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WXCRL Bournemouth Arrow Road Race 2010

Saturday, September 17, 2010 | Report & photos Gordon Skillen

Richard Horton managed one better than his second place last week with a solo breakaway win in this Saturday’s Bournemouth Arrow Road Race. Organising club Bournemouth Arrow, had done well mustering a full quota of marshals and was rewarded with some wonderful late summer weather. Entries were disappointing, with only 24 riders signing on but then a race on the same course in the wind and rain in March will be fully subscribed while a race on a bright, sunny day in September will struggle for entries.

Even those that turned up were complaining of burnout. Roland Tilley (Ride UK), who is fighting for the league overall with Andy Rivett (VC Raphael) was still suffering from the mountain bike championships last weekend. Many others were suffering stiff legs and took a while to get going, as the field rolled out for the first lap.

Eamonn Deane (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) was not one of them. He attacked on the hill out of Horton village along with Robert Cranstone (Royal Navy and Royal Marines CA). However the field had other ideas and they were soon caught. An attack by Roland Tilley (Ride) on the next lap received the same treatment – there was no way Andy Rivett was letting him out of his sight.

On lap three, Eamonn tried again, attacking on the hill and taking Matthew Connor of Banjo Cycles with him. For a while it looked like they were away, pulling out a minutes gap but a concerted effort by a group of six riding through-and-off on the front of the bunch slowly dragged them back over the course of the next two laps. A third group, meanwhile, was happily sitting in at this stage in proceedings but more on them later.

If there were prizes awarded for attacking then Eamonn Deane would have been the easy winner for, no sooner had he and Matthew Connor been caught, than he went away again, spending a further lap riding about five seconds ahead of the bunch. He was caught on the penultimate lap and at this moment, his club mate Richard Horton made his move.

The 18 year old Bournemouth Jubilee rider had been quietly hiding in the bunch, experimenting with his new tactic of not attacking repeatedly. He made his move with a lap and a half to go and had pulled out a full minutes lead. Behind him, the bunch was more concerned with each other. Roland Tilley did a lot of chasing. Eamonn Deane, understandably, didn’t and Richard remained over a minute up as he turned into the finishing straight. He was delighted to take the win, having found some good form in the late season and was suddenly confronted with the question of how to get to tomorrow’s race in the new forest to continue his winning streak.

A minute later, Tom Marshall of Chippenham and District Wheelers, took second place a few lengths ahead of the chasing pack, with James Jones of Beeline leading in the bunch sprint in third. Andy Rivett (VC St Raphael) came in fourth with Jon Marchini of OUCC splitting Andy from his arch rival Roland Tilley of Ride UK. Chris Roxburgh of Tor 2000 was seventh, inspired by his ride to Glastonbury to see the Tour of Britain, while Shane Pope of Swindon RC was eighth.

Grant Grant (we’re assuming that’s not a typo, it’s how it was written on his licence) was ninth and Neil Wass of Anders TMG Horizon was tenth. Now the series moves on to Appelmore in the New Forest for tomorrow’s Heath Road Race, where Roland Tilley and Andy Rivett will have their final battle for the overall title.

Provisional Result

1. Richard Horton Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 1:56:03
2. Thomas Marshall Chippenham & Dist Wheelers @1min 3secs
3. James Jones Beeline Bicycles RT @st
4. Andy Rivett VC St Raphael @st
5. Jonathan Marchini OUCC @st
6. Roland Tilley Ride Team @st
7. Chris Roxburgh Team Tor 2000 @st
8. Shane Pope Swindon RC @ST
9. Grant Grant N/A @st
10. Neil Wass Andres TMG Horizon @st