Angela Davies Memorial Road Race 2010
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Story posted May 5, 2010; thanks to Shelley Childs (Ystwyth CC)
Regarded by most as the toughest course in Wales for third and fourth category riders, the Angela Davies Memorial Road Race in Aberystwyth tested the metal of a full field of sixty riders over 50 miles on bank holiday Sunday. With a few previous winners in the starting line up, not to mention some former Welsh International riders, the standard was high for this National B event.
The host club provided eight starters, two of whom, namely Danny Thorogood and Gruff Lewis, got themselves in the main break of the day which also contained John Holt of Clwb Beicio Llyn, a prominent old school 1st category rider during the 1990’s. The break got away on the second climb of the fearsome 1 km New Row ascent which was tackled four times in all on the 13 mile circuit.
Whilst the break worked well on the flatlands, an untimely clash between Lewis and Thorogood left the former with a broken front wheel and a long wait for service. Holt put the hammer down on the third ascent leaving Thorogood in no mans land as the bunch upped the pace with Mark Hammond of Stourbridge Velo one of a handful of riders who were especially hard working in the pursuit of Holt.
As the twenty five survivors hit the last climb together, Holt’s brave effort was smothered on the first of three ramps which cruelly kicked up and required riders to jump through the gears on the 16% inclines. From the start of the climb, it was clear that fourth category rider Morten Sandvik was the strongest and he rode away from a frantic bunch to create a gap of a few seconds on a bunch which split half way up the climb, with the host clubs remaining riders all caught in the second group.
At the summit, there was a false flat of 500 metres to the line and Sandvik, of University of Bath CC extended his margin to 15 seconds for a fine victory. In the bunch sprint, former Welsh aces Barry Marples and Gareth Pugh edged out Hammond with Jerry Rayner of Somer Valley in fifth and Arwel Davies of Bynea CC 6th. In the dash for the Angela Davies prize for first Ystwyth CC rider, a four up sprint was won by Thorogood with Kevin Jones nipping Shelley Childs on the line for second place.
RESULTS
1. Morten Sandvik Uni of Bath CC 4 2:12:00
2. Barry Marples Ready2ride.co.uk 3 @15’
3. Gareth Pugh Cwmcarn Paragon 3 “
4. Mark Hammond Stourbridge Velo 3 “
5. Jerry Rayner Somer Valley 3 “
6. Arwel Davies Bynea CC 3 “
7. Richard Nelson Paramount CRT 3 “
8. Richard Seymour Ajax CC 3Jun “
9. Conor Ryan VC Montpellier 3 “
10. David Bees Forza Cycles 3 “
11. Kieron Davies Bynea CC 4 “
12. Chris Bates Bynea CC 3 “
13. Daniel Thorogood Ystwyth CC 4V @22’
14. Kevin Jones Ystwyth CC 4 “
15. Shelley Childs Ystwyth CC 3 “
16. Liam Sullivan Forza cycles 3V “
17. Andrew Hunt Ystwyth CC 3 “
18. John Holt Clwb Beicio Llyn 3 @41’
19. Steven Bennett Acme Wheelers 3 @55’
20. David Jackson GB Fire Service FSSAA 3 “
21. Dewi Hughes Ystwyth CC 3 @1:02
22. Guy Stevens Abergavenny 3 “
23. David Finn Newport Olympic 4V @1:17
24. Rob Powell Team VC 3 @1:19
25. Justin Harcourt Bynea CC 4 @1:30
26. Des Devlin Acme Wheelers 4 @3:45
27. Gruffudd Lewis Ystwyth CC 4 @4:40
28. Meirion Davies Clwb Egni 3 “
29. Luigi Baccerini Energy Cycles 4 @5:19
30. Peter Windsor Clwb Beicio Llyn 4V @7:18
31. Arwel Jones Ystwyth CC 4 @9:51
32. Bevan Humphreys Bynea CC 4 @10:49
33. Neil Cox Abergavenny RC 3 “
34. Jonathan Webb Abergavenny RC 4 @11:14
35. Mark Delafield Paramount CRT 4V “
36. Ben Jenkins CC Abergavenny 4 “
37. Wayne Parry Owen Energy Cycles 4 @11:18
38. Michael O’Neil Merthyr CC 3 @11:34
39. Matthew Vernon Energy Cycles 4 @16:40
40. Robert Evans BC Private Member 3Jun “
41. Martin Wright Army CU 4 @18:30
42. Steffan Jones Clwb Beicio Llyn 4V @20:55
43. Andy Starr Ystwyth CC 4 @25:00
