Watersplash Road Race  6th May.

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The sun had disappeared, the wind had changed direction into the West & there was a threat of rain in the air but it didn’t stop a good turn out for five, six or eight laps of the Watersplash circuit. In Div one Chris and Sam together with Robin Ovenden broke away fairly early and rode the race together, working well to keep away from the chasing group. Chris winning the sprint.

Div 2 saw Mike Harris build up a considerable lead in the early laps only to be gradually reeled in; initially by Bob Cabot and a small group who were themslves swallowed by the main group, who then caught Mike. This left it down to the last climb when a group of eleven riders got away at the top, Bob Cabot winning a close sprint to take victory, great result, good to see you coming back in to form Bob. Further back Jim Davis held onto the group until the end of the last climb, great effort and good training for the games. Poor Mike Mitch was going well until an attack of cramp halfway up the climb left him hors de combat. Good to see Mick Higginson up their at the front as well together with Alan, Gozzee and Pascal.

Div 3 saw a large group of riders facing a 5 lap battle round the circuit. Yours truly set the pace up the hill on the first climb and suddenly found I had opened up a good sized gap at the top...it would have been great if it had been the last lap but hey at least I had my moment of glory. Arriving at the St Peters turn the normal honorary police presence was missing so I pulled out and manned the turn until marshalls arrived in the form of Hazel Pushman and Julie Keighrey...thanks ladies. I rejoined Div 3 to find a group of 5 riders had broken away, apparently at the top of the second climb, containing Matt Gambles, Andy Boxall and Dave Whitt from Velo. With Alan Miller also in the group it was clear who the danger man was, but despite constant attacks all the way from St Peters on the last lap by the Velo team he still had enough strength to win the sprint...don’t go so early next time Matt! Craig Meredith was doing fine until gear failure left him stuck in the small ring...good practice for high cadence work down Hydrangea!

Thanks to Toby for organising and Rob, Tim and Alex for marshalling as well as the girls for coming to the rescue. Finally thanks to Adrian Rowland for the great pictures.

Results

 

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Div 1
1. Chris Spence	CCC	2.26.33
2. Sam Firby	CCC	ST
3. Robin Ovendon	CCC	ST
4. Ian Le Lai	CCC	2.34.15
5. Adam W	CCC	st
6. James Amy	CCC	st
Jim Garrett	VSJ	DNF
Alistar Cann	CCC	DNF
Russel Crowder	VSJ	DNF
Jamie Barker	VSJ	DNF
Vince Perron	CCC	DNF
Div 2
1. Robert Cabot	VSJ	2.00.20
2. Robert Coutanche	CCC	ST	First Junior
3. Dennis Rainbow	CCC	ST
4. Simon Fenton	CCC	ST
5. Mick Higginson	VSJ	ST
6. Lorenzo Nardone	CCC	ST
7. Mike Harris	CCC	ST
8. Pascal Ybert	VSJ	ST
9. Alan Irving	VSJ	ST
10. Peter Hubert	CCC	ST
11. Steve Goziou	VSJ	ST
12. Jim Davis	VSJ	2.02.04	First Lady
13. Paul Lipscombe	VSJ	ST
14. Mike Keighrey	VSJ	ST
Tony Moffa	VSJ	DNF
Mike Mitchinson	VSJ	DNF
16. John Derrien	CCC	at 1 lap
Div 3
1. Allan Miller	CCC	1.48.25
2. Matt Gambles	VSJ	ST
3. Andy Boxall	VSJ	ST
4. Peter Derrick	VSJ	ST
5. Andy Smith	VSJ	ST
6. Dave Whitt	VSJ	ST
7. Tony Pushman	VSJ	1.50.57
8. Mick Heald	CCC	st
9. Mike Gardener	CCC	1.52.08
10. Craig Meredith	VSJ	1.52.48
11. Des McClelland	VSJ	1.54.49
12. B Cooke	VSJ	1.55.10
13. Sarah Smith	CCC	ST	First lady
14. Andy Ilton	VSJ	ST
15. Sean Twohig	VSJ	ST
16. Nicole Hubert	CCC	2.10.49	First Junior Lady
17. Nikki Barden	VSJ	at 1 lap	Lady
18. Richard Jenkin	VSJ	at 1 lap