Report: EWCC Crits
19 youth riders and 26 seniors took to the line in 3 circuit races on Saturday night as a precursor to Sunday's Dartmoor Classic.
The deceptively tricky circuit in Kingsteignton was made more difficult by the extremely hot and humid conditions, but all the competitors, including the younger junior age groups were clearly giving it maximum effort.
The under 14 and under 16 combined race on the 1 kilometre loop produced a dramatic finish when Jonathon Aske, who together with mid-Devon teammate Tom Dracup had lapped the field, crashed on the final corner before getting up to take second place.
The senior event saw a furious pace from gun to tape, with the field starting to split even on the first lap under the intense pressure from the head of the race. By halfway a significant break had formed, with Graeme Lackford and John Hollier (Pendragon Kalas), former British junior champion Pete Johnson (Tor 2000), John Williams (Cwmbran Paragon) and Paul Caton (Verulam CC) driving relentlessly.
Close behind, with the riders strung out over 100 metres, the struggle to stay in touch led to Dave Hooper (DHCYCLESPORT.CO.UK) crashing out heavily on the back of the course after touching a barrier, luckily avoided by the rest of the chasers. After a lap out, he rejoined to eventually finish in the top 10. With three laps to go Lackford attacked and gapped his breakaway companions, the four becoming three as Caton was tailed off under the pressure.
Despite the efforts of Williams and Johnstone to pull him back he had a few seconds gap at the bell and maintained it to the line for a well deserved victory. Williams took second after running hugely wide in the last corner, whilst comeback man Johnston took his third podium place in a week finishing just behind.
