Double strike for Gavin

GAVIN Moore of the Stowmarket & District Cycling Club scored two wins in two days when he took the Redgrave Road Race, followed next morning by the Eagle RC Road Race at Newport, Essex.

At Redgrave Moore attacked on Wortham Low Road where the double bends help a breakaway rider get quickly out of sight of those chasing him. By the time Moore passed Redgrave Cross Keys with one lap to go he had a twenty second lead on the bunch. Nick Esser (VC Baracchi) chased, at first alone and then in a group of five but Moore stayed away to the chequered flag. Esser was second, inches in front of Trevor Banham of the promoting Diss club. Both primes went to VC Baracchi’s Mark Westrup.

Passing showers during the race had spectators rushing for cover, and flints washed across the course probably accounted for the numerous punctures.

In the 60 mile Eagle RC race, Moore crossed from the bunch to breakaway Richard Moss (GS Henley) with 15 miles to go. The pair were soon joined by Russell Ford (Glade CC) and the three worked well together to gain a 90 second gap. Ford attacked 500 yards from the line, but Moore overhauled him. Moore has just returned home to Haughley at the end of his university course. The win earns him a second category racing licence and was the best possible Fathers day present for his dad, who regularly accompanies him to races.

After what he felt was the most attacking race so far in the Lotus Cars League at Hethel, Phil Hetzel (Ipswich BC) won a very tight finishing sprint from series leader Martin Hunter (Colchester Rovers) and Lee Rowe (Finchley RT). VC Baracchi pair Nick Esser and Mark Westrup took the next two places. Former Ipswich rider Chris Bartlett, now with VC Norwich, returned to racing after breaking his wrist early in the season, and was prominent at the front of the field.

The Ipswich Bicycle Club’s 25 mile time trial was held in squally conditions on roads around Tunstall Forest. A mid-race downpour and a course with tight corners isn’t a recipe for speed and Eman’s 57:42 and second placed Gary Record’s 58:24 were the only rides inside the hour.

Kevin Tozer of Stowmarket & District CC won the top handicap prize with his 1:9:01 ride which also gave him a share in the team prize with Ben Caisey 1:2:30 and Chris Leggett (1:2:39). Others doing well on handicap included Simon Daw (CC Sudbury,1:1:40) and Gavin Davies (Ipswich BC, 1:9:02)

Peter Balls of West Suffolk Wheelers was fastest in the Veterans’ TTA 25 on the Newmarket bypass in personal best 50:12. Conditions were squally, with occasional torrential showers. Some riders were slower than the similar event the previous week while a few were quicker.

Best on standard was Colin Bunnett (King’s Lynn CC) who beat the standard time for his 67 years by 24:42. His actual time of 55:59 was a personal best by 1:21.

International rider Alex Dowsett returned to his roots to win the Maldon & District 10 on a sporting course in 19:51, over two minutes clear of the rest of the field. Sam Connolley of the Maldon club won the GHS10 in 22:27. He thus leads the local challenge for the youth 10 mile national title in Gloucestershire in September.

The Ely & District CC celebrated their 40th Anniversary with a ten mile event won by Martin Reynolds (Cambridge CC) in 23:12. Hot on his heels came Owen Bannister (Stowmarket & District, 23:15), Angus Jardine (IBC, 23:17) and Stowmarket’s Matt Toone, 23:23.

In the National Championship 50 on the Portsmouth Road Mark Arnold (Team Pedal Revolution) took 15th place among the men in 1:46:40. Emilie Fisher (Orbea) was 10th in the women’s race in 1:59:46. Champions were Michael Hutchinson 1:38:55 and Julia Shaw 1:46:46.

Results – Redgrave Road Race:

1 Gavin Moore (Stowmarket & District), 2 N Esser (VC Baracchi), 3 T Banham (Diss & District), 4 D Murrell (London Phoenix), 5 M Dunnett (Diss), 6 A Ward (Shaftesbury CC), 7 D Bamford (East London Velo), 8 A Defrates (Braintree Velo), 9 O Caddy (Cambridge CC), 10 K Norman (Stowmarket & District),11, I Watson (Finchley RT), 12 M Cook (API)