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Report: 2011 North East Regional Road Race Championships

Event: 22nd May 2011
Promoted by: Derwentside CC
Event HQ: Middleton Village Hall, Middleton, Northumberland
Report: Steven Walton

Justifying the theory that the strongest rider always wins, James Moss's (Endura) narrowly outsprinted fellow breakaway companion Rob Carter (Velo 29) to win in the North East Regional Championships at Middleton in Northumberland. Moss was the last to join an early breakaway instigated by Richard Meadows (Pendragon RT) and Carter after 9 miles on the days first climb, followed by Collin Humphreys (Sportscover) and Carters' team mate Dan Smith. By the top of Ritton Bank a mile later, the selection was made and the quintet started a race long battle with the elements as a strong crosswind and the rain combined with the severity of the course.

Cresting Coldrife at the end of the first lap, the gap to a group of 14 chasers led by Andrew Beattie (Infinity Cycles) stood at 28 seconds. As the leaders ascended Cold Cote Hill to commence the second laps first climb, the advantage was now 1-39 and the chasers down to 9 men with Baxter rarely off the front.

With as much climbing, it ironically took the descent of Ritton Bank to separate the leaders as Moss took advantage of the hesitancy caused by the cross winds on the last of four laps, and attacked, this time downhill. A 20 second gap opened but with the wind again playing a major part, Moss was caught by Humphries and Carter. It was, though, a climb too much for young Meadows as his stint at the head of the race ended followed by Smith who punctured. With Carter conscious of Smith behind, Moss again attacked on the run in to the finish, firstly at Rothley Craggs with just over 3 miles to go and again as the three passed the kilometre to go sign, with Humphries dragging himself back on, but with nothing for the finish, it came down to a 2 up sprint, with Moss edging Carter by half a wheel.

Afterwards the Enduro man reflected on the days events:

"I'm not sure why the five of us were allowed to go so early on really. It was a bit bizarre and as soon as the gap was 30 seconds, it was over really. We had a few big engines in the front, and after 10 - 15 minutes of hard graft that was it. There were a few people that I thought would be up there like Simon Baxter and Ian Taylor, although I know that Matt Kipling (Raleigh RT) had punctured early, and he would have been there but it wasn't that hard when we went.

I could see people were a bit reluctant to go through on the last lap, so I attacked descending into Forest Burn Gate, and pulled out a decent gap, but I was tying up on the climb and decided that soloing the last 30km wasn't the best idea. I attacked again at Rothely Craggs on the run in to the finish and again at Middleton Bank and got rid of Humphries, but he got back somehow, then it came down to a three man sprint and I just edged it. With the wind and the hills, it was just a matter of going hard at the right time. I had deep section wheels in and they were off the ground a few times."

RESULTS

Elite/1st/2nd/3rd

1. James Moss Endura/ Look/ Pedal Power
2. Rob Carter Velo 29
3. Collin Humphrey Sports Cover Strategic Altura
4. Andrew Beattie Infinity Cycles
5. Dan Smith Velo 29
6. Matt Kipling Raleigh
7. Alan Nixon Blackhawk
8. Simon Baxter Herbalife/ Wheel Base
9. Jon Sturman ActivCycles
10. Liam Armstrong VC Briganti

Juniors

1. Harry Tanfield Wallis Cycles
2. Josh Teasdale Team Jewsons
3. Shaun Nicholson Columbia

Vets

1. Ian Norris Activ Cycles
2. Kevin Byers Fietsen Temp
3. Russel Bayliss GS Metro

Women

Dawn Sherrin GS Metro

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British Cycling would like to thank the organising team, officials and everyone else who helped promote this event. Our sport could not exist without the hundreds of people, many of them unpaid volunteers, who put in many hours of hard work running events, activities and clubs.