The final round of the inaugural Pedalpushers race series was promoted by Spalding CC at RAF Barkston Heath on Sunday 9 September 2012.
After being cancelled earlier in the year the Youth races also incorporated the East Midland Youth championships
Under 12
In the under 12’s Jack Ford (Wakefield Junior Tri) won in his usual dominant fashion breaking away early and time trialling his way to a solo victory. Second and East Mids champion was Matt Ellis (Spalding CC) with Oliver Snodden (Sherwood Pines) third.
Under 14
The U14 was a closely fought race with the first half of the race ridden in a bunch. However as the race progressed, the top four positions edged away with riders working in pairs in order to stay out in the front. Reece Wood (Aire Valley) and Oliver Peckover (Nottingham Clarion) were the lead pair who were chased hard by Josh Waters (Mercai HBM) and Will Gascoigne
As the race progressed Wood and Peckover pulled out a comfortable lead over the third and fourth placed riders who in turn had gained a useful lead from the fifth placed rider and the rest of the chasing pack. These positions were maintained through to the finish line where Wood won a tight sprint but Peckover took the East Mids championships, a double for the Clarion as Joni Wildman won the girls U14 race
Under 16
Leon Gledhill (BBM Revolution) went off the front very early on but his lead was pegged back by the chasing Tom Weeds (Derby Mercury) Karl Baillie (Witham Whs) and Harry Crew (Derby Mercury)who bridged the gap at the half way stage in the race. These four riders enjoyed a cat and mouse last lap with Gledhills early courage being rewarded winning the sprint from Weeds, Baillie and Crew. With Weeds the East MIds Champion. Sian Botteley (Bournes Whs) winning the girls event.
Ladies and cat 4
In the men’s race, the riders stayed in a large bunch for much of the race clearly deciding it was better to shelter from the wind that was growing stronger throughout the day. There were one or two small attacks from a view brave riders but nothing stuck!
Eventually, somebody was bound to make a concerted attack and it came from Andrew Willett (Sherwood Pines) but he was chased down by two other riders and the three managed to eke out a small gap from the rest of the field. After a few laps the break fell apart and despite several further attempts no one managed to establish a significant lead and it came down to a big bunch sprint won comfortably by James Peckover (Nottingham Clarion) from Willett and Michael Adlington (VC Lincoln.
The ladies race saw a small bunch start 30 seconds behind the 4th cats, Charlotte Colclough (For Viored) went for a lone break early on and established a good gap. However the rest of Ladies were caught by the 4th cat bunch and Amelia Cambridge took advantage of this to catch Colclough and finish in front of her in the final bunch sprint.
2/3/4/cat
There was an break by James Cambridge (I-Ride) on lap one, Peter Cocker (Witham Whs) was the only rider to bridge the gap and they worked together to quickly establish a comfortable lead. Several riders including Robert Watkinson (Doncaster Whs) broke from the front of the main group and tried to get across, but in the windy conditions no one else could close the gap. There were one or two attacks from the peloton including a strong effort by Spalding rider Adam Ellis which strung the bunch out.
At the halfway stage, Cambridge and Cocker had established a half a lap lead to the main field and by the three quarter distance their lead was beginning to look invincible. As the main group began to fragment, Watkinson attacked again and managed to gain a comfortable gap to the rest of the pack.
In the closing stages, with the leaders testing each other out Watkinson nearly bridged the gap, but after over an hour racing together, the race was decided in a final lap sprint won by Cambridge from Cocker as they lapped the remnants of the bunch yards before the finish line, causing the inevitable confusion for the judges.
This concluded the six event Pedalpushers series which has been well received locally and achieved its aim of providing regular races throughout the season, particularly for youth riders who previously had few racing opportunities on the Lincolnshire side of the division. It is hoped to have a presentation to the various category winners in the next few weeks.
