Yorkshire Region Road Race Championships

MORE PHOTOS FROM LARRY HICKMOTT

June 1st, 2008

Report & pictures from Andy May for British Cycling

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Elite champion, Dean Downing with the organiser Andrew Johnston (Clifton CC).

On a rain soaked day in North Yorkshire, Rapha Condor Recycling's Dean Downing successfully defended his Yorkshire regional Road race title. The course, which starts in Sheriff Hutton, has two main features -- Bulmer Bank, which wouldn’t look out of place as a ride at Alton Towers with it’s steep descent then tortuous climb into Bulmer village & Terrington Bank, a very long, fast descent with a tricky, narrow hump back bridge to negotiate at the bottom. A course then, already renowned for its severity, really didn’t need huge pools of standing water all over the road which made matters “interesting” to say the least!

Several riders tried to break away from the field in the opening couple of laps, but were brought back to the pack, however on lap three a group of circa 25 riders broke away decisively. Sports Cover's Kevin Dawson was at the forefront of most attacks throughout the day & this was no exception. Kinesis rider, James Sampson got away briefly on the climb up Bulmer Bank on lap 4, but was quickly joined by 3 riders, including the ever present Dawson. Through the lashing rain Kevin attacked yet again, this time taking the Triathalon expert Phil Graves with him. This looked for all the world to be the decisive move of the race, but Dean Downing, who had previously suffered both a puncture & a crash managed to bridge the gap, as did Pearl Izumi's Liam Holohan and it was these four riders who took the bell together.

It was inevitable that the weather would play its part in the final result & so it proved, so cruelly for the impressive Graves. On the final 90 degree left hand bend into the finishing straight and lying second, Phil lost his wheel and with it the chance of a crack at the title. This left an easy coast over the line for Downing, followed by Liam Holohan, Kevin Dawson & shortly after, the battered & bruised Graves.

Result

1. Dean Downing – Rapha Condor Recycling

2. Liam Holohan – Pearl Izumi Planet X High 5

3. Kevin Dawson – Sportscover Spiuk JE James

4. Philip Graves – BC Private Member

5. James Sampson – Kinesis

6. Ashley Brown - Sportscover Spiuk JE James

7. Mark Wordsworth – Team Corley Cycles

8. Hamish Batchelor – Sandy Wallace Cycles

9. Jamie Sharp – York Cycleworks

10. Bradley Johnston - Sportscover Spiuk JE James

11. Alistair Kay - York Cycleworks

12. Tim Baldwin – Paul Milnes Cycles

13. James Wagstaff -Sportscover Spiuk JE James

14. Philip Holwell – Rutland CC

15. Paul Bell – Doncaster Whs

16. Matt Armitage – Yorkshire Velo

17. Matthew Robinson-All Terrain Cycles

18. Jonny Limebear – Batley CC

19. Paul Musgrave – Clifton CC

20. Danny Lowthorpe – Rutland CC

21. Raymond Eden – Eagle RC

Photos

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Dangerous sections of the course were marshalled, either by static volunteers or the national escort group.

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Sebastian Batchelor wins a two up sprint for the Junior title.

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Phil Graves, a first year senior with Kevin Dawson on their long break which at one time looked very promising.

Liam Holohan forces the pace up Bulmer bank, a steep brute of a climb to be raced over eight times.

Andy

Graves (left) and Dawson (centre) at the head of affairs as they were for most of the race.

RESULTS
SENIORS
1. Dean Downing. Rapha Condor Recycling.co.uk
2. Liam Holohan. Pear Izumi Planet X high 5 RT
3. Kevin Dawson. Sports Cover Spiuk JE James
4. Phil Graves. Unattached
5. James Sampson. Kinesis
6. Ashley Brown. Sports Cover Spiuk JE James
7. Mark Wordsworth. Team Corley cycles/ Alpha RC
8. Hamish Batchelor. Sandy Wallace cycles
9. James Sharp. Yorkcycleworks
10. Brad Johnston. Sports Cover Spiuk JE James

MASTERS/ JUNIORS/ WOMAN RACE
1. Sebastian Batchelor. Sandy Wallace cycles
2. Nathan Edmonson. Glendene CC/ Bike Trax junior team
3. Paul Dixon. VS Cycles Brighouse
4. Paul Young. JD Cycles
5. Ian Furniss. Doncaster Wheelers
6. Tim Moorhouse. Boneshakerbikes.com

MASTERS WINNER – Paul Dixon.
CATEGORY D WINNER – Ian Furniss
CATEGORY E/F WINNER – Mick Holmes
WOMENS WINNER – Sarah Cramoysan

Mini report from Larry Hickmott

The weather in North Yorkshire was atrocious today as the rain tumbled out of the sky and soaked the roads and riders in the Yorkshire regional road race championship. The race was won by Dean Downing but it was touch and go for a while as Kevin Dawson with a young triathlete, Phil Graves, got away from the defending champion with four laps to go of the eight lap race.

Dawson and his co-companion dominated the front of the race until Downing attacked in the big ring up the main climb and took Liam Holohan with him. After a hard lap chasing, they made contact but that wasn't the end of the challenges for Downing. He had already over come a crash and a puncture but Dawson knew Downing was going to be quick in the sprint and he let Graves drift away from the group.

Downing though thought Dawson was 'playing' with him and didn't give it everything to chase the young rider back until he realised Dawson wasn't bluffing and his legs were shot. Downing then attacked and only caught the young triathlete -- who has already beaten the best Juniors in the country last year in the Sid Standard -- on the final climb. Downing went past him on the climb only 500 metres out from the finish but for Graves it was a disaster finish as he fell on the final corner and Holohan slipped past him as he did so to take second whilst Dawson was third. Graves came in third and bleeding profusely from cuts and abrasions.

Credit to all the volunteers and officials who battled difficult conditions to ensure the race went ahead today including those in the National Escort Group.

Report and more pictures coming from Andy May later.

FIRST PICTURES (Larry Hickmott)