British Cycling
Womens National Circuit Race Championships
17th of June, 2006; Report & photos: by Larry Hickmott
Photo Gallery: Pictures can be viewed by clicking the Gallery 1 (and so on) buttons at the top of the page.
Gallery 1: Womens Championship
Gallery 2: Womens Championship
Gallery 3: Curborough, 2-3
Gallery 4: Curborough, 2-3
Gallery 5: Curborough, Elite
Gallery 6: Curborough, Elite
Gallery 7: Curborough, Youth
Gallery 8: Curborough, Youth
Gallery 9: Curborough, Youth
Lizzy Armitstead: Not bad for her first ever victory on the road -- a senior championship!
Women's Championship Report
The British Cycling 2006 Women's Criterium championship, promoted by the CC Giro cycling club was held today in bright sunny conditions at a motor racing circuit near Curborough (Lichfield) on a tight and demanding circuit. Winner after an exciting race was Lizzy Armitstead of the Raleigh EVR racing team racing team who managed to hold off her rivals Tanja Slater (Scienceinsport.com) who was second and former winner, Helen Gutteridge (Team Lucanio Kuota) in third place.
After a number of support races, the Women's Circuit Race Championship got under way a little after 1pm today without last year's champion Amy Hunt who had not pre entered, and like five others in the period after the closing date, all were turned down for the race. Also not there was last year's silver medallist Kim Blythe who is still recovering from a recent crash.
Louise Mahe shot off the line and the pace rocketed, the race split and then after a while, the various groups settled down.
It was however still a very good quality field that lined up in the hot and sunny conditions and they didn't waste any time getting up to speed as Louise Mahe attacked off the line and led them around the first few twists and turns. One of the favourites Leda Cox had a problem and ended up on the grass and after a fruitless chase, out of the race.
Despite the pace on at the front of the race, no real breaks managed to break the elastic that kept the majority of the bunch together although it was touch and go for a number of favourites early on as splits opened up and it was only after some full on chases that many of them managed to get back into the bunch before it settled down into a rhythm.
The most prominent riders at the front of the select group were Jenny Copnall, Louise Mahe, Tanja Slater, and eventual winner Lizzy Armitstead. The 2006 champion got herself into two breaks, one with Louise Mahe and another with Jenny Copnall but they were chased down and at the bell, Lizzy came through on the front with sprinters Janet Birkmyer and Helen Gutteridge not far away.
After the wide radius hairpin at the top of the course, Tanja Slater started her bid for the title and she held the front position all the way around until they came out of the final turn before the finish line. There, she started her sprint as Lizzy Armitstead, took the corner quickly and drew alongside her. The two of them then battled side-by-side all the way to the line. On the inside meanwhile, Helen Gutteridge had managed to hold off one of the pre-race favourites, track sprinter Janet Birkmyer, who did well to stay in the front section of the race and finish fourth.
Lizzy -- who hadn't won a race up until now, and perhaps needs to learn a few things about jerseys and salutes etc, is nevertheless delighted to have won the national circuit race championship.
Afterwards, I caught up with Lizzy who said "I'm over the moon. I've been off all winter so it's nice to get some confidence back. Last year before the Junior Worlds, my fitness level was better but my technical skills were not as good but I think I have managed to produce this performance because my skills have improved."
Talking about her race, Lizzy explained, "I was expecting Tanja (Slater) to attack at the end. I could see her coming through and was aware I had to get on her wheel. It was good having ridden the race last week with her otherwise I would not have known she was so strong."
"I was on the front quite a lot and chased down a lot of breaks so I am quite pleased - it's also the first race I have ever won".
The silver medal went to a new name in cycling, Tanja Slater, but one I think we'll hear a lot more about. Last week she put four minutes into a chase group in a single lap of the race as she won the Women's National Series road race up north and then today, she was one of the stronger riders, always near the front driving it and trying to get away.
"I came into this race to give it a go and enjoy it because I have never done crit racing before. Coming from triathlon, and lacking a sprint, I needed to get away for the end and kept trying to get a gap but it wasn't going to happen."
