Hillingdon Slipstreamers Circuit Races

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Hillingdon Cycle Circuit, West London

Report & pictures by Belinda Sinclair

Umbrellas! Yes, the sun was hot and burning at Hillingdon last Saturday.

It turned out to be quite an eventful day at the Hillingdon Slip Streamers Circuit races on Saturday. With the weather obliging for once - sun shining and the fine, dry conditions that lasted all day – the full programme of races went ahead, with riders turning up from all over Britain.  Organiser Julie May was delighted “ We’re really pleased with the turnout. As an organiser, it can be disheartening when the event that you work hard to put on isn’t well supported."

"But that’s certainly not been the case here, and we’ve had a good field of riders for all of the races today, so much so that we had to close entry for the under 16 boys several weeks ago and refuse entry on the line.”

But the careful organisation and planning really came into its own when called upon to deal with the day’s crashes – of which there were many – and their aftermath. In fact, only two races remained pileup free – the under eights and the girls under fourteen/under sixteen race.

“It’s always the thing that you don’t want to happen, but we plan for it very carefully, and that really showed today because our first aider was right there every time. It’s just one of those things with racing – accidents happen and despite briefing the riders and ensuring the circuit is safe, you just have to hope that when something does go wrong, it’s not too serious and it can be dealt with.”

First race of the day was the under eights. Despite a starting line up of fifteen riders, it was clear from midway through the first of the five laps that two boys were going to dominate it. Off to a fast start, Ben Tullet (Herne Hill YCC) and Thomas Barrowcliffe (Hillingdon Slip Streamers) rode away from the rest, with Ben eventually crossing the line just ahead of Thomas in after a hard fought sprint for the line, with Palmer Park’s Ethan Goddard taking third a way off the pace, but still well ahead of the remaining riders.

However, the under tens event did not go quite as smoothly. Eagerness for the off got the better of several riders who jumped the whistle and sped off, leaving confusion and a spectacular crash in their wake, just ten metres from the start. A tangle of riders and bikes spread eagled over the tarmac, as Anthony Anderson of Kingston Wheelers slid to a painful halt on his  knees, having been catapulted to the fore in the melee.

The race was stopped, young Anthony had his badly cut knees dressed, whilst other tumblers were dusted down and reassured, and the safety briefing repeated. Following the restart fifteen minutes later, Anthony stormed to the front and rode a stonking race on his own for its entirety. It was an impressive ride in any case, but particularly in the light of the mornings events. Speaking to his mother Nicola as we watched his progress, she noted the effect on the event:

“That was a nasty crash and I know that it shook him up and hurt him – the cuts on his knees are vile - but he is a very strong boy, and he copes by riding hard. But you can see the reticence in some of the others because they’re holding back – they’re riding together while he’s off on his own, and they’ve let him go. It’s understandable but it does make it hard on him.”

Predictably – and deservedly - he crossed the line first, with Carl Jolly and Harry Tadman  both of Hillingdon Slip Streamers taking second and third respectively for the boys, with Lauren Murphy (Team Keyne) taking first girl, followed by Emma Pitt (Palmer Park) and Bethany Lewis (VC Jubilee).

More competitive riding led to further spills in the under twelve event, plus some confusion when a well meaning parent stopped the race following a minor tumble in the final few laps, causing a few riders to pull up before realising that it was still very much on. As a consequence, they were too far back to join the mass sprint, which ended with Emily Haycox, Megan Baker and Charlotte Broughton taking first, second and third for the girls, while Harry Lock, Mathew Bostock and Joseph Fry doing the same in the boys placings.

Then it was the turn of the under fourteen/sixteen girls. An impressive starting line up of twenty five riders panned into a trouble free ride, with two riders moving off the front early on, leaving a lead chasing group and a smaller second group in their wake. Emily Barnes (Palmer Park) led the under fourteen girls home, from Alice Barnes (Palmer Park) and Amy Jacobs (VC Jubilee). Hannah Barnes took the under sixteen title by an impressive complete back straight, making the twenty laps look deceptively easy. Eleanor Barker and Harriet Owen crossed a while later.

The under fourteen boys event looked like it could be sewn up early on as two riders went out from the start, putting a lot of space between themselves and the bunch. Both looked strong throughout, and Jacob Regan in particular looked like he might outpace the others for the whole race. But the gap started to decrease after about lap nine, with the chasers working together as a group gradually whittling the distance down to about twenty metres by lap fourteen and swallowing up the leaders.

But no sooner had the deed been done, another touch of wheels and the ensuing pile up stopped the race a short while later on lap fifteen. That was enough to change the shape of the race, however, and after the restart, Jacob Regan was back into the lead, with Dan Maslin (Hillingdon SS) in hot pursuit. It looked like he would make it after all, but on the last lap, Maslin took his chance as Regan looked back, and out sprinted him by twenty metres to the line in what was a thrilling finish.  Robbie Westwood took third place.

