ATTACKS from start to finish – that was the story of the Ipswich Bicycle Club road race.

ATTACKS from start to finish – that was the story of the Ipswich Bicycle Club road race.

The successful break emerged just three kilometres from the finish and no one could tell if it would survive until Rhys Howells of CC Hackney crossed the line inches ahead of clubmate Clem Berrill, with the bunch charging in a few seconds later.

Straight from the start the peloton set a blistering pace and soon some riders with doleful faces were returning to the HQ, dropped on the first lap. The race was run off in fine but cool conditions on the Gosbeck- Helmingham-Crowfield circuit 10 miles north of Ipswich.

Winner Howell is from Dalston in inner London and had been prominent throughout. Among others often seen at the front of the race were Diss riders Martin and Richard Dunnett, Gavin Moore (Stowmarket & District) Mike Smith and James Jobber (Colchester Rovers) as well as last year’s winner Lee Desborough (St Ives CC).

A pile-up at Crowfield spoilt the chances of several competitors and broke one bike but the field was still largely together at the start of the last lap when a promising break formed including Ben Nicholson (Iceni Velo), Moore and Richard Price and David Murrell from London Phoenix. However the prospect of an individual win cracked the group’s unity of purpose and it was caught, leaving the way open for the CC Hackney pair to make their successful bid.

Best placed local finisher was Jonathan Shuster from Bedfield near Woodbridge. The 21-year-old Sheffield University student rode his first race only two weeks ago but was not daunted by the hectic bunch sprint, taking the nearside line and securing fourth overall.

Colchester Rovers junior James Jobber, in his very first open road race finished tenth.

Ipswich Road Race, Gosbeck:

1 Rhys Howells (CC Hackney) 62 mls in 2 hrs 32min. 2 Clem Berrill (CC Hackney), 3 J Sale (Eagle RC), 4 J Shuster (Stowmarket & District) 5 S King (Cambridge CC) 6 L Desborough (St Ives CC) 7 D Crawley (PCH UK), 8 T Ormes (Velo Schils-Interbike), 9 G Rodriguez (East London Velo), 10 J Jobber (Colchester Rovers), 11 O Lake (Cambridge CC),12 D Cainey (ELV),13 S Bussarov (Eagle RC),14 R Dunnett (Diss CC) 15 D Zagni (Ipswich BC).

n The Maldon & District 18-mile hilly time trial revealed an interesting comparison – the winner was professional – and former Maldon club member – Alex Dowsett (Team Sky) in 40:32. His margin over second placed Andrew Leggett, a recent East District 30 mile champion was nearly seven minutes. Stowmarket & District rider Leggett’s time was 42:27, 55 seconds up on third-placed Simon Daw of CC Sudbury.

n In the League of Veteran Racing Cyclists’ races at Thaxted, John Parkes (Wolsey RC) won the 60-65 age group and clubmate Ged Coles was second among those over 70.

n Entrants for the Stowmarket & District 20 mile time trial on Saturday April 16 should note that the organiser’s address is 68 Newton Road, Ipswich and not as in the CTT Handbook