Results for March 2003.  Send results to Swindon RC

Severn RC Hilly 27 Mile Time trial

Sean Bolton, Paul Gregg and Andrew Waddington all rode the 3rd event in the WTTA HardRiders series, held on a sporting course to the North of Bristol.  In fine, sunny Spring conditions Andrew rode extremely well to finish 5th, despite going off course and being delayed by traffic.

Westerley CC Spring Criteriums

Adam Thomson took part in the 3rd/4th Cat race on the Hillingdon circuit and finished an excellent 4th overall and 1st Junior.  A great result against senior competition.  Paul Gregg also rode but punctured early on.  Paul withdrew from the race, fixed his puncture, and then rode in the E/1/2/3 race held later in the afternoon.  Paul had a good ride to finish with the bunch in a good class field.   Darren Beers also took part in the 3rd/4th cat race.

  Adam Thomson at Hillingdon

WCRA Handicap Races, Milton Keynes Bowl

Jayne Croyston rode in the Women's handicap event on the closed road circuit at the Milton Keynes Bowl.  Jayne eventually finished 25th out of 34 women, although I am not sure how the handicapping effected the race.  Well done Jayne.

In the support race for 2/3/4 cat men, Rob Jackson took part.  The race was fast and prevented any breaks forming.  Rob contested the mass bunch sprint and finished in about 10th place.

Bath CC Hilly 30 mile Time Trial

On a dry, sunny but cold morning Stephen Marchant won the Bath CC Hilly 30 mile time trial.  A great ride by Steve, beating most of his potential rivals for the WTTA Hardriders competition.  Andrew Waddington has returned from New Zealand and has obviously lost none of his fitness with an excellent 9th place in this event.

1. S Marchant     Swindon RC         1.11:24
2. R. Marsh       Somer Valley CC    1.11:35
3. M. Dredge      Westbury           1.11:42

9. A. Waddington  Swindon RC         1.14:54

Sotonia CC 10 Mile Time Trial

The time trialling season is well under way with Jason Costello, Stephen Pitman and Graham Messer all testing there early season form on the usually quick P613 course.

1. M. Hutchinson Team MDT   19:54

J. Costello      Swindon RC 22:03
S. Pitman        Swindon RC 23:37
G. Messer        Swindon RC 25:01

VC Venta Circuit Races, Thruxton

Darren Beers showed good early season form to finish 8th in the 4th Cat race and earn 3 points towards his 3rd Cat licence.  In the Junior race, Adam Thomson was also in excellent form winning the Junior race.

Bringewood MTB Downhill (Junior Women)

Well done to Kirsty Price who finished 1^st in this downhill event and Overall 1^st in the Winter Series.

Chippenham Wheelers Hilly 24 mile Time Trial

Today saw many cyclists start their 2003 racing season and 93 riders entered the Chippenham Wheelers 24 mile Hilly Time Trial held on roads around Chippenham, Wootten Basset and Malmesbury.  Conditions were dry and mild but a strong southerly wind made the final 6 miles very hard work.  Stephen Marchant was a reluctant starter but still pulled out an excellent ride, despite not feeling race fit yet.  Stephen Pitman and Rob Merrison both had good rides, with below par Jason Costello finishing further down the field.

Full results on the WTTA Hardriders web site.

South Division Circuit League 1, Castle Combe

Several club members started their racing season with the circuit races at Castle Combe.  The windy conditions played havoc with the riders with half of the 110 starters in the 3/4 cat race failing to finish.  In the 3/4 cat race Jimmy Jones made a return to racing and was part of the early breakaway group which slowly gained a gap on the main peleton, which itself had fragmented in several groups.   Jimmy finished 5th in the sprint for the line.  Other Swindon RC riders in the race included Darren Beers, Chris Broad-Drake and Nick Mawson.

In the Under 16's 15km race new club member Andy Hughes road his first road race and finished an excellent 5th.  A great effort for a first ever race in such tough conditions.  Well done Andy!

Under 16's 15km

1. David SINCLAIR Fareham Wheelers CC
2. Leigh BAKER    SP Systems- Wightlink RT
3. Simon HOLT     Newport (Salop) CC
4. Andrew JONES   Royal Dean Forest CC
5. Andy HUGHES    Swindon Road Club

CATEGORY 3/4/Junior/Women 51km

1. Andy MOORE   Somer Valley CC
2. Andy HOSKINS Cardiff JIF - Cyclopaedia
3. Will STEVENS Bournemouth Arrow CC
4. Chris OPIE   Team South West
5. Jimmy JONES  Swindon Road Club
6. David BROWN  Westbury Wheelers CC

Bush HealthCare Tour of the Lenches 3/4 Road Race

Paul Gregg and James Carrington started their 2003 road race season with a trip to Warwickshire to participate in the Tour of the Lenches Road Race.  Report from BC web site as follows ;

"The race was one of attrition with the bunch down to just the top fifteen by the last lap. Well, actually it was fourteen as Daniel Martin was off the front with about 1 minute lead as the bunch waited for the final accent of Badger Hill. Various riders made singular attempts to get clear of the bunch on the last lap (John Buxton and Andrew Waite spring to mind) but with just a quarter of a lap to go, Carl Dyson slipped off the front and set about catching the leader. Turning into the finishing lane (with a creul hilltop finish), Daniels lead was a mere 8 seconds, and he was finally passed just 300 meters before the line. Well done to all the riders who finished, with Emma Silversides finishing first lady despite being dropped on the first accent of Badger Hill out of five. (Thanks to Phil Pollard for results/story)."

1. Carl Dyson      Dataphonics (J)
2. Daniel Martin  CC Giro (J)
3. David Eaves    Solihull CC (J)
4. Tony Walters   Dataphonics (J)
5. Richard Bowan  Abergavenny CC

19. Paul Gregg    Swindon RC
24. James Carrington Swindon RC