The Ballantyne Memorial Trophy Road Race

 

11th of May 2008
Barnesbury Cycling Club
Regional B

The race now in its 53rd year, was yet again a great success with overall victory going to Christopher Herbert of Sacriston, who rides for The MTS Inkland club. The race which is run in Memory of Alan Ballantyne, who was from Lemington, Newcastle upon Tyne and who sadly died in the 1950's whilst out running with the Elswick Harriers one evening. Alan was only 18 at the time, and was a talented and popular club cyclist with The Tyne Olympic Club.

The race for the third year started from the village of Netherwitton in the heart of Northumberland. The race attracted 64 entries, with many riders travelling from Yorkshire or further afield. Although the course had to change this year, the race was still over a challenging course. The First prime came after only 2 and half miles at Ritton Bank, and the field immediately started to dwindlle as rider after rider got dropped from the leading bunch, the prime was won by Shane Leadley of the Go Sport Spex team.

This trend continued on the climbs of Coldrife and Ewesley fell until only elite group of 25 riders were in contention. Over the top of Ewesley fell this group split into two, with 13 riders going clear. These thirteen stayed clear over the next prime at Middleton bank, which was won by Christopher Herbert. At Belsay the two front groups came together once again, due to the fact that the leaders were unwilling to work together to utillise their advantage.

Next followed the flatter section of the race, and the leaders stayed intact for most of this section. The miles ticked by as the race passed through Whalton, Mitford, and Hartburn. Then the final prime arrived at Rothley crags, and impressively Shane leadley was first again, taking the spoils and securing the overall King of the mountains prize. After the prime the race settled once again, and it was looking like it was going to be a bunch sprint at the finish. The leading group even stayed intact on the nasty little climb out of hartburn with only 4 miles left to race.

The race then made its final turn at Dyke Neuk, then in the last mile Christopher Herbert, seized the opportunity to attack and quickly gained a noticeable gap. Nobody in the group seemed willing to chase so close to the finish line. And Christopher gap slightly increased as he neared the line. In the last half mile Christopher Clark, VC York also managed to escape the peleton but was unable to catch herbert. At the line it was Herbert then Clark with Malcolm Lewis Taking the Bunch Sprint.

Results     

1 Christopher Herbert      
2 Christopher Clark      
3 Malcolm Lewis      
4 Richard Kipling      
5 John Brown      
6 Gary Wearmouth      
7 Iain Dey      
8 Russell Bayliss      
9 Ben Lane      
10 Aidan McIlroy      
11 Shane Leadley