Brentwood Town Centre Circuit Races

 

June 10, 2007; Brentwood, Essex
Larry Hickmott report and photos

Brentwood Town Centre Races 2007 (home page)

 

Youth Race 14 -16 years Cat A/B
Sponsored by B & M Cycles Cycelife

 

The VIP from the sponsor B & M Cycles takes a photo call with Joe Perrett of the promoting club before the race begins. Up for grabs from the winner was a Raleigh bike.

 

A large number of young riders started the Youth race but even before a lap was out, the breaks were opening in the peloton as the younger riders struggled to hold on to the leaders. The stronger riders in the race continued to keep the pace high and it wasn’t long in the 45 minute Under 16/14 race before riders were being lapped and pulled out.

 

The leading group of around a dozen continued to race hard and as they did so, with the odd attack off the front keeping everyone alert, the leading group got smaller as the large field for the Youth event was spread out around the short circuit within 10 minutes of the race starting.

Approaching the halfway point, Joe Perrett and Alex King took flight from their young rivals and proceeded to build up a large lead. Of the two, Perrett who had raced the Junior event as well, was the faster in the sprints – just – but King obviously had the fresher legs and into the final five laps, he showed his strength by going clear of Perrett and lap by lap, making sure of the victory by increasing his lead.

 

Both of them were close to lapping the leaders such was their dominance of the race and although Perrett is well known from his racing days at Eastway and around the country, King who has only been racing a short while is certainly making a name for himself on the strength of the ride in this race.

 

Alex  King from Windsor, despite a crash the day before won the race alone . “I started off two years ago when I went from cross country running to cycling. It was a tough race. I though about 15 minutes  in that we might have gone a but early (45 minute race plus 5 laps) but the group didn’t chase. Joe had done the Junior race before and I could see he was tiring and took the opportunity to get away because I didn’t want to risk a sprint.”

 

Youth Result
1. Alexander King, Twickenhan C.C., 00:53:45,
2. Joseph Perrett, Glendene CC/Bike Trax/Specialized/Bio-Racer/Maxim @24
3. Jon Dibben, i-team.co.uk, @1:39
4. Dominic Schils, Interbike RT/Boyer Planning/Veloschils, @1:41
5. Peter Dibbon, i-team.co.uk,
6. Jake Hales, Interbike RT/Boyer Planning/Veloschils, @1:43
7. Mark Baxter, Beyonde Mountainbikes,
8. Thomas Lowe, Merlin RT,
9. Felix English, Team Kontour/Continental @2:13
10. Samual Fry, Interbike RT/Boyer Planning/Veloschils @2:51
11. Thomas Humphreys, Team Devere, 1lap
12. Tom Gosbee, Team Welwyn, 1lap
13. Timothy Kennaugh, Pinarello RT/Rudy Project/DMT/Corima/Continental, 1lap
14. Hugo Humphreys, Lea Valley Youth CC, 1lap
15. Alistair Slater, Bourne Wheelers., 1lap

 

PHOTOS

 

Opening lap and the field are strung out.

 

Gaps after the first dozen or so riders are starting to open as the younger riders are dropped.

 

 

Dominic Schils takes a flyer early on but the chasers soon had him back in the fold.

 

Left: Joe Perrett on one of the tighest bends whilst right, Perrett and King fight it out for a prime.

 

Joe Perrett puts the hammer down with Alex King on his wheel as an Interbike rider gives chase in the background.

 

Two riders, Tom Gosbee and Tim Kennaugh about to be lapped in the final few laps of the race.

 

Left: riders pulled out after being lapped much to the annoyance of parents, pull into the pits and have their numbers removed.

 

Alex King goes in alone and rides clear of Joe Perrett.

 

In danger of being caught with two to go, the group riding for third place sprint through the finish line.

 

Alex King crosses the line well clear of his nearest rival whilst right, Jon Dibben punches the air as he holds off the rest to clinch third.

 

Tight sprint for the minor places.

 

A bike for the larger family!