2007 Dudley Grand Prix

 

1st September 2007
Manor Abbey Stadium, Dudley (West Midlands)

Richard Robotham report and images

 

This years Dudley GP was postponed due to the poor weather conditions which hit the Midlands in July. The Halesowen A&CC members and their contractors have worked wonders to get the track into a condition suitable for top class events such as the infamous & renowned Dudley Grand Prix Meeting. The event was also changed to a one day meeting due to other major events on the Saturday evening and on the following Sunday.

 

There was unfortunately a damp start to the day which meant the Commissaires and organiser had to change the early part of the program. Although the skies were cloudy all day, they were kind enough not to dampen the proceedings any further and all the events on the program were run much to the delight of the spectators, riders and Halesowen A&CC organiser Martin Bridgwood.

British Cycling Women’s Omnium League
The program changes meant the BC Women’s Omnium League would start the long day’s program of events. Only six of the original eleven women riders entered competing in final round of the BC Women’s Omnium League. Janet Birkmyre (Planet X She Cycles) dominated today’s Women’s Omnium by winning all of the events.  This is her third concessive Women’s Omnium title.
 
The women started the morning session with a good round of solid heats for the 500m Time Trial. Janet Birkmyre (Planet X She Cycles) produced the fastest time of 38.36 seconds with HA&CC rider Jessica Booth (HA&CC) taking 2nd place with 39.30 seconds.

 

The 8km Scratch race run over 20 laps held together with only minor attacks to breakaway until the last 5 laps.  Jessica Booth (HA&CC) attacked on the back straight but Janet Birkmyre (Planet X She Cycles) responded quickly and stuck to Booths back wheel, Booth attacked again on the finish line as they saw 3 laps to go, but it came to nothing as Birkmyre was watching every move.

 

At the sound of the bell for the last lap Birkmyre moved up to the front of the riders and as they hit the 200m line Helen Scott (HA&CC) made her move but ever watchful Birkmyre was quick to respond and passed Helen Scott (HA&CC) on the last bend and powered down to the finish line a full bikes length from Helen Scott.

 

The Pursuit was held over three heats and the riders were seeded on their current Omnium table standings.

 

 

Debbie Capewell (Brooks Cycles) produced a 3.10.30 time to beat Jo Harman (Yasumitsu Schlapp) 3.15.59. Jessica Booth (HA&CC) and the current National Under 16 Pursuit champion rode against Siobhan Mullen (Team Chance) for and recorded a time of 2.47.04, Mullen’s time was 2.56.61. Janet Birkmyre’s (Planet X She Cylces) experienced showed when she recorded a time of 2.44.61 and 1st place in this event when she rode against Helen Scott (HA&CC) who time was 2.57.39

 

Birkmyre and Scott had easy rides to go thru to the Sprint Semi Finals after winning their heats, and Booth won the rep heat. Capewell and Harman battled it out for the minor final placings of 5th and 6th.  With one look over her shoulder Capewell dropped from the banking with less than 200m to go, and after holding Harman to the fence from the gun taking the win comfortably.

 

In the Semi Finals Scott came from behind to take the win and her place in the Final, Booth tried to out wit Birkmyre by attacking on the third bend but Birkmyre just turned on the power to win. In the Final for 3rd and 4th places, Mullan led from the gun but as the bell rang Booth attacked and Mullan didn’t have any response, Booth won with ease.

 

Birkmyre forced Scott to take the lead from the gun, and Scott responded with a slow pace and pinned Birkmyre to the fence all the way round to the last 100m where Birkmyre just turned on the gas and the two riders sprinted up the finish straight with Birkmyre winning by only half a bikes length.

The 8km Points race was the last event of the day for the women, and was convincingly won by Janet Birkmyre who took 3 of the 4 sprints.

 

 

British Cycling  Endurance League
Also taking part in today’s Dudley Grand Prix were the Endurance League riders and they were competing in the “Billy Jones” 10 Mile Scratch Race won by James McCallum (PCA Evans Cycles RT). In the early part of the race small attacks were quickly quashed, but with 10 laps gone, John Stollery (Paramount CRT), seized his chance when the peloton splintered and he managed to break away from the field.

