Pete Gannon Road Race
Sunday, April 23, 2006; Kippax Leeds; Report and images by Andrew Kennedy. A full gallery can be found at: www.kennedyimages.co.uk
Leeds St Christopher's traditionally start the West Yorkshire summer season with The Pete Gannon Memorial Road Race on the picturesque Ledston circuit, near Kippax, Leeds. A full field of 60 riders rolled out from Kippax Sports Centre early on Sunday morning in chilly overcast conditions, for the 2 mile neutralised section.
Apart from a couple of hairy legged newcomers who were quickly shot out of the back, the bunch stayed together for the first two of this ten lap race. This gave some riders the opportunity to appreciate the wonderful views across Fairburn Ings Nature Reserve.
The sightseeing was dramatically cut short as the bunch began the second ascent of Back Newton Lane. The cold start was a distant memory as the temperature began to rise. The attacks came thick and fast on the climb and a select group of ten riders formed at the top with about 15 seconds lead on the strung out bunch.
This move proved to be the decisive and winning break. The reaction from the bunch was slow, and by the time the lead group reached the climb for lap 3, their lead had stretched to over 30 seconds.
The ten man break included, Ian Rawson (Dinnington RC), Kyle Byers (Scunthorpe Poly), Blair Buss (Swift Allsports), Alec Leslie (Loughborough Students), Nigel Haigh (Wakefield CC), Richard Moore (Star Bikes), Tom Murray (Batley CC), Elliot Teal (Team Chevin Cycles), Karl Dyson (Websters Cycles) and Andy Hayton (Cherry Valley RT). This group rode well together sharing the work for the next four laps. The time gap back to the main field growing with every circuit.
Cherry Valley RT rider Andy Hayton appeared to be the strongest rider in the break as he led them up the climb on almost every lap.
The only casualty from the break was Dinnington rider Ian Rawson, with three laps to go he suffered a mechanical problem and after receiving service finished with the main field, two minutes adrift. Back in the bunch Richard Binks (Huddersfield RC) and Mick Holmes (Batley CC) were amongst the riders trying to limit the damage, but the break had gone and it contained the dangerous riders and men they should have been watching.
At the bell lap the break had stretched their lead to over two minutes, and they began to jockey for position. Work horse Andy Hayton was driving the break with some of his companions unwilling or unable to share the work.
The sun finally appeared as the break group turned onto the final climb towards the finish, they were strung out in a long line with Hayton still leading from the front. Batley CC rider Tom Murray was in an excellent position as the leaders sprinted up Back Newton Lane, only to fade in the last 100 metres.
The sprint for first place was taken by Andy Hayton, followed by Karl Dyson and Elliot Teal, with the remaining riders stretched down the road. Hayton was a deserved winner, having initiated the break and being aggressive throughout the race.
Organiser Kevin Stuart was delighted with the event, and told us "what a great race, this is a hard circuit and the breakaways rode extremely well together, they were going through and off up the climb, but the main field didn't react, a hard race with a good winner, Pete Gannon would have enjoyed this event today".
RESULT
1. Andy Hayton, Cherry Valley RT
2. Karl Dyson, Websters Cycles
3. Elliot Teal, Team Chevin Cycles
4. Tom Murray, Batley CC
5. Richard Moore, Star Bikes
6. Nigel Haigh, Wakefield CC
7. Alec Lesley, Loughborough Students
8. Blair Buss, Swift Allsports
9. Kyle Byers, Scunthorpe Poly
10. Richard Binks, Huddersfield RC @ 2 minutes