Peter Williams (Node4-Giordana) adds his name to the prestigious Howard Amos Trophy as winner of the 2012 Yorkshire Area Championships, held on the Sheriff Hutton circuit in North Yorkshire.
Lancastrian Williams, living in Skipton and holding a British Cycling Yorkshire licence attacked his breakaway companions on the final ascent of Bulmer Bank and soloed to a fine win in front of the appreciative Yorkshire crowd.
On paper the elite race of 80 miles was always going to be sewn up by the full time professional riders, with the likes of Williams, Tom Barras, James Sampson, Richard Hepworth and Tom Murray on the start sheet the rest of the field could be forgiven for thinking they were racing for the minor placings. But Williams and his training mates would not get it all their own way, with 2nd category riders David Shackleton (Wilsons Wheels) and Ben Kellett (VS Cycles) proving that good quality local riders can take on the pros.
The vicious one in five climb of Bulmer Bank sorted out all the contenders and on the first lap an escape group formed over the top of the climb. By the second lap that group had swollen to 12 riders which included, Kit Gilham, Tom Stewart, Jamie Burgan, Jamie Shirlaw, Ashley Brown, Peter Williams, Tom Murray, Richard Hepworth, Jack Cutsforth, David Shackleton, Dan Storey and Ben Kellett.
James Sampson (Node4 Giordana) was a notable absentee from the lead group and along with Nick Armitstead and Robert Watson Sampson was leading the chase from the main field.
The leading group was looking strong and the three Herbalife-Leisure Lakes riders Gilham, Cutsforth and Shirlaw were attempting to control things. With two laps to go it was Jamie Shirlaw leading over the climbs, and at the bell Shirlaw again put in an attack to try and distance himself. Peter Williams reacted and caught Shirlaw on the lower part of Bulmer Bank, immediately attacking and gapping him over the top. Shirlaw returned to the safety of the group but had missed his opportunity of a medal. Williams had gone and continued to solo his way to the finish claiming his gold medal by over a minute. Tom Murray led home the remnants of the leading group to collect silver with David Shackleton hot on his heels to get third.
In the junior race Joe Moses (Sportscover Altura RT) rode solo for three laps to win by over two minutes. Moses rode off the front from the gun and was soon joined by Connor Swift (Bike Box Alan/Whiston Velo) and Peter Barusevicus (VC Bradford/Pennine Cycles/Stella Azzurra) This trio stayed together for one lap but the pace was too hot for Barusevicus. Connor Swift held onto Moses for another lap but the strong Sportscover Altura rider from Keighley powered away on a solo journey to claim victory. Swift faded on the last lap to be swallowed up by the main bunch. Alex Orrell-Turner (VS Cycles) and Nicholas Barnes (www.zepnat.com RT/Kuota/GSG) claimed second and third places.
The masters race was not quite so eventful. The bunch left it to the last climb to decide the honours with Richard Binks (Clay Cross Road Team) sprinting for the win, with Richard Moore (Squadra RT) second and Paul Musgrave (Clifton CC York) in third.
The women’s race saw Iona Sewell (GB Cycles) ride to victory by over a minute from Charlotte Walton (VS Cycles), Heather Tuffs from nearby (Clifton CC) came home in third place.
British Cycling spoke to the elite race winner and runner up at Sheriff Hutton, Peter Williams: "I enjoyed that, it's good to get this win after the disappointment I've had in the last few weeks in the Premier Calendar races. I had to keep an eye on Jamie Shirlaw because he was looking strong on the climbs and coming through the finish at the bell he had a little dig.
“I was a bit worried about him because he's quite quick in a finish. Just before Bulmer Bank there's a short climb and Shirlaw went again there. I didn't want to give him any room and went across to him. On Bulmer Bank I just hit it and dropped him, I had a gap so committed over the top. I felt good and was confident I could hold them off to the finish. But the best thing about today is for me a Lancashire lad to beat my Yorkshire mate Tom Murray in the Yorkshire Champs."
Silver medal winner Tom Murray: "I'm disappointed with that, but I'm glad one of my best mates Pete Williams won it, we had the Herbalife guys working against us in that break, they had the numbers and were chasing everything down, I can't blame them for that, but I'm glad they didn't get the win or any of the medals. You know some of these local guys are very strong and everyone was working hard in that early break, we had to make sure they didn't steal a win from us, so if anyone other than me had to win I'm happy it was Pete."