 

He continued to head the race for a further 10 laps, but with the announcement of a prime the peloton cranked up the pace and finally caught Stollery with 20 laps to go. Jeff Snodin (Go Sports Spex RT) took the prime. With 10 laps now showing, eight riders had formed a group ahead of the field but were reeled in within 2 laps.

 

 

Jeff Snodin instigated a break along with Adam Duggleby (PM) and Matthew Bailey (Halesowen A&CC) with 6 laps to go but failed to stay away. As the bell rang for the last lap Chris Richardson (Agiskoviner) was leading the field but with riders behind him vying for places and cautiously peering over their shoulders, James McCallum (PCA Evans Cycles RT) waited until the third bend to attack and charged up the finish straight to take first place.

 

 

British Cycling Sprinters League
The return of Neil Campbell (Port Sunlight Wheelers) to the British Track racing scene saw him qualify fastest in the 200m Flying Time Trial with 11.73, close behind was up and coming rider Steven Hill (Brooks Cycles) with a time of 11.95. These were the only riders to break the 12 second mark.

 

Round 1

Heat 1
Neil Campbell led the riders out from the Starters whistle, but David Jack (Twickenham CC) had taken over by the bell to try to control the race, however, Steve Cronshaw (Brereton Wheelers) and Neil Campbell quickly took the lead early in the last lap, Cronshaw attacked on the second bend but Campbell countered and powered away from Cronshaw to take the win with ease.

 

Heat 2
In a closely contended and tactical match Steven Hill (Brooks Cycles) took early control of the heat and continued to watch his rivals all the way to the bell. Tom Gregory (Halesowen A&CC) made the first move in the back straight but was quickly overpowered by Steven Hill and Jack Hibberd (MJS Racing). Steven Hill maintained his grip on the heat by ensuring Hibberd couldn’t pass by riding high on the sprinters line. Hill took the heat by a clear bike length.

 

Heat 3
Although not drawing the inside position at the start, Luc Jones (New Tredegar Nomads) led out from the start and took tactical control of the race. However this was not to play into his hands as on the last lap in the back straight Ben Elliott (VC St Raphael) stretched his legs to take the lead and the win.

 

Heat 4
Andrew Tranter (Halesowen A &CC) lead out from the whistle at a slow pace closely watched by Neil Potter (PCA Ciclos Uno) and Martin Osman (MJS Racing). Tranter made the first move but the increased pace was matched by Potter. The sprint was neck and neck all the way to the finish line with Potter stealing the win by less than half a wheel and recorded the second fastest time of the day with 11.91 seconds for the last 200m.

 

All the losers from the heats above went through to two Repecharge heats. The winner of heat one was Adam Welch (VC St Raphael) and heat two was Martin Osman.

 

Round 2
Heat 1
Potter and Campbell launched an early attack which Osman was unable to keep up with and was an early casualty of the heat. With the pace high Potter tried to out sprint Campbell through corners three and four but Campbell was able to kick again and took the win with 50m to go.

Heat 2
A closely fought match between Hill, Welch and Elliott were all still together during the last corner with Elliott riding high Hill managed to squeeze through to take the win.

 

Minor Final
The minor final looked as though it was going to be a closely contested heat but Potter stormed away at the bell, however none of the other riders could match the pace and Potter won by a clear 70m.

 

Final

 

The final was full incidents including a track stand prior to the first half lap being completed. As the Commissaire Starter approached the riders to warn them to move off, Hill punctured causing a restart.

After a wheel change the Final was restarted and with half a lap gone the riders carried out another track stand. However, this didn’t last very long and the riders moved off slowly for another full lap.

 

It was at this point when Hill launched the sprint with Campbell close on his heels. The sprint up the finish straight was a neck and neck tussle which included some elbow contact and severe bike maneuvering around the Sprinters Line but Campbell managed to out sprint Hill to win by half a bike length.

