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Behind the Bikeheds New Year's Revolution

Sunday, January 2nd, Wessex League Round 12 | by

Held at the Thruxton Motor Racing circuit just to the west of Andover in Hampshire, the Behind the Bikeheds New Year's Revolution saw the riders racing in  positively barmy temperatures of -1 although it did manage to warm up a little around mid-day. The course was set out in a grassy field and was very different to the course used at the venue in November.

The mornings racing got underway with the Under 12’s, a large entry of enthusiastic group of young riders soon spread out around the shortened course. First away was Edward Gronbech (Oxford RC) and it was he who took a commanding win with the nearest rival to him almost half a lap down. Next was the Youth race and again a large entry saw many riders making light work of the technical twisty course devoid of natural obstacles and a wooded section.

Right from the start it was Matt Hargroves (Hargroves Cycles) along with teammate Harvey Lowe and Matt Woods (Swindon RC) who had started strong along with   Jason Pitt (Palmer Park Velo) making a good start. Next up was Robbie Bolwell (Team Wight Mountain), but he was by now a little off the pace.

With Matt now building a good lead, it was left to Harvey to marshal Matt Woods for a couple of laps until Harvey broke free but by now Matt Hargroves was well clear. Behind the leaders, Jack Netherwood (1st Gear Cycles) had got on to the wheel of Robbie but the two young riders were unable to catch Jason who was now stuck in no mans land between the leaders and the chasers.

Matt Woods then closed in on Harvey with a couple of laps to go and soon passed him and set about chasing down the Hargroves rider in front. Matt Hargroves, now with a clear lead could see across the course as it zigzagged back and forth and it was him that took the win well clear of the chasers.

Provisional Result
1. Matt Hargroves Hargroves Cycles
2. Matt Woods Swindon RC
3. Harvey Lowe Hargroves Cycles
4. Jason Pitt Palmer Park Velo
5. Jack Netherwood 1st Gear Cycles
1st Girl Zoe Sheehan Swindon RC 

The next race was the Vet/Women’s/Junior race. Right from the start it was junior rider Luke Cowley (Swindon RC) who pulled away from vet rider Sean Williams (Wightlink) who soon had Dave McMullen and Anthony Green (GA Cycles) for company. On the next lap, with Luke in the lead and Sean now away, it was left to Dave McMullen(Evans Cycles) to be joined by Malcolm Cross (Hargroves Cycles) and Team mate Gary Clarke.

Climbing through the field was Rob Tutt and Andy Smith (Swindon RC), along with Kevin Blann (Team Rose Blann). The leading woman was Hannah Bowers (Team Mulebar Girls) ahead of Karen Murphy (Wight Mountain). With the laps ticking away, it was Luke well ahead of Sean who in turn was well clear of the race for third which was lead by Dave McMullen now clear from Anthony Green and Malcolm Cross.

Provisional Result
1st Luke Cowley Swindon RC and 1st Junior
2nd Sean Williams Wightlink/offshore RT and 1st Vet
3rd Dave McMullen Evans Cycles
4th Anthony Green GA Cycles
5th Malcolm Cross Hargroves Cycles
1st Women Hannah Bowers Team Mulebar Girls

Elites
The final race of the day saw former National Champion Jody Crawforth (Hargroves Cycles) fine tuning his training ahead of next week’s Nationals in Derby. Being a guest rider in the race, Jody was gridded on the second row behind other Wessex League regulars, not that that mattered after the first half lap.
 
Within that first lap, Jody was joined by team mate Stuart Bowers and Adrain Lansley (Pedal On). On the twisty infield, with Adrian in the lead, he was brought down by Stuart who slipped on a tight turn as he tried to put the power down too quickly. Jody squeezed by to take the lead but once the two fallen riders had got back up, they were soon back on the wheel of Jody.

Behind the leaders, were team mates Andy Hargroves and Matt MacDonald (Hargroves Cycles), Michael Cotty (Wheelbase/ Cannondale), Sam Allen (AW Cycles) who in turn had Rob McCarthy (VC Meudon) just behind him. Another rider managing to lose contact with his bike was Michael Cotty, and although he lost a couple of places, he soon got up and set about making up the time lost. Other riders near the front were Karl Norfolk and Nick Onslow (PedalOn) and Peter Kench (Team GWR).

With three laps down, the lead was still being contested by Jody, Stewart and Adrain with Andy now slipping away and Matt dropping off Andy’s wheel who in turn now had a fired up Michael to contend with. After half way, Jody attacked and soon had a gap over Stewart who in turn pulled away from Adrain. Michael was now running ahead of Matt with Andy just ahead of them. Rob pulled up complaining of exhaustion from over training and Sam went past along with Karl and Peter Kench.

The win was now in Jody’s sights as he pushed a little harder to get away from Stuart, who in turn finished well clear of Adrian.

Provisional Result
1st Jody Crawforth Hargroves Cycles
2nd Stuart Bowers Hargroves Cycles
3rd Adrian Lansley PedalOn
4th Andy Hargroves Hargroves Cycles
5th Matt MacDonald Hargroves Cycles
6th Michael Cotty Wheelbase/Cannondale

