Richmond GP Grass Track Meeting

 

May 28, 2007; Richmond (North Yorkshire)

Report & Images by Andrew Kennedy. Hi-res photos can be ordered at www.kennedyimages.co.uk

 

2007 8km Grass Track Champion Keith Murray, with 2nd placed Dean Downing and 3rd placed Ben Elliott.

 

REPORT

 

Richmond Cricket Ground is the home of a purpose built banked grass track velodrome dating back to 1892.

 

The superb grass track velodrome at Richmond Cricket Club was the setting for this year’s 8km championships. A quality field of over 35 track riders including top professional Dean Downing (Rapha-Condor) lined up in front of starter Bob Westmoreland ready to ride 22 laps of this 364 metre banked circuit.

 

Downing had ridden the previous days 134km Premier Calendar Richmond Grand Prix Road Race, where he had been in the race winning break with his brother and eventual winner Russell Downing. Showing no signs of fatigue as he warmed up with the other track riders the talk amongst the spectators was by how much Downing was going to win this championships, and that he was likely to pocket all the cash from the prize fund. The Grass track specialists have seen it all before and were in no mood to let Downing get away with their title and their money.

 

Grass Track racing at Richmond can be traced back to 1892, when the population of the town would be quadrupled by the influx of riders and spectators for the famous Richmond Track meet events. Records and historical photographs show the early racers on Penny Farthings, and as the reputation of the racing spread the Richmond Meet became a selection race for Olympic cyclists.  The town is working hard to get the crowds back into Richmond for the Bank Holiday weekend, and spectators lined the cricket club terrace anticipating some exciting racing.

 

Champagne and flowers await the winner at Richmond.

 

Dark storm clouds appeared and a short hailstorm had the crowds huddled under umbrellas as the 4km heats began for the main 8km event. Chief BC and UCI commissaire Julie Benham watched the main contenders easily qualify for the final, with Richard Lambert (Cottingham Coureurs RT), Ben Elliott (VC St Raphael), Keith Murray (Wheelspin-Scott) Neil Withington (Andersons Racing) and Dean Downing using the heats as a warm up.

 

Bob Westmoreland starts proceedings in the customary fashion with pistol and red jacket.

 

Twenty riders qualified for the final 8km race and the rolling start gave the crowd a chance to shout for their favourite riders, Eurosport’s Mike Smith was on hand to increase the excitement with his flamboyant and colourful commentary. As the flag dropped Keith Murray (Wheelspin-Scott) jumped away from the main field in an attempt to establish an early lead. He was quickly joined by Stuart McManus (Glasgow Wheelers) and together they opened up a gap of about 40 meters. There was no response from the main field, and Dean Downing was comfortably sat in the middle of the bunch.

 

Keith Murray and Stuart McManus quickly established a 40 metre lead.

 

Keith Murray and Stuart McManus worked well together and with five laps covered the Murray/McManus train pulling away the bunch began to take notice. The main field seemed unwilling to work together to catch the breakaways and it was left to Ben Elliott and Dean Downing to try and bridge the gap. With 10 laps covered Stuart McManus had a mechanical problem and briefly pulled off the track, Murray was now alone and continued to pull away from the chasers.

 

Dean Downing and Ben Elliott made a valiant effort to catch Murray, but left it too late.

 

Top pro rider Dean Downing who spent a good part of his youth riding the grass track circuit wasn’t about to let time-triallist and cyclo-cross rider Murray snatch the championship. Downing began to close the gap on Murray and with 8 laps remaining looked as though he would pull him back.

 

Keith Murray had some fantastic vocal support in the form of his wife and young sons at trackside, his face a mask of pain and effort as he continued to push the big time trialling gear around the course. With four laps remaining Murray had increased his lead. Downing no doubt feeling the pain in his tired limbs from the previous day’s race began to visibly slow down. At the bell with 1 lap to go Murray confident of a win reached the back of what remained of the main bunch and gave the thumbs up to his supporters. Unsure about track protocol he sat behind the bunch, keeping a watchful eye on Downing, who was now ½ lap behind.

 

Jason Benham (Scunthorpe Poly CC) screams with effort as Keith Murray closes in on the main field.

 

At the chequered flag Murray had plenty of time to give a victory salute and crossed the line a National Track Champion. Dean Downing took second place and Ben Elliott sprinted from the bunch to take the remaining medal. Afterwards I caught up with Keith Murray and asked him if his cyclo-cross experience had helped him win the grass track championship,

 

“ Cyclo-cross is my first love, and that’s what I’m know for. I came to watch this event last year with my family and thought I’d like to give it a go. I came out of the cross season in good shape and now I’m in the time-trial season and going quite well. Today I decided to go from the gun and thought somebody like Dean [Downing] would come with me and we could work together. I was hoping the grass track riders wouldn’t want to do 22 laps in a break. Early in the race I was with Stuart McManus and he was doing some work but I knew I was stronger and when I was on my own, I just kept pushing. The atmosphere is fantastic here and it’s great to win in front of my family”

 

The championships over and the grass specialists denied the top two medals, it was time for them to concentrate on collecting some brown envelopes. Grass Track racing can be quite lucrative, and the top riders spend their time travelling and racing at country fairs venues and the Highland Games circuit in Scotland. Organiser of the Richmond Grass Track Meet James Hall had prepared a full schedule of races that catered for everyone.

 

With kids races, a local club running event on the grass track, a good natured 'grudge match' pursuit bike race between Richmond Cycling Club and Teesdale CRC and the usual crowd pleasers of ‘Devil take the Hindmost’ the large crowd enjoyed their afternoon of cycle racing. The carnival atmosphere and success of all the cycling events at Richmond over this Bank Holiday are a credit to the hard work of  Richmond Cycling Club and the partnerships they have developed with their sponsors. The club are determined to make this weekend a permanent fixture on the cycling calendar, they have everything in place, but guys if you are listening, next year can you book some sunshine?

 

Results

 

8km National Endurance Champs
1. Keith Murray, Wheelspin-Scott
2. Dean Downing, Rapha-Condor
3. Ben Elliott, VC St Raphael
4. Neil Withington,  Andersons Racing
5. Martin Smith, Chesterfield Coureurs
6. Stuart McManus, Glasgow Wheelers

 

400m Handicap race
1. Darren Kirkbride, Unattached
2. Chris Bush, Gosforth Road Club
3. Ben Elliott, VC St Raphael
4. Richard Kennedy, Chesterfield Coureurs
5. Charlie Porter, Yello Velo
6. Thomas Hibberd, Solihull CC

 
800m National Short Distance
1. Ben Elliott, VC St Raphael
2. Neil Withington, Andersons Racing
3. Adam Duggleby, BC Private Member
4. Richard Lambert, Cottingham Coureurs
5. Chris Bush, Gosforth Road Club
6. Jason Benham, Scunthorpe Poly CC
 
Devil Take the Hindmost
1. Stuart McManus,  Glasgow Wheelers
2. Adam Duggleby, BC Private Member
3. Richard Lambert, Cottingham Coureurs
4. Neil Withington, Andersons Racing
5. Bryan Pool, Andersons Racing
6. Matthew Fenton, Cottingham Coureurs
 

Overall meeting winner
1. Ben Elliott, VC St Raphael
2. Adam Duggleby, BC Private Member
3. Neil Withington, Andersons Racing
 
Richmond Cycling Club riders only – unknown distance
1. Dave Clark, Richmond CC
2. Sven Wardle, Richmond CC
3. Phil Simmonds, Richmond CC