"So, I'm really pleased with the silver medal, I didn't think I would manage that when no-one could get away and I thought it was going to be a sprinters race."
Asked whether we will continue to see her in cycling, Tanja replied "yes, I was having a lot of problems with my health in triathlon, and couldn't string anything together. I didn't want to give up so I thought perhaps cycling was a way ahead as I get more time to recover between training sessions and my health is a lot better. I'm enjoying it and couldn't believe I managed to win by that much last week. I just put my head down and was ecstatic when I won."
Tanja is also entered for next weeks Women's Road Race championships which will suit her endurance capabilities a lot more. "The big guns are all back next week so it's a test to see where I am this year and how I fare against the top riders. It will also give me an idea of where my weaknesses are and what I need to work on."
Finally, Helen Gutteridge won the title a few years ago in North Wales with a great sprint from a small group and was very pleased with the bronze medal. "I am not really fit at the moment but it was a good circuit, a good race and the winner to be fair, did a lot of the work so deserved it. The last three laps were very quick."
Former winner Helen Gutterridge, champion Lizzy Armitstead (still a junior!), and a young lady I expect we'll hear more of, Tanja Slater.
The riders line up to do battle for a champion's jersey.
Its on for young and old in the Women's National Circuit Race championship.
Jenny Copnall was very prominant at the front of the race but was unable to get a successful move going.
Lizzy Armistead was in most moves and is seen here with Louise Mahe chased by Tanja Slater.
Sara Burling from the promoting club CC Giro leads the race in the latter stages.
Silver medallist, Tanja Slater, one of the strongest riders in the race.
Jenny Copnall leads Lizzy Armitstead as they try to get away late in the race.
RESULTS
Note: All results here are provisional. Please await the official results (in the event and result finder) before querying any results here. They are liable to change.
Also... thanks to birthday boy Bob Pinkerton for his help in typing in the names of the riders from start sheets during the long day of racing.
WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP
1. Lizzy Armitstead (EVR Raleigh)
2. Tanja Slater (Scienceinsport.com)
3. Helen Gutteridge (Team Lucanio Kuota)
4. Janet Birkmyer (Planet-X)
5. Louise Mahe (Sutton CC) @ 2secs
6. Jenny Copnall (Subaru,Gary Fisher)
7. Heather Summers Team Lucanio Kuota)
8. Katie Curtis (Cardiff Ajax)
9. Sara Burling (CC Giro)
10. Lindsay Margar Clarke (Fenland Clarion)
11. Joanna Rowsell (VC Londres)
12. Femke Van Schelven (Team FBUK)
13. Lisa Hollingshead, (Raleigh EVR)
14. Diane Moss, (Team Lucanio Kuota) @ 5 secs
15. Elizabeth Clayton (CC Giro)
16. Tracey Fletchor (Team FBUK)
17. Nikki Wheeler (Velocity)
18. Lizzy Goodband (Team FBUK)
19. Antonia Burt (Twickenham CC)
20. Jo Tindley (VC Londres) @ 25 secs
21. Cayley Ennent, Team QCP
22. Rebecca Jones, Hub Racing
23. Gabriella Coates, Evans Cycles
24. Karen Byrne, Cyclestore.co.uk
25. Sarah Byrne, cyclestore.co.uk
26. Lorna Marlow, Welland Valley CC
27. Carolyn Jennings, CC Giro
28. Rebecca STubbs, CC Giro
29. Ann Stayley, Plan B Racing
30. Anna Watson, Team FBUK
31. Caroline I'Neil, Team Scottish Provident
32. Sarah Collins, Websterscycles.co.uk
33. Ann Robinson, Lichfield City CC
Mens Elite Race
1. Phil Dixon, science in sport.com
2. Adam Blythe, Pinarello
3. Ian Wilkinson, science in sport.com
4. Roy Chamberlain, Team Milton Keynes
5. Dave Collins, Scott UK
6. Tom SMith, Plowman Craven RT
7. Carl Sturgeon, Magura
8. Matthew Larner, Lichfield
9. Michael Jackson, Trek UK
10. Craig Butland, Plowman Craven RT
11. Malcolm Elliot, Plowman Craven RT
12. Jon Mozely, merlin
13. Welsey Cole, Plowman Craven RT
14. Rob Hayles, Team KLR
15. Simon Holt, Merlin
16. Andy Collis, De Rosa RT
17. Joe Andrews, VC ST Raphael
18. Martin Smith, Team Milton Keynes ?
19. Paul Wilkes, De Rosa RT
20. Harry Penn, Interbike,
21. Euan Adams, Red Kite Cycles
22. Ian Bond, CC Giro
23. Dafydd Dylann, Continental
Boys Under 16 (cat A)
1. Sam freeman, Plan B Racing
2. Matt Jones, Interbike
3. WIlliam Penn, Interbike RT
4. Dane Perciual, Cardiff Ajax
5. Alex Tinsley, Wyre Forest CRC
6. Dan MacLay, Leicestershire
7. Dominic Jelfs, Bromsgrove
8. George Atkins, Welland Valley
9. Thomas Weickowski, Halesowen
10. Gareth James, Abergavenny RC
11. Jack Kirk, Halesowen
12. James Ison, Melton Olympic CC
13. Dominic Schils, Interbike RT
14. Mike Webb, Cardiff Ajax
15. John Price, CYY CC
16. Will Verny, Felt
17. Joe Nash, Lee Valley Youth
18. Thomas Mendham, Witham Wheelers
19. Thomas Lowe, Merlin
Girls, Under 16 (cat A)
1. Katie Colcough, Sleaford Wheelers
2. Helen Clayton, CC Giro
3. Jess Booth, Halesowen
4. Hannah Rich, Newport Velo
5. Sarah Reynolds, Evans Cycles
6. Jess Potts, Wolverhampton Wheelers
7. Joanna Freeman, Port Talbot Wheelers
8. Lawerey Carr, Wolverhampton Wheelers
9. Rebecca James, Abergavenny RC
10. Alexandra Greefield, Cardiff Ajax
Category 2/3/4
1. John Hoct, Bynea CC
2. Eddie Corbett, Wolverhampton Wheelers
3. David Wheelers, PM
4. Jason Crombie, Merlin
5. Ros Dingley, Halesowen
6. Vince Page, MJS Racing
7. 23
8. 20
9. 21
10. 22
11. Micke Davies, Lichfield CC
12. Stephen Cadwaladr, Lichfield CC
13. 43
14. 38
15. 25
16. 39
17. 36
18. 33
19. Christopher Dales, Wolverhampton Wheelers
20. Harry Penn, Interbike
21. Craig Ansell, Fred Williams Cycles
22. 32
23. Ian Bond, CC Giro
24. Tom Martin, CC Giro
Youth B
1. Matthew Bailey, Halesowen
2. Jim Lewis, Lee Valley Youth
3. Perry Bowater, Walsall Roads
4. Oliver Rossi, Lee Valley Youth
5. Hannah Manley, Cardiff Ajax
6. George Moore, Interbike,
7. Jack Waller, Interbike
8. Stuart Clayton, Lichfield City CC
9. Richard Forest, Newport Phoenix
10. Thomas Gregory, Halesowen
11. William Meadows, Ipswich BC
12. Owain Doull, Maindy Flyers
13. Sam Harrison, Mewport Phoenix
14. Manon Morgan, Maindy
15. Dabiel Snow, Southend Wheelers
16. Bradley Burbridge, Kettering
17. Jess Wieckowski, Halesowen
Youth C
1. Nathan Smith, Lee Valley Youth
2. Lucy Garner, Leicestershire RC
3. Sam Lowe, Merlin
4. Alex Mintof, Sheffield
5. Ed Bird, Lee Valley Youth
6. Ted Bate, Bromsgrove,
7. Emily Kay, Halesowen
8. Matthew Gregory, Halesowen
9. Josh Green, Lee Valley Youth
10. ?
11. Jason Dingley, Halesowen