 

 

RESULTS

 

Sprint

200 Qualifying
Campbell Neil Port Sunlight Whs 11.73
Hill Stephen Brooks Cycles 11.95
Welch Adam VC St Raphael 12.01
Potter Neil PCA Ciclos Uno 12.06
Tranter Adam Halesowen A&CC 12.32
Elliott Ben VC St Raphael 12.36
Hibberd Jack MJS Racing 12.66
Cronshaw Steve Brerton Whs 12.68
Osman Martin MJS Racing 12.68
Jones Luc New Tredegar Nomads 12.90
Gregory Thomas Halesowen A&CC 13.13
Jack David Twickenham CC 13.53
Hewitt Andrew Brooks Cycles 13.74
Gilchrist Craig Brooks Cycles 13.89

 

Finall overall
1. Campbell Neil Port Sunlight Whs 1st
2. Hill Stephen Brooks Cycles 2nd
3. Potter Neil PCA Ciclos Uno 3rd
4. Osman Martin MJS Racing 4th
5. Elliott Ben VC St Raphael 5th
6. Welch Adam VC St Raphael 6th

 

Women's Omnium
1. Janet Birkmyre PlanetX SheCycles
2. Helen Scott Halesowen A & CC
3. Jessica Booth Halesowen A & CC
4. Siobhan Mullan Team Chance
5. Jo Hamon Yasumitsu Schlapp
6. Debbie Capewell Brooks Cycles
7. Helen Clayton CC Giro
8. Hannah Mayho Team Chance
9. Emma Patterson Agiskoviner
10. Elizabeth Clayton CC Giro
11. Lucy Martin Team Chance

 

Endurance League Race
1. James McCallum (PCA Evans Cycles RT)

2. John McClelland Agiskoviner
3. Matthew Bailey Halesowen A&CC
4. Jeff Snodin Go Sports Spex RT
5. Adam Duggleby Private Member
6. Richard Prince VC St Raphael
7. Tom Wieckowski Halesowen A&CC
8. Chris Richardson Agiskoviner
9. Jack Hibberd MJS Racing
10. Steve Clayton Lichfield City CC

 

YOUTH OMNIUMS
Under 14's  
1. Tom Baker Halesowen A & CC
2. Ted Bate Halesowen A & CC
3. Jess Wieckowski Halesowen A & CC
4. James Locker Solihull CC
5. Jason Dingley Halesowen A & CC
6. Joseph Fox Solihull CC
7. Jacob James Halesowen A & CC
8. Megan Hughes Wolverhampton Whs
  
Under 16's  
1. Daniel Staines Worcs St Johns CC
2. Alex Cogswell Redditch R&P CC
3. Daniel Harris Halesowen A & CC
4. Ben Mountford Solihull CC

 

Freewheelers 240 Dash  
Heat 1  
1. Alex Watton Halesowen A&CC
2. 26 Danny Fox Solihull CC
3. 9 Nicole Bailey Halesowen A&CC
4. 29 Ben Sherman Solihull CC
5. 15 Jack Higginbotham Halesowen A&CC
6. 31 Zak Mountford Solihull CC
  
Heat 2  
1. 8 Chris Roberts Halesowen A&CC
2. 19 Madelaine Lord Halesowen A&CC
3. 35 Lucas Tselepis Halesowen A&CC
4. 23 Cameron Biddle Redditch Road & Path
5. 32 Angela Eggleton Halesowen A&CC
6. 20 Rebecca Lord Halesowen A&CC
  
Heat 3  
1. 24 Lucy Shaw Solihull CC
2. 7 Joe Feiven Halesowen A&CC
3. 28 Natalie Clements Solihull CC
4. 30 Harvey Wordsworth Solihull CC
5. 33 Jordan Sharples Halesowen A&CC
6. 12 Morgan Smith Solihull CC
  
Heat 4  
1. 25 Matthew Shaw Solihull CC
2. 2 Tom Hayward Halesowen A & CC
3. 21 Zak Osman  MJS Racing
4. 3 Joe Hayward Halesowen A & CC
5. 22 Tom Biddle Redditch R & PCC
6. 34 Ryan Marshall Halesowen A & CC
  