Result
E123 Senior Race for the The Howard Amos Trophy
1. Peter Williams Node4 – Giordana Racing Elite – 80 miles in 3:12.07
2. Tom Murray Team IG – Sigma Sport Elite @ 1:16
3. David Shackleton Wilsons Wheels Race Team 2nd
4. Tom Stewart RST RT 1st
5. Jamie Shirlaw Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes.com 1st
6. Kit Gilham Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes.com Elite
7. Richard Hepworth Cycle Premier – Kovert Elite @ 1:57
8. Jamie Burgan Langsett Cycles RT 1st
9. Ashley Brown Sportscover Altura RT 2nd @ 2:06
10. Jack Cutsforth Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes.com 1st @ 2:51
11. Dan Storey RST RT 1st
12. James Sampson Node4 – Giordana Racing 1st @4:44
13. Steven Guymer Active/CPCycles RT 2nd @ 6:31
14. Matt Armitage VS Cycles 3rd @ 6:46
15. Alex Mitchell We Love Mountains Racing Team 2nd @ 7:51
16. Matthew Williams Team Hope Factory Racing 1st
17. Daniel Keena Squadra RT 3rd
18. Nicholas Latimer Rutland CC 3rd
19. Nick Rylance Wakefield CC 2nd
20. Mark Perry Dirtwheels Cycles 2nd
21. James Baillie Langsett Cycles RT 2nd
22. Danny Lowthorpe Langsett Cycles RT 2nd
23. Duncan Moralee Sportscover Altura RT 1st
24. John Tanner Sportscover Altura RT 1st
25. Jack Clarkson Team Hope Factory Racing 3rd
26. Robert Watson Paul Milnes/Bradford Olympic RC 1st
Juniors
1. Joseph Moses Sportscover Altura RT 2nd 55 miles in 2:31.56
2. Alex Orrell-Turner V S Cycles, Brighouse 3rd @ 2:06
3. Nicholas Barnes www.zepnat.com RT/Kuota/GSG 2nd
4. Ashley Proctor Sportscover Altura RT 2nd
5. Peter Barusevicus VC Bradford/Pennine Cycles/Stella Azzurra 2nd
6. Alastair Hepworth Batley Cycling Club 2nd
7. Jake Womersley Sportscover Altura RT 2nd
8. William Staveley Ferryhill Wheelers CC 3rd
9. Connor Swift Bike Box Alan/Whiston Velo 3rd
10. Jacob Trotter Hull Thursday RC 3rd
Masters
1. Richard Binks Clay Cross Road Team 2nd 55 miles in 2:34:02
2. Richard Moore Squadra RT 2nd
3. Paul Musgrave Clifton CC York 3rd
4. Tristan Emptage Crosstrax 3rd
5. Stephen Bottomley Crosstrax 3rd
6. Paul Bell Peak Road Club 2nd
7. Paul Dixon V S Cycles, Brighouse 3rd
8. Sean Smith Halifax Imperial Wheelers CC 3rd
9. Stephen Gibson Peak Road Club 2nd
10. Antony Goundry Active/CPCycles RT 4th
11. Barry Mordue Crosstrax 3rd
12. Richard Douthwaite Clifton CC 4th
13. Andrew Whitehead Stocksbridge CC 3rd
14. Andrew Richardson V S Cycles, Brighouse
15. John Askew Active/CPCycles RT 3rd
16. James Cullen Otley CC 3rd
17. Tim Howcroft Otley CC 4th
18. Mark Jacobi Peak Road Club 3rd
19. Darren Bendelow Clifton CC 3rd
20. Tony Grassby Peak Road Club 3rd
21. Alan Dawson Rutland CC 4th
22. John Wright Wakefield CC 3rd
23. Karl Downes Active/CPCycles RT 2nd
24. Martin Pitchford Scunthorpe Polytechnic CC 3rd
25. Mark Fidler Sheffrec CC 3rd
26. Neil Hendry Dirtwheels Cycles 3rd
27. Mark Sadler Huddersfield Star Whlrs
28. Craig Maude Rock Racing Team UK 3rd
29. Michael Page Royal Air Force CC 3rd
Women
1. Iona Sewell GB Cycles 34 miles in 1:44:22
2. Charlotte Walton (VS Cycles)
3. Heather Tuffs Clifton CC
4. Nikola Butler Vivelo Bikes
