Blackpool National Series Circuit Races
Blackpool - Saturday 3rd July 2010; Report and images by Andrew Kennedy.
British Cycling Women's Circuit Series and British Cycling Youth Circuit Series Races | Promoted by Cycling Development North West.
The sun was blazing as the Women and Youth riders descended on this world famous Lancashire holiday resort for the latest round of the British Cycling Women's and Youth Circuit series. With fish and chips, candy floss and Blackpool rock off the pre-race menu for the racing cyclists, they had to make do with gel bars and bananas as they warmed up on the superb promenade closed circuit. The Irish Sea provided a perfect shimmering backdrop but the riders soon discovered a fierce headwind and a savage climb with cobbles that had to be tackled every lap.
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(Joanna Rowsell, Sarah Byrne and Ryan Mullen)
Women's Race
Victory for Joanna Rowsell
Former world champion and record holder, Joanna Rowsell (BC Private) was on the start line of the Women's Circuit Race at Blackpool and we can only imagine how intimidating that must have been for the other girls. Part of the all dominating GB World Cup track squad, experienced international rider, podium places in National Road Races and still in her early 20's Rowsell would have been the bookies favourite if William Hill's had set their stall up on the prom. The other riders however didn't appear to be fazed by her presence such is the confidence these women have nowadays.
With the Blackpool sun still shining after a long hot day, the girls got off to a fairly sedate start. After two laps, Sarah Bryne (Motorpoint/Marshalls Pasta) put the hammer down on the climb leading to the cobbled section. Rowsell was quickly onto her and as they went over the top, they had opened a small gap. On the next lap, they were joined by Leanne Thompson (Vanillabikes.com). This small group worked very well together and increased their lead to about 25 seconds.
Junior Sarah King at the head of the chase.
The girls had either a strong headwind or fast tailwind and it was going to be the riders who could endure the conditions who would be the winners. Rowsell and Bryne were up to the task, powering into the headwind before attacking the short severe climb and taking full advantage of the tailwind section. Leanne Thompson began to have difficulty keeping up with Rowsell and eventually dropped back to the bunch.
Series leader Kara Chesworth (Dysynni CC) appeared to be the strongest rider in the chasing group leading up the climb on every lap, but they had no chance of catching the fast moving duo of Rowsell and Bryne. On the final climb, Rowsell stretched her young companion to near breaking point but still couldn't get rid of the Stoke on Trent rider. As they came into view of the finish they were side by side.
Bryne launched her final sprint and appeared to be pulling ahead, Rowsell was waiting for that move and was quickly onto the younger rider's wheel. In the final couple of hundred metres, Rowsell had the race in the bag. She had controlled the race from the first few laps and it was never in any doubt that her class and ability would prove to be too much for the other contenders.
Joanna Rowsell leads the peloton up the climb.
Youth Races
With racing starting at 10 am and a full programme throughout the day, the Youth B Boys kicked off proceedings with a very exciting race. Ben Chapman (Team Milton Keynes) was the winner from Fabio Close and Charlie Tanfield. The Youth A and B Girls had a hard fought race with Lucy Garner (Leicester RC) dominating the intermediate sprints and also taking the win in the A group. With younger sister Grace Garner (Leicester RC) keeping up the family tradition of racing fast and hard and winning the Girls B category race.
With many of the riders and parents in shock at the news of the tragic death earlier in the week of Leeds Youth rider Lewis Barry, the whole cycling community at Blackpool gathered on the start line of the Youth A Boys race to spend a few moments in quiet reflection. British Cycling representative Matthew Winston spoke to the group about Lewis before spontaneous applause broke out from the young riders in tribute to the memory of this extremely popular young man.
The Youth A Boys race promised to be the hi-light of the afternoon and as soon as the riders rolled off from the start line, they were whooping, shouting and screaming in what has become a bit of a weird craze in Youth racing. The first ascent of the climb soon shut them up and into the fast tailwind section on the upper promenade the race was strung out in a long line.
The first attack of the race proved to be crucial for Ryan Mullen (Planet X). Mullen started the attack and took a couple of riders with him. The reaction from behind was slow and the Mullen group established a lead of about 30 seconds. After a couple of laps the lead group was down to Mullen and Tom Arnstein (Velo Ecosse). The big loser was Sam Lowe (Raleigh Avanti) riding in the National Champs jersey. Lowe had missed the break and spent the next four laps trying to bridge across. He was making some headway when he lost his saddle and had to abandon on the insistence of the race commissaires.