Freewheelers  Block Handicaps  
1. 25 Matthew Shaw Solihull CC
2. 22 Tom Biddle Redditch R & P CC
3. 30 Harvey Wordsworth Halesowen A & CC
4. 29 Ben Sherman Solihull CC
5. 7 Joe Feiven Halesowen A & CC
6. 21 Zak Osman MJS Racing
  
1. 35 Lucas Tselepis Halesowen A&CC
2. 15 Jack Higginbotham Halesowen A&CC
3. 19 Madelaine Lord Halesowen A&CC
4. 26 Danny Fox Solihull CC
5. 8 Chris Roberts Halesowen A&CC
6. 9 Nicole Bailey Halesowen A&CC
  
Freewheelers B handicap  
1. 2 Tom Hayward Halesowen A & CC
2. 27 Connor Fox Solihull CC
3. 3 Joe Hayward Halesowen A & CC
4. 25 Matthew Shaw Solihull CC
5. 5 Jake Phillips Halesowen A & CC
6. 22 Tom Biddle Redditch R & P CC
  
Freewheelers A Devil  
1. 1 Alex Watton Halesowen A & CC
2. 26 Danny Fox Solihull CC
3. 9 Nicole Bailey Halesowen A & CC
4. 35 Lucas Tselepis Halesowen A & CC
5. 31 Zak Mountford Solihull CC
6. 8 Chris Roberts Halesowen A & CC
  
Freewheelers  410 Dash  
Heat 1  
1. 1 Alex Watton Halesowen A & CC
2. 9 Nicole Bailey Halesowen A & CC
3. 31 Zak Mountford Solihull CC
4. 15 Jack Higginbotham Halesowen A & CC
5. 26 Danny Fox Solihull CC
6. 29 Ben Sherman Solihull CC
  
Heat 2  
1. 8 Chris Roberts Halesowen A & CC
2. 19 Madelaine Lord Halesowen A & CC
3. 23 Cameron Biddle Redditch r & P C
4. 35 Lucas Tselepis Halesowen A & CC
5. 20 Rebecca Lord Halesowen A & CC
6. 32 Zak Mountford Solihull CC
  
Heat 3  
1. 24 Lucy Shaw Solihull CC
2. 7 Joe Feiven Halesowen A & CC
3. 28 Natalie Clements Solihull CC
4. 30 Harvey Wordsworth Solihull CC
5. 33 Jordan Sharples Halesowen A & CC
6. 5 Jake Phillips Halesowen A & CC
  
Heat 4  
1. 25 Matthew Shaw Solihull CC
2. 2 Tom Hayward Halesowen A & CC
3. 3 Joe Hayward Halesowen A & CC
4. 21 Zak Osman MJS Racing
5. 22 Cameron Biddle Redditch R & P CC
6. 27 Connor Fox Solihull CC

Open  Course de Prime   
1. Adam Duggleby Private Member 8
2. Dom Jelfs MJS Racing 4
3. Steve Clayton Lichfield City CC 3
4. Richard Prince VC St Raphael 2
5. John Mcclelland Agiskoviner 1
6. Jack Kirk Wyre ForestCRC 1
7. James McCallum PCA Ciclos Uno 1
   
Open Mile Final   
1. Luc Jones Brooks Cycles 2.23.70
2. Jack Hibberd MJS Racing
3. Ben Elliott VC St Raphael
4. Dom Jelfs MJS Racing
5. Andrew Tranter Halesowen A & CC
6. Thomas Gregory Halesowen A & CC
7. Adam Duggleby Private Member
8.| Chris Richardson Agiskoviner
   
Open Danish Pursuit   
1. Richard Prince VC St Raphael 47
2. Adam Duggleby Private Member 37
3. Ian Cooper VC St Raphael 22
4. Jeff Snodin Go Sports Spex RT 21
5. Tom Wieckowski Halesowen A & CC 20
6. Dom Jelfs MJS Racing 18
7. Adrian Adgar Go Sports Spex RT 11
8. Matthew Bailey Halesowen A & CC 9
9. Jack Kirk Wyre Forest RT 8
10. Daniel Harris Halesowen A & CC 6