The final race of the day was the under sixteen boys. Some tight group riding in the early laps made for some textbook on and offs which were very impressive to those watching, and some spectacular sprinting. However, the sixth rounding of the bend into the back straight proved to be a bit too tight for one Cleveland rider near the back as the entire field rounded as one; wheels touched and he was down, sliding a sickening slide for several flesh tearing metres before getting back up and on, and chasing the group as it sped away.

Obviously hurt but nevertheless determined to do his best despite the early setback, he powered up the back straight in hot pursuit, only to come off again half a lap later in a nasty fall that ended his race and brought him to the attention of the NHS. After that, the bunch fragmented into a two man race and a chasing group, finally won by Josh Papworth from Jon Dibben, with Oli Rossi in third.

All in all, it was a full and action packed immensely enjoyable day with some very impressive and competitive riding, backed up by some very polished, unflappable organisation by Hillingdon Slip Streamers.

More Photos

Parents and officials try to untangle the bikes after a crash.

Riders await a start in the racing at Hillingdon.

One of many great finishes from the stars of the future

The waiting for the start is always the worst bit for nervous youngsters...

Photos of the action in the Under 16 race

Riders in the Under 16 race are lined out as they chase down a break

RESULTS

Under 16 Boys
1. Josh Papworth Wyre Forest
2. Jonathan Dibben DHCyclesport.co.uk
3. Oliver Rossi Glendene CC / Bike Trax
4. Sam Lowe Go Sports Spex RT
5. Jordan Hargreaves Planet X
6. George Moore CC Giro
7. Stephen Bradbury Palmer Park Velo
8. Dante Carpenter Fit For
9. Christopher Latham Sport City Velo
10. James Locker Halesowen A&CC
11. Simon Winston VC Saint Raphael
12. Owain Doull Cardiff Ajax CC
13. Ashley Marshall Planet X
14. Charlie Heffernan VC Jubilee
15. Ted Bate Halesowen A&CC
16. Ed Bird East London Velo
17. Patrick Galbraith Velo Ecosse / Mountpeliers
18. Luke Panton VC Lincoln
19. Tom Young Leicestershire RC
20. Josh Penrice Sport City Velo
21. Alex Anderson Welwyn Wheelers
22. Tanveer Mann Hillingdon Slipstreamers
23. Declan Byrne Brooks Cycles
24. Alistair Slater Bourne Wheelers
25. Rob Yeatman Glendene CC / Bike Trax
26. William Macke Palmer Park Velo
27. Tom Gallacher Welwyn Wheelers
28. Christopher Dredge Team Keyne
29. Tom Lackenby De Rosa / Mg décor
30. Jack Penrice Sport City Velo
31. Lawrence Carpenter Hillingdon Slipstreamers
32. Declan Higgins Twickenham CC
33. Joshua Maynard Welwyn Wheelers
34. Matthew Trimble VC Lincoln
35. Sam Broughton Leicester RC
36. Mark Passey Hillingdon Slipstreamers

Under 14 Boys
1. Daniel Maslin Hillingdon Slipstreamers
2. Christopher Lawless Eastlands Velo
3. Robbie Westwood Cwmcarn Paragon
4. Alan Trolove West Suffolk Wheelers
5. Jacob Ragan Sport City Velo
6. George Withers Palmer Park Velo
7. Jamil Gaida Palmer Park Velo
8. Alex Hopper Cleveland Wheelers
9. Joe Kirkham VC Longeaton
10. Ashley Dennis VC Jubilee
11. Lewis Barry Sport City Velo
12. Ben Chapman Team Keyne
13. Adam De Smit VC Lincoln
14. Charlie Tanfield Cleveland Wheelers
15. Geraint Manley Maindy Flyers CC
16. Max Stedman Reading CC
17. Jacob Kelly Lichfield City CC
18. Euan Cattermole VC Londres
19. Chris Girgis Hillingdon Slipstreamers
20. Kieron Tennyson Heanor Clarion
21. Harvey Watson Velocity Bikes CC
22. Rory Townsend Hillingdon Slipstreamers
23. Jason Pitt Palmer Park Velo
24. Andy Shackel I-Team CC
25. Daniel Lansley Palmer Park Velo
26. Duncan Lawrence Palmer Park Velo
27. Matthew Hill VC Jubilee
28. Oliver Plumley Welwyn Wheelers
29. Louis Mangnani Hillingdon Slipstreamers
30. James Madgwick Lee Valley Youth CC
31. Matthew Madgwick Lee Valley Youth CC
32. John Ellis Palmer Park Velo
33. Simon Passey Hillingdon Slipstreamers