Ryan Mullen was towing Tom Arnstein around the circuit and with four laps to go, and the chasers gaining ground, it was obvious Mullen would make better progress on his own. He attacked the Velo Ecosse rider on the climb and was then leading the race with a gap of 40 seconds. A chase group of four riders had formed including Dan Murphy, George Stevens, Jonathan Dibben and led by Harry Tanfield. This group caught Arnstein but with the race nearing it's finale, they had left it too late to catch Mullen.
On the bell lap, as Mullen crossed the line, he was encouraged by his father to keep going and not look back, but he was not going to be caught. His lead was still at about 40 seconds and he looked extremely strong. As Mullen came into view for the finish, he took time to have a look behind, straightened his Planet X jersey logo and enjoyed every second of his win as he crossed the line and took the applause from the crowd. Jonathan Dibben had broken away from the chasers to take 2nd place with Harry Tanfield winning the sprint for 3rd.
With many of the riders and parents in shock at the news of the tragic death earlier in the week of Leeds Youth rider Lewis Barry, the whole cycling community at Blackpool gathered on the start line of the Youth A Boys race to spend a few moments in quiet reflection.
A great day's racing in perfect conditions organised by the superb team from Cycling Development North West, Carlsberg don't organise bike races, but if they did...
Results
Women’s National Series
1 Joanna Rowsell Private Member
2 Sarah Byrne Motorpoint / Marshalls Pasta
3 Lucy Garner Leicestershire R.C.
4 Leanne Thompson Vanillabikes.com
5 Kara Chesworth Dysynni C.C.
6 Natalie Creswick Twickenham C.C.
7 Jane Barr Stirling B.C.
8 Alice Barnes Palmer Park Velo
9 Hannah Layland V.C. St. Raphael
10 Sarah King Langdale Lightweights R.T.
11 Hanna Barnes Motorpoint / Marshalls Pasta
12 Hannah Walker GS Surosa
13 Catherine Williamson Rapha Condor C.C.
14 Penny Rowson Horizon Fitness Team
15 Natalie Hill Hillingdon Slipstreamers
16 Hannah Shenton Paul Milnes Cycles R.T.
17 Helen Scott Halesowen A & C.C.
18 Rachel Przybylski Rapha Condor C.C.
19 Lucy Coldwell Dalbeattie Hardrock C.C.
20 Rebecca Womersley Sowerby Bros R.T.
21 Elizabeth Steel Pegasus
22 Katie Evans Wolverhampton Wheelers
Sprint 1
Kara Chesworth Dysynni C.C.
Jane Barr Stirling B.C.
Sarah King Langdale Lightweights R.T.
Hanna Barnes Motorpoint / Marshalls Pasta
Sprint 2
Joanna Rowsell Private Member
Sarah Byrne Motorpoint / Marshalls Pasta
Leanne Thompson Vanillabikes.com
Kara Chesworth Dysynni C.C.
