Report: Peter Rigby Memorial Road Race

Event: 18th April 2010, Fareham, Hampshire

Report and Images: Graham Robins

Today’s race was held on a course being used for the first time, and it was very well acclaimed by all the riders and officials. The change of course was needed because of the poor condition of the original course due to the winter’s weather ripping large pot holes all round the original route.

The race organiser Neil Dayus had attracted a strong sixty strong field to compete on this fifty mile National B Road Race over the Hundred Acre Road course which was a rolling course where the riders passed through the climb nine times. After the two mile neutralised run out from the HQ, the race turned right to start the race and it wasn’t long before the first attack came from Jon Norton (Inverse Racing/ Bikefood) who was away for most of the first lap and a little bit of the next before being joined by Rupert Silman (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers).

These two riders stayed away together for most of a lap before being joined by Peter Giddings (VC Walcot). The next couple of laps the race was all together due mainly to the locals trying to join the race with first a car causing a crash and a horse rider being in the wrong place at the wrong time and then the local vicar leaving the church in the middle of the bunch.

All the incidents were quickly managed by the NEG riders who between them done a great job throughout the race. After race got going again on the sixth lap Jon Norton thought he would have another go at getting away, but with the bunch refreshed from the slow section they soon pulled him back. Then on the next lap another horse incident caused a break in the bunch and Mike Kiss (Private Member) and Peter Bolke (DHCyclesport.co.uk) got away and at one point had a gap of twenty seconds.

These two riders managed to stay away for another half lap before being pulled back by the field as they took the bell. As the bunch rolled through line with the bell ringing in their ears Eamonn Deane (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) decided to attack, but as he said at the end he “didn’t quite have the legs to stay away but it was worth a go.” With race on the back of the course the large crowd of friends and spectators on the finish line eagerly awaited the arrival of the riders. As they came into view over the little rise it was Jerry Rayner (Somer Valley) who sprinted away from the bunch to finish clear of Peter Giddings (VC Walcot) who in turn pulled out a little gap over third place man Michael Thelwell (Cult Racing).

RESULT

1 Jerry RAYNER Somer Valley CC
2 Peter GIDDINGS VC Walcot
3 Michael THELWELL Cult Racing
4 James COTTY Wheelbase.co.uk / Cannondale
5 David LADKIN Kingston Wheelers CC
6 Michael CORK Southdown Velo / Geared Bikes / Hunter Springs
7 Eamonn DEANE Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers CC 
8 Mike KISS British Cycling Private Member
9 Graham WYATT Velocity Bikes CC
10 Gordon KENNEWAY London Dynamo / Prologue
11 Peter HUTCHINSON Corinium CC
12 Gavin MORTON Charlotteville CC
13 Godric HALL British Cycling Private Member
14 Peter BOLKE DHCyclesport.co.uk/Colnago
15 Josh STEWART Velocity Bikes CC
16 Jon NOTON Inverse Racing/ Bikefood
17 Richard STANNARD Sigma Sport - Specialized RT
18 James CARTRIDGE Inverse Racing/ Bikefood
19 Duncan MORGAN Brighton Mitre CC
20 Stephen CRUTCHER Off Camber
21 Mike EDWARDS Corinium CC
22 David DALTON Fareham Wheelers CC
23 Ashley MORRIS Fareham Wheelers CC
24 Steve YATES Corinium CC
25 Ed ROBINSON Kingston Wheelers CC
26 Iain STANTON Bath CC
27 Mark WARRINGTON Southdown Velo / Geared Bikes / Hunter Springs
28 Gavin MITCHELL Twickenham CC
29 Emma DAVIS Sigma Sport - Specialized RT
30 Paul REDMAN Thames Velo
31 Brian PARRY Swindon Road Club
32 James WASLEY Kingston Wheelers CC
33 Joshua BUTTERICK Charlotteville CC
34 Andrew ROOK i-Team Cyclist's Club
35 Lee MEAD VC Meudon
36 Richard BURCH Sotonia CC
36 Charlie ELSEY Newbury Road Club
38 James COOPER Sotonia CC
38 Richard CLEWES Swindon Wheelers
38 Martin PORTER Thames Velo
38 Paul WALSINGHAM Kingston Wheelers CC
38 Andrew McCOMBE CC Basingstoke / Wella
38 Roger SKERRY Fareham Wheelers CC
44 Willy HILL DHCyclesport.co.uk/Colnago
44 Matthew BLACKMORE Bristol Road Club