Under 16 Girls
1. Hannah Barnes Pinarello RT
2. Elinor Barker Cardiff Ajax CC
3. Harriet Owen Bicester Millennium CC
4. Hannah Manley Jiff
5. Melissa Bury Sport City Velo
6. Hannah Shenton Paul Milnes / Bradford Olympic
7. Natalie Hill Hillingdon Slipstreamers
8. Jess Anderson Sport City Velo
9. Bryony Darbon VC Londres
10. Hannah Layland Sport City Velo
11. Sarah King Sleaford Wheelers CC
12. Alex McKibben Team Tri A Sport

Under 14 Girls
1. Emily Barnes Palmer Park Velo
2. Alice Barnes Palmer Park Velo
3. Amy Jacobs VC Jubilee
4. India Penrice Sport City Velo
5. Kim English Palmer Park Velo
6. Bethany Hayward Welwyn Wheelers
7. Kate Metalli Palmer Park Velo
8. Sara Gent In Gear Development Squad
9. Chloe Evans Welwyn Wheelers
10. Emily Trimble Flitch Crono
11. Emily Wilkins VC Lincoln
12. Lauren Savage Hillingdon Slipstreamers
13. Francesca Morgan-Slader Lee Valley Youth CC
14. Ellie Gilham BACC
15. Zoe Lewis VC Londres

Under 12
1. Harry Lock Maindy Flyers
2. Emily Haycox Maindy Flyers
3. Matthew Bostock Team Royal London 360 IOM
4. Joseph Fry Welwyn Wheelers
5. David Barnes Palmer Park Velo
6. Megan Barker Maindy Flyers
7. Jake Howes Hillingdon Slipstreamers
8. Henry Dawson Hillingdon Slipstreamers
9. Charlotte Broughton Leicester RC
10. Alexander Mitchell Solihull CC
11. Tristan Price PCA Ciclos Uno
12. Archie Wishart Welwyn Wheelers
13. Jack Bradford Hillingdon Slipstreamers
14. Matthew Lansley Palmer Park Velo
15. Kirsten Savage Hillingdon Slipstreamers
16. Matthew Worton Stockton Wheelers
17. Reg Pay Palmer Park Velo
18. Benjamin Smith Hillingdon Slipstreamers
19. Sophie Capewell Lichfield CC
20. Marcus Burnett Team Keyne
21. Abigail Dentus Palmer Park Velo
22. Sveva Marais Palmer Park Velo
23. James Saunders Team Keyne
24. Emily Capewell Lichfield CC
25. Hannah Gunn Hillingdon Slipstreamers
26. Amy Barnes VC Jubilee
27. Megan Lewis VC Jubilee

Under 10
1. Anthony Anderson Kingston Wheelers CC
2. Carl Jolly Hillingdon Slipstreamers
3. Harry Tadman Hillingdon Slipstreamers
4. David Tulett Herne Hill Youth CC
5. Charles Page Hillingdon Slipstreamers
6. Thomas Durkin Welwyn Wheelers
7. Lauren Murphy Team Keyne
8. Callum Macleod Palmer Park Velo
9. Thomas Bostock Team Royal London 360 IOM
10. Damon King Palmer Park Velo
11. Niall Dawkins Hillingdon Slipstreamers
12. Emma Pitt Palmer Park Velo
13. William Mitchell Solihull CC
14. Rory Bradford Hillingdon Slipstreamers
15. Luis Hindman Palmer Park Velo
16. Thomas Street Welwyn Wheelers
17. Louis Rose-Davies SCC
18. Alastair Bointon Hillingdon Slipstreamers
19. Chris Brant Palmer Park Velo
20. Bethany Lewis VC Jubilee
21. Evrim Guler Hillingdon Slipstreamers
22. Eleanor Hall BRCC
23. Anna Linehan Palmer Park Velo
24. Zachary Mason Palmer Park Velo
25. Davis Pay Palmer Park Velo
26. Imogen McAllister-Hewlings Palmer Park Velo

Under 8
1. Ben Tulett Herne Hill Youth CC
2. Thomas Barrowcliffe Hillingdon Slipstreamers
3. Ethan Goddard Palmer Park Velo
4. Jay Allen Palmer Park Velo
5. Joe McGuiness Palmer Park Velo
6. Oliver Slack Hillingdon Slipstreamers
7. Felix Mackie Lee Valley Youth CC
8. Euan Macleod Palmer Park Velo
9. Zachary Potter Hillingdon Slipstreamers
10. Orla Devlin Hillingdon Slipstreamers
11. Conor Hindman Palmer Park Velo
12. Tim Dineen Hillingdon Slipstreamers
13. Kitty Pilgrim-Morris Palmer Park Velo
14. Bradley King Palmer Park Velo