Full Results

Senior

1 Jody Crawforth Hargroves Cycles S 55.33
2 Stu Bowers Hargroves Cycles S 0.04
3 Adrian Lansley Pedal On S 1.01
4 Michael Cotty Wheelbase S 2.43
5 Andy Hargroves Hargroves Cycles S 2.43
6 Matt MacDonald Hargroves Cycles S 4.88
7 Sam Allen AW Cycles S 5.10
8 Peter Kench GWR Team S 5.12
9 Karl Norfolk Pedal On S 5.20
10 Phil Hersey Eagle RC S 6.00
11 Nick Onslow Pedal On S 1 Lap
12 James Cotty Wheelbase S 1 Lap
13 Robin Wilmott GA Cycles S 1 Lap
14 Andy Powell Hargroves Cycles S 1 Lap
15 Steve Bale Reading CC S 1 Lap
16 Rowan Horner Behind The Bikeshed S 2 Laps
17 Jason Blann Team Rose Blann S 2 Laps
18 Jamie Shearer Andover Wheelers S 2 Laps
19 Steve Clarke AW Cycles S 3 Laps
Dan Smith GWR Team S DNF
Martin McCrossan S DNF
Robert McCarthy VC Meudon S DNF
Jon Wickham S DNF
Simon Parton Kingston Wheelers S DNF

Junior, Vet and Women

1 Luke Cowley Swindon RC J 48.30
2 Sean Williams Wightlink/Offshore V40 0.28
3 Dave McMullen Evans Cycles V50 1.33
4 Anthony Green GA Cycles V45 3.08
5 Malc Cross Hargroves V50 3.52
6 Andy Roberts Evans Cycles V55 3.57
7 Garry Clarke Hargroves V40 4.30
8 Peter Bolke North Hants RC V45 5.34
9 Tim Costello Southdown Velo V45 5.51
10 William Macke Palmer Park Velo J 6.01
11 Anthony Dyment North Hants RC V 6.10
12 Kevin Blann Team Rose Blann V45 1 Lap
13 Nigel Page Swindon RC V40 1 Lap
14 Ray Robinson Team Rose Blann V45 1 Lap
15 Andy Smith Swindon RC V45 1 Lap
16 Martyn Dymond New Forest CC V45 1 Lap
17 Graham Childs Hargroves V40 1 Lap
18 Hannah Bowers Cannondale UK W 1 Lap
19 Robert Tutt GS Europa V45 1 Lap
20 S. Grace GA Cycles V50 1 Lap
21 Steve Robinson North Hants RC V45 1 Lap
22 Jonathan Thomas SWRC Evans V50 1 Lap
23 Simon Hall Andover Wheelers V40 1 Lap
24 Steve Dines Wight Mountain V 1 Lap
25 Pete Warwick CDPCC V 1 Lap
26 Gareth Walker Swindon RC V40 1 Lap
27 Natalia Wase Dirt Divas W 2 Laps
28 Nick Druce Didcot Phoenix V40 2 Laps
29 Nick Adnitt Andover Wheelers V50 2 Laps
30 Alan Starsmeare East Grinstead CC V50 2 Laps
31 David Woods Swindon RC V50 2 Laps
32 Vernon Moore Crabwood CC V55 2 Laps
33 Paul Siebert North Hants RC V50 2 Laps
34 Murray Quimey VC Meudon V45 2 Laps
35 Graham Hurst Poole Wheelers V 2 Laps
36 Steve Freeman North Hants RC V 2 Laps
37 Karen Murphy Wight Mountain W 2 Laps
38 Martin Ward Sotonia CC V60 2 Laps
39 Paul Robinson Behind The Bikeshed V40 2 Laps
40 Jan Labrooy Behind The Bikeshed V 2 Laps
41 Martin Hudson Andover Wheelers V55 3 Laps
42 John Burton Poole Wheelers V50 3 Laps
43 Nicky Volley Wight Mountain W 3 Laps
Phill Chinn Fareham Wheelers V45 DNF

Youth

1 Matt Hargroves Hargroves Cycles U16 25.47
2 Matt Woods Swindon RC U16 1.28
3 Harvey Lowe Hargroves Cycles U16 1.39
4 Jason Pitt PPV U16 3.21
5 Jack Netherwood 1st Gear Cycles U16 3.47
6 Rob Bolwell Wight Mountain U16 4.00
7 Leon Mander Chapel Tri-stars U16 5.26
8 Jack Phillips Banjo Cycles U14 5.38
9 Jack Saunders Swindon RC U14 7.23
10 Tom Sewell Swindon RC U14 1 Lap
11 Zoe Sheehan Swindon RC U14 1 Lap
12 Megan Lewis VC Jubilee U14 1 Lap
13 Kerrie Hutchinson Swindon RC U16 1 Lap
14 Hazell Jowett Chapel Tri-stars U16 1 Lap
15 Katie Metalli BCDS U16 1 Lap
16 Rhianna Jones Swindon RC U14 1 Lap
17 Lili McLean Andover Wheelers U16 1 Lap
18 Ciara Hutchinson Swindon RC U14 2 Laps
19 Susannah Moore Swindon RC U14 2 Laps
20 Lucy Burrows Poole Wheelers U14 2 Laps
21 Marcus Jones Swindon RC U14 2 Laps
22 Louis Hatchett Harrow Way School U16 2 Laps
23 Jack Baugh Harrow Way School U14 2 Laps
Matt Fowler Swindon RC U16 DNF
Kieran Forwood Harrow Way School U14 DNF

U12

1 Edward Gronbech Oxford City RC U12
2 Emma Pitt PPV U12
3 Erin Baker Southdown Velo U12
4 Bethany Lewis VC Jubilee U12
5 Ryan Hodgkyns Poole Wheelers U10
6 Alderney Baker Southdown Velo U10
7 Jay Allen PPV U10
8 Rebecaa Hurst Poole Wheelers U12
9 Conor Hutchinson Swindon RC U10
10 Luke Morgan Swindon RC U10
11 Lewis Jones Swindon RC U8
12 Ellis Jones Swindon RC U8
13 Natalie Moore Swindon RC U10
14 Alexandra Burrows Poole Wheelers U8