February 2003 Racing Results

SPRINGTIME PURSUITS #2 (Devon)

A powerful display of solo riding saw Peter Wheddon, Clevedon & District Road Club take a well-deserved victory in the second Springtime Pursuit – A race promoted by the Mid-Devon Cycling Club. The 46 year old from Portishead had a lead of 56 seconds by the time he crossed the finish line. His win also took him to the top of the overall point’s table.

As with the first race, seven days earlier, the weather was again “Springlike”. However for this race there was a fresh Easterly wind that buffeted the riders every time they rode up the incline towards Whimple. The way Wheddon tackled this section made his win even more meritorious. The first group away started hard enough to shell out quite a number from their ranks and they reached the lap end prime well ahead of the second group. As they came up the hill towards the Jack in the Green Inn Rowan Boswood a Mid-Devon C.C. junior went clear. He was pursued by another junior, Chris Gould, Cardiff JIF. Gould came past Boswood as he tired into the wind and then punctured leaving race officials to award the prize to Boswood – all prime winners must finish the race.

Sportingly Boswood offered his winnings to Gould. Gould refused them. Finally both riders agreed to share them. On the second lap the strong riders from the first three groups came together and it was then that Wheddon seized his chance. About 1 mile before the second Jack in the Green prime he jumped away. 3 riders gave half-hearted chase and then desisted. The rest of the group thought he was just going for a long drawn out effort for the lap prize. They could not have been more wrong. He just kept going and going and going.

The scratch men had also started with venom in their pace. It was not long before 7 of their ranks had been despatched to lone rides or a quick trip back to the HQ and a warm shower. The eight that were left were: - Andrew Parker, Mid-Devon C.C., Greg Sandy, Endurasport, James Taylor, City of Edinburgh, Steven Sage, Okehampton C.C., Jon Wynn, Somerset Road Club, Nigel Polkinghorne, Team Training FX and Andrew Ellis, Cycleogic.

On the final lap they caught the main bunch at the front and then the plan all went wrong. Their efforts in catching those in front had taken their toll and weary limbs could not force the pace any higher. They could not get clear of their new companions leaving Wheddon alone at the front to cross the finish line almost 1 minute ahead of the next riders home.

Greg Sandy led in these riders at the head of a group of 8 who had finally broken away in the last uphill 2 miles. Third spot went to last week’s runner up Adam Holmes, Mid-Devon C.C. He had been “nursed” over the final miles but club mate Will Hornby and then as the climb started by Andrew Parker. This team work paid off with his third place. Andrew Parker came in fourth. Parker’s fourth spot might prove very significant when the points are tallied up next week as he held off the winner of race 1, Andy Hoskins, Cardiff JIF.

Overall points standings (after race 2) : - Peter Wheddon, 10 points, Adam Holmes, 9 points, Andy Hoskins, 8 points, William Stevens, 4 points. The race organisers have a nice problem in setting next week’s handicaps for the scratchmen will be joined by former twice British Champion and top continental racer Jeremy Hunt as he warms up for a more serious Sunday race.

Result (top 12):

 1. Peter Wheddon (2m 40s)   Clevedon & District R.C.	
    30 miles in 1 hour 17 mins 8 secs
 2. Greg Sandy (5m30s)       Endurasport/Principia @ 56 secs
 3. Adam Holmes (2m 40s)     Mid-Devon C.C.
 4. Andrew Parker (5m 30s)   Mid-Devon C.C.
 5. Andy Hoskins (2m40s)     Cardiff JIF
 6. William Stevens (1m 20s) Bournemouth Arrow C.C.
 7. Keith Davies (1m 20s)    Cardiff JIF
 8. Tim Carpenter (4m)       Team Training FX
 9. Adrian Street (2m 40s)   North Devon Wheelers - all same time
10. Rowan Boswood            Mid-Devon C.C. @ 1m 14 secs
11. Steve Meill 1m 20s)      Mid-Devon C.C. 
12. James Taylor (5m 30s)    City of Edinburgh

Of the 72 entrants 64 started and 52 finished. The race next week uses the same course as the previous 2 weeks but covers one more 9.2 mile lap giving a total of 40 miles. Start time is 14.30 hours with space for some entries on the line.