RIDERS gave an emphatic thumbs-up to bike racing at Trinity Park, Ipswich, where over 80 riders took part in the first Wednesday evening meeting on a course that proved excellent for safe and interesting racing.

RIDERS gave an emphatic thumbs-up to bike racing at Trinity Park, Ipswich, where over 80 riders took part in the first Wednesday evening meeting on a course that proved excellent for safe and interesting racing.

Ipswich Bicycle Club provided the first winner in Junior Ben Green who outsprinted clubmate and breakaway companion Colin Newstead in the opening race for youths, juniors and new racing cyclists, after the pair had established a good lead early in the 30 minute race.

Fifty-two riders lined up for the one hour senior race - but they did not stay together for long. The field was soon blown apart by hard riding on the multi-cornered circuit.

A leading group of seven soon formed – with experienced Phil Hetzel (IBC), Ben Nicolson (Iceni Velo) and Liam Gentry (VC Baracchi) joined by young bloods Tom Fitzpatrick (Wyndymilla), Hugo Robinson (XRT), Keiran Brady (Schils) and Josh Hannan (Glendene). A following group, often led by riders of the quality of Mike Auger and Gavin Moore closed to within 28 seconds at one stage but the leaders finally stretched the gap and at the line it was Gentry from Robinson and Fitzpatrick.

“I drilled it from the last corner,” said the Baracchi man.

The course used this week largely followed the outer road of the Suffolk Showground, but organisers Ipswich Bicycle Club intend to experiment with different variations on coming Wednesdays.

Results

Seniors: 1 Liam Gentry (VC Baracchi), 2 H Robinson (XRT/Elmy), 3 T Fitzpatrick (Wyndymilla), 4 J Hannan (Glendene CC), 5 K Brady (Velo Schils), 6 P Hetzel (IBC) 7 B Nicholson (Iceni Velo) 8 M Westrup (VCB).

Youth, Junior & New Seniors: 1 Ben Green (Ipswich BC), 2 C Newstead (IBC), 3 D Coughlan (VC Revolution), 4 H Robertson, 5 G Hoppit (CC Sudbury).

In contrast to the broken-up field at Ipswich, the third round of the Lotus Series at Hethel ended with a blanket sprint with contenders spread across the width of the test track. Winner was sprinter Matt Thurston (Iceni Velo), from Hugo Robinson (XRT/Elmy).

Kieran Brady (Velo Schils) was the revelation of the Ipswich grass track meeting at Sprites Lane School. The 16-year-old won the 8km and an “unknown distance” event and was third in the 1000 metres scratch. Top event, the women’s 800m national championship went to Joanna Smith (Border City Wheelers). CC Sudbury’s Simon Daw attacked at the start of the devil-take-the-hindmost and still had 25 metres lead at the line. Ipswich rider Tony Wilkins took the 800 handicap.

A storming last lap by Diss rider Stephen James could not quite make up for a stop to sort out a softening tyre at the Tunstall Forest mountain bike races. On that last lap James (AW Cycles) gained 25 seconds on Elite/Expert leader Ben Roff, but James still finished 1:15 down and also 15 seconds behind Senior winner Jason Boutell (Revel Outdoors).

This third round of the Mud, Sweat and Gears series was organised by TROG (Tunstall and Rendlesham Off-road Group) and run on a very dry, dusty forest course near Aldeburgh. It featured short, sharp hills, few fire roads, but many paths wide enough to facilitate overtaking.

Successful local riders included Laura Sampson (Stowmarket & District) who took the women’s race by a clear lap, Sean Dunlea (PCA Ciclos Uno) winner of the Youth race from Will Kearse (VC Revolution) and Daniel Barford from Great Dunmow who won the entry-level Warrior race. Full results can be seen at www.timelaps.co.uk

Colchester Rovers’ Abberton road race was won by James Fox (CC Luton). After an early attack failed, the bunch stayed intact until a small group chipped off in the last half lap. Local riders in the points included Gavin Moore (Stowmarket, sixth), Jeffrey Orrey (Essex Roads, eighth) and Mike Smith (Colchester Rovers, tenth).