“PEOPLE take part who would never do a road race normally” – that’s the thing about the Ipswich Criteriums, said Elite rider and event secretary Phil Hetzel as he watched the racing coming to a climax in Trinity Park.

Cycling by Fergus Muir

“PEOPLE take part who would never do a road race normally” – that’s the thing about the Ipswich Criteriums, said Elite rider and event secretary Phil Hetzel as he watched the racing coming to a climax in Trinity Park.

Prominent among the attacks in the Go-Race for young or novice competitors were Will Kitcher of the Stowmarket & District club and clubmate Michael Shuster, younger brother of Jonathan. Finally, however, Ben Green (Ipswich BC) made an attack stick and Colin Newstead took another second place.

In the senior race the top category riders were set a more modest target than last week – to make up just one minute on the main field, which they achieved after 26 minutes racing.

As the fastmen came though, a few of the caught riders had the strength to stay with them, notably Andy Defrates of Braintree Velo and Matt Toone (Stowmarket). In the end the group seemed content to let Toone escape to take maximum points while Kieran Brady (Velo Schils) outsprinted Hugo Robinson (XRT/Elmy) by the narrowest of margins to take second spot.

Third category rider Simon Hine (Finchley RT) was the surprise winner of the 82 mile XRT/Elmy Cycles Road Race on the Gosbeck circuit, slipping off the front with about six miles to go, while bigger “names” were occupied watching each other. Hine took the flag alone, while Jason White (Cycle Premier-Metaltek) beat Adam White (ELV) to second place. Earlier the field had split in two on Framsden Hill with many strong riders finding themselves in the second half – and taking two 11 mile laps to close the gap. As soon as the field came together again, the break that counted took off. It contained around 20 riders, and from them Hine made his unobtrusive escape.

MEANWHILE Harleston rider Robert Hunt (Wyndymilla) won a rain-swept Redgrave road race, rounding the final corner in second place and overhauling Mat Shotbolt (CC Sudbury) to cross the line in Redgrave village centre a bikes length ahead of Diss CC’s Trevor Banham.

The 35 mile race started in the dry at a cracking pace, with eight riders dropped on the first tailwind leg.

On the second lap the rain came down, and soon riders were finding it hard to see and no breaks lasted more than a few minutes. James Jobber (Colchester Rovers) took the first prime and Tom Stephenson of Ipswich BC the second one. A last lap attack by Patrick Schils (Velo Schils) ended when he was forced to slow on meeting a vehicle in the narrowest part of the circuit, and the stage was set for a sprint finish.

A hailstorm was among the hazards that greeted some riders in the Plomesgate 25in the Suffolk Sandlings. Puncture-causing debris washed across the road was another problem. Winner was Anthony Stapleton (Chelmer CC) in 57:37, followed by Gary Record (VC Deal, 58:20), and Glenn Taylor (Shorter Rochford, 58:40). Andrew Leggett (Stowmarket & District) took fourth place – a remarkable ride on a steel fixed wheel machine, complete with back mudguard, which beat his brother Chris by 58:56 to 59:00.

Evert Wijnberg kept the veterans prize money in the Plomesgate club, his 59:32 yielding a plus2 of 17:39. On Saturday, July 2 interest focuses on the Maldon & District meet at Mill Road, Maldon, followed next day by Colchester Rovers’ event at Boudicca Way Colchester.

Results

Ipswich Criteriums 3

Seniors: 1 Matt Toone (Stowmarket & District), 2 K Brady (Velo Schils), 3 H Robinson (XRT/Elmy), 4 N Miller (XRT/Elmy), 5 J Hannan (Glendene), 6 J Shuster (Stowmarket & District), 7 A Defrates (Braintree Velo).

Go-Race: 1 Ben Green (Ipswich BC), 2 C Newstead (Ipswich BC), 3 H Robertshaw (Colchester Rovers), 4 G Andrews (CRCC), 5 M Shuster (SDCC), 6 T Smith (CRCC), 7 W Kitcher (SDCC).