Youth Series
Category A (Under 16) Boys
1 Ryan Mullen Planet X
2 Jonathan Dibben Hargroves cycles
3 Harry Tanfield Velo 29
4 Tom Arnstein Velo Ecosse
5 Daniel Murphy Team Keyne
6 George Stevens Halesowen A & C.C.
7 James Newey Litchfield City C.C.
8 Stuart McCluskey V.C. Glasgow South
9 Thomas Armstrong Ribble Valley Juniors
10 Chris Latham Sportcity Velo
11 James Locker Halesowen A & C.C.
12 Josh Penrice Sportcity Velo
13 Rob Westwood Cwmcarn Paragon
14 Alex Minting Planet - X
15 Zachery May Cardif Jif
16 Joe Kirkham V.C. Longeaton
17 Kieron Tennyson Heanor Clarion
18 Jacob Scott Holme Valley Wheelers
19 Daniel Pearson Port Talbot Wheelers
20 Luc Hall Team Kuota
21 Callum Ferguson Halesowen A & C.C.
22 Jacob Ragan Eastlands Velo
23 Christopher Lawless Sportcity Velo
24 Ollie Wood Aire Valley R.T.
25 Like Simpson Leeds St. Christopher C.C.
26 Sebastian Baylis 1st Chard Wheelers
27 Alistair Hepworth Batley C.C. / Hargroves Cycles
28 Jake Womersley Sowerby Brothers R.T.
29 Luke Cowley Swindon Road Club
Sprint 1
1 Ryan Mullen Planet X
2 Christopher Lawless Sportcity Velo
3 Sam Broughton Leicestershire Road Club
4 James Newey Litchfield City C.C.
1 Ryan Mullen Planet X
2 Tom Arnstein Velo Ecosse
3 Sam Lowe Raleigh Avanti R.T.
4 James Locker Halesowen A & C.C.
Category A (Under 16) Girls
1 Lucy Garner Leicestershire R.C.
2 Emily Kay Halesowen A. & C.C.
3 Emily Barnes Palmer Park Velo
4 Hannah Layland V.C. St. Raphael
5 Amy Hill Newport Velo Youth C.C.
6 Louise Borthwick Edinburgh C.C.
7 Eve Dixon Salt Ayre Cog Set
8 Natalie Hill Hillingdon Sliptreamers
9 Mellissa Bury Sportcity Velo
10 Jessie Walker Dinnington C.C.
11 Sarah Crowley Cardiff Ajax C.C.
12 Jessica Anderson Sportcity Velo
13 Keira McVitty Kings Cliffe Flyers
14 Rosie Blount Derby Mercury
Sprint 1
1 Lucy Garner Leicestershire R.C.
2 Emily Kay Halesowen A. & C.C.
3 Amy Hill Newport Velo Youth C.C.
4 Natalie Hill Hillingdon Sliptreamers
Sprint 2
1 Lucy Garner Leicestershire R.C.
2 Emily Kay Halesowen A. & C.C.
3 Hannah Layland V.C. St. Raphael
4 Amy Hill Newport Velo Youth C.C.
Category B (Under 14) Boys
1 Ben Chapman Team Milton Keynes
2 Fabio Close Sub7bikes.co.uk
3 Charlie Tanfield Velo 29
4 Tristan Robbins Newport Velo
5 Christian Braybrooke Sportcity Velo
6 Jack King Langdale Lightweights
7 Billy Harding Bradford Olympic/Paul Milnes Cycles
8 Max Nethell Cardiff Ajax C.C.
9 Leon Gledhill Holme Valley Wheelers
10 Joey Walker Dinnington C.C.
11 Robert Richardson Bolton Hotwheels C.C. @ 1 lap
12 Nathan Draper Team Royal London 360 IOM @ 1 lap
13 Sean McGovern Eastlands Velo @ 1 lap
14 Alexander Braybrooke Sportcity Velo @ 1 lap
15 Sam Turton Liverpool Mercury C.C. / Dolan @ 1 lap
16 Leon Mazzone Team Royal London 360 IOM @ 1 lap
17 Joseph Haddock Team Royal London 360 IOM @ 1 lap
18 Ryan Ellison Eastlands Velo @ 1 lap
19 Alexander Watton Halesowen @ 1 lap
20 Aaron Adamson Bolton Hotwheels C.C. @ 1 lap
21 Jacob Peatfield Bolton Hotwheels C.C. @ 1 lap
22 Matthew Worton Hetton Hawks @ 1 lap
Sprint 1
Max Nethell Cardiff Ajax C.C.
Fabio Close Sub7bikes.co.uk
Charlie Tanfield Velo 29
Christian Braybrooke Sportcity Velo
Sprint 2
Fabio Close Sub7bikes.co.uk
Ben Chapman Team Milton Keynes
Charlie Tanfield Velo 29
Tristan Robbins Newport Velo
Category B (Under 14) Girls
1. Garner Leicestershire R.C. 444266
2 Clare Gore Sportcity Velo
3 Lauren O'Brien Wakefield Junior Tri Club
4 Abby-Mae Parkinson Aire Valley R.T.
4 Paige Millward Lyme Racing Team
6 India Penrice Sportcity Velo @ 1 lap
7 Hannah Saville Norton Wheelers @ 2 laps
Sprint 1
1 Lauren O'Brien Wakefield Junior Tri Club
2 Grace Garner Leicestershire R.C.
3 Clare Gore Sportcity Velo
4 Paige Millward Lyme Racing Team
Sprint 2
1 Grace Garner Leicestershire R.C.
2 Lauren O'Brien Wakefield Junior Tri Club
3 Clare Gore Sportcity Velo
4 Abby-Mae Parkinson Aire Valley R.T.
Youth C (Under 12 Combined)
1 Charlotte Broughton Leicestershire Road Club
2 Reece Wood Air Valley R.T.
3 David Barnes Palmer Park Velo
4 Matthew Walls Eastlands Velo
5 Thomas Mein HettonHawks
6 Daniel Tulett Palmer Park Velo
7 Leighton Sharman Eastlands Velo
8 Archie Stewart Mossley CRT
9 Cameron Biddle Halesowen A & C.C.
10 Michael Moss Team Royal London 360 IOM
11 Adam Hartley BYCA
12 Jake Beach Air Valley R.T.
13 Harry Yates Lichfield C.C.
14 Joseph Armstrong Border City Wheelers
15 Tom Pidcock Aire Valley RT
16 Joseph Peatfield Bolton Hotwheels
17 Jonathan Wong Salt Ayre Cogset
18 Matthew Braybrooke Eastlands Velo
19 Emma Brady HettonHawks
20 Harry White Dinnington C.C.
21 Andrew Hathaway Bolton Hotwheels
22 Brett Nethell Maindy Flyers
Sprint 1
1 Charlotte Broughton Leicestershire Road Club
2 Reece Wood Air Valley R.T.
3 Matthew Walls Eastlands Velo
4 David Barnes Palmer Park Velo
Sprint 2
1 Reece Wood Air Valley R.T.
2 David Barnes Palmer Park Velo
3 Matthew Walls Eastlands Velo
4 Charlotte Broughton Leicestershire Road Club
Category D & E Combined
Category D
1 Matthew Shaw Solihull C.C.
2 Jack Ford Holme Valley Wheelers
3 William Draper Team Royal London 360 IOM
4 Ben Tulett Palmer Park Velo
5 Toby Tanfield Cleveland Wheelers
6 Mason Hollyman Sowerby Bros CRT
7 Solomon Kerfoot-Robson Rhos on Sea C.C.
8 Lewis Hartley BYCA
9 Kieran Morris Mid Shropshire Wheelers
10 Euan Cameron East Bradford C.C.
11 James Alexander Solihull C.C.
12 Dexter Sparrow BYCA
13 Samuel Rathbone BYCA
14 Anna Armstrong Border City Wheelers
15 Thomas Biddle Halesowen A & C.C.
16 Isaac Peatfield Bolton Hot Wheels
17 Jaun Kneen Team Royal London 360 IOM
18 Adam Scarfe Team Royal London 360 IOM
19 Felicity Gledhill Holme Valley Wheelers
20 Luke Shepherd BYCA
21 Joseph Rathbone BYCA
Sprint 1
1 Ben Tulett Palmer Park Velo
2 Matthew Shaw Solihull C.C.
3 William Draper Team Royal London 360 IOM
4 Toby Tanfield Cleveland Wheelers
Sprint 2
1 Matthew Shaw Solihull C.C.
2 Ben Tulett Palmer Park Velo
3 William Draper Team Royal London 360 IOM
4 Toby Tanfield Cleveland Wheelers
Category E
1 Charlie Gibson Team Royal London 360 IOM
2 Charlie Moss Team Royal London 360 IOM
3 Henry Hollyman Sowerby Bros CRT
4 Joe Nethell Maindy Flyers
5 Joe Pidcock Aire Valley Cycles
6 Thomas Ford Holme Valley Wheelers
7 Jack Rootkin-Gray Solihull C.C.
8 Addam Hathaway Bolton Hot Wheels
9 Olivia Braybrooke Eastlands Velo
10 Emily Yates Lichfield City
11 Benjamin Peatfield Bolton Hot Wheels
Sprint 1
1 Charlie Gibson Team Royal London 360 IOM
2 Jack Rootkin-Gray Solihull C.C.
3 Addam Hathaway Bolton Hot Wheels
4 Joe Pidcock Aire Valley Cycles
Sprint 2
1 Charlie Gibson Team Royal London 360 IOM
2 Jack Rootkin-Gray Solihull C.C.
3 Addam Hathaway Bolton Hot Wheels
4 Joe Pidcock Aire Valley Cycles
Regional A - Blackpool - 03.07.10
1 Stuart Reid Herbalife / Wheelbase
2 Richard Wilkinson Probikekit.com
3 Andy Hawdon Herbalife / Wheelbase
4 Chris Sherriffs Teamwallis - CHH
5 Matthew Robinson All Terrain cycles
6 Lewis Craven Herbalife / Wheelbase
7 Declan Byrne Brooks