Bulstrode & James On Top in the Rain

Wind a showery rain greeted the riders at Barnsfield for the second event of the series. The venue had been used during the week and parts of the course were quite muddy, with a lot of standing water at the side of the course and the riders looked like had completed a Cyclo-cross race by the end.

The 3/4race got underway in the dry but rain was never far away, and as the group rolled through finish line on the first lap they were all together. Then the attacks started, with Mark Hardwick (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) and James Brett (Wightlink RT) managing to get a gap and maintain it for a couple of laps.

By the fourth lap the group managed to pull back the two escapees, but two laps later the two jumped away again, only to be hauled back again a lap later. As the group headed towards the bell a small group of four had a gap and seemed to be pulling away.

As the four turned towards the finish Steven James (Pedal On) had the legs and eased away from Phillip Adkins (Strada Cycles), who in turn had pulled away from Gregg Shrosbree (Merida UK)

Provisional Result
1st Steven James (Pedal On)
2nd Phillip Adkins (Strada Cycles)
3rd Gregg Shrosbree (Merida UK)
4th Peter Wilson (Sotonia)

The E/1/2 race seemed to have the worst of the weather, with the heavy drizzle through most of the race. A small but elite group of riders rolled out from the start, but the two riders from DHCyclesport seemed to be on a mission. Harry Bulstrode and Andy Bryson soon opened up a large gap, with the chasing bunch rolling along at a fast pace. The twp team mates stayed away for nearly five laps before being caught.

After a lap and a half James Smith (Probikekit.com) managed to get away, but on his own he soon was pulled back. Then on the next lap James attacked again, this time with Stuart Bowers (Hargroves cycles)

With just a couple of laps to go Steve Dring (Team Echelon - Spiuk) and Harry Bulstrode (DHC) had jumped across the make a group of four. With Harrys' team mate Andy controlling the bunch it was down to Harry to take the win. Harry decided to take out the win from 800 meters out but he very nearly miss judged his strength. With Steve Dring tiring Harry pulled away to take his first win as an elite rider and his first win since 2007. With Andy on the front of the bunch for most of a lap, he was rewarded with a fifth place.

Provisional Result
1st Harry Bulstrode (DHCyclesport/Colnago)
2nd Steve Dring (Team Echelon-Spiuk)
3rd James Smith (Probikekit.com)
4th Stuart Bowers (Hargroves Cycles)
5th Andy Bryson (DHCyclesport/Colnago)