Marks Tey rider Dom Schils swept over the finish line of the Jef Schils Memorial Race to win the 76-mile event that commemorates his grandfather.
Schils who rides for his family bike business Velo Schils/Interbike, passed lone leader Doug Coleman on the final climb up to the finish outside the Hare and Hounds at Layer Breton near Colchester. He took the win three seconds clear of a sprint for second place headed by Jake Hales (Spirit/Tifosi, second) and James Rix (Host/Stork).
A field of 80 had rolled out from the Marks Tey Hotel on a cool dry breezy afternoon to race over a series of circuits near Abberton Reservoir. Each variation passed the Hare and Hounds where a large gathering of spectators heard regular updates on the progress of the race and had a view of the hot-spot sprints for points on every lap. Eventual winner of the points competition was young Essex rider Matt Clements (Catford CC/Banks)
The race was slightly disrupted by an early crash but the real action started after 90 minutes when a lead group of ten opened and maintained a gap of around one minute.
As the race moved onto shorter circuits, small groups bridged to the leaders, swelling their numbers up to two dozen or so. As the start of the last short lap approached Coleman (Spirit/Tifosi) attacked alone and looked as if he might keep away.
However a determined chased with Richardsons/Trek and in particular former winner George Wood to the fore, was closing the gap as the race crossed the reservoir for the last time.
Dom Schils who was just back from a successful week at the Tour de Guyane in South America, took off after Coleman as the road reared up through Lower Breton village and never looked back
In other road racing a second place for Gary Freeman (Fast Test) at Hog Hill on Saturday gained the Elmswell rider a first category licence.
A remarkable 25 mile time of 50:20 by Alice Lethbridge (Drag2Zero) lit up the results of the VeloVelocity time trial on the Newmarket bypass. Top men were Kevin Tye (VeloRefined, 47:08) and Harley Matthews (DAP CC, 47:51)
In the Stowmarket and District 10 on the Rougham-Woolpit course, Leon West (CC Sudbury. 21:10) had just four seconds in hand over Philip Barnes of TPH Racing, while Verity Smith (22:48) carried the promoting club’s colours to the women’s prize.
International triathlete Joe Skipper incorporated the CC Breckland 50 into an ordinary afternoons training for the forthcoming European championship long-distance triathlon – and won the 50 in a new course record time of 1:40:31. He went for a five kilometre run before the start and did 10K directly after riding back to the event HQ at Morley.
Thetford rider Dave Green (1:43:18) who has his eyes on the Best British All-Rounder competition took second place.
Conditions for the mid-afternoon event on the Wymondham-Snetterton road were good but not super-fast. The wind gradually swung towards an easterly direction during the event and riders heading towards Wymondham found it unexpectedly hard second time around.
The handicap award went to James Wood (1:57:39). Wood gets in most of his riding on West Suffolk Wheelers’ “Home by 10am” morning rides, designed to suit those with family or other commitments. Graham Laws (Ipswich BC) went even faster than his best speed over 25 miles and was very happy to finish in 1:52:33 for third place on handicap.
Peter Horsnell (Chelmer CC) was actually disappointed with his 2:28:00 at the age of 87 – but it won him the top Vet on Standard award. Second in this category was Denise Hurren (Sole Bay Sport) with a personal best 1:53:23. Outright women’s winner was visitor Laura Bartlett (1:53:04)
At the National Junior 10 Mile Championships in the Lake District Wickham Market rider Lyster Romero finished 13th in 21:36, two places ahead of Lucas He (VC Baracchi, 21:57)
RESULTS
JEF SCHILS MEMORIAL ROAD RACE, Marks Tey:1 Dominic Schils (Velo Schils – Interbike), 2 Jake Hales (Spirit Tifosi), 3 James Rix (Hosté TAAP), 4 Oliver Maxwell (Richardsons-Trek), 5 Tommy Power (Strada-Sport), 6 James Jenkins (Richardsons-Trek), 7 David Hewett (Bottecchia Wigmore), 8 Matthew Clements (Catford CC/Banks), 9 Jack Waller (Spirit Tifosi), 10 George Wood (Richardsons-Trek).
CC BRECKLAND 50, Morley: 1 Joe Skipper (Team Skipper) 1:40:31, 2 Dave Green (VeloVelocity) 1:43:18, 3 Stephen Williamson 1:43:47, 4 Gray Turnock (Finsbury Park) 1:46:43, 5 David Shepherd (GS Stella) 1:48:15, 6 Chris Lea (Buxton CC) 1:50:17, 7 Alex Bailey (CC Breckland) 1:52:04, 8 Graham Laws (Ipswich BC) 1:52:33, 9 Oliver Cozens (Norwich Amateur BC) 1:52:45, 10 Laura Bartlett 1:53:04.
Women: 1 Bartlett 1:53:04, 2 Sue Triplow (Essex Roads) 1:56:28, 3 Denise Hurren (Sole Bay Sport) 1:57:23, 4 Becky Murley (Wisbech Whs) 2:01:50, 5 Rachel Holman (Tri-Anglia) 2:02:34. Handicap: 1 James Wood (West Suffolk Whs) Hcp 1:20:49, actual 1:57:39), Tricycle: 1 Ian Pike (Fenland RC) 1:58:55.
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