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Tom Hawkins Memorial Road Race

Story posted March 21; Aylesbeare (Devon), by Ann Owens

Jules Birks powers away from his rivals to win the Tom Hawkin memorial Road Race. Photos Ann Owens

This early season Exeter Wheelers promotion usually develops into a tough race and this year was no exception with the Devon roads proving more challenging than ever. The pot holes were making life tricky for all with several likely contenders for victory suffering punctures and broken spokes early on and never regaining the bunch.

The race was fast and furious with the full field seeing attacks and counter attacks from very early on in the race but by the second lap, there was a strong leading group of twenty two riders which steadily pulled away each lap on the hill.

Eventual winner, Jules Birks (VC Londres) had also suffered an early puncture but was lucky to get a swift wheel change and his local knowledge of the roads meant he was confident of taking the long sprint at the finishing hill  and so it proved as he won from Richard Oram (Revo Racing) and Jeremy Addis (VC Montpelier) 

RESULT
1.  Jules Birks,  V C Londres
2.  Richard Oram, Revo Racing
3.  Jeremy Addis, V C Montpelier
4.  Andrew Parker, Mid Devon CC
5.  Karl Hine, Unattached
6.  Will Honrby,  South Hams