeman
10 Matthew Clements
11 Charles Ager
12 Clay Davies
13 Chris McNamara
14 Michael Weavers
15 Sean Dawson
16 Daniel Rees
17 Dominic schils
18 Zeb Kyffin
19 Frazier Carr
20 Oliver Maxwell
21 Joe Staunton
22 Elliot Ward
23 Matthew Houlberg
24 Mark Richards
25 Tim Allen
26 Callum Riley
27 Leighton Oxley-Crisp
28 Harley Matthew
29 Matthew Carter
30 Preslav Dimitrov
31 Joseph Smith
32 James Somerfield
33 Ian Vagg
34 Thomas Quaid
35 Oliver Hurdle
36 Andrew Kerr
37 Robin Llewelyn
38 Tom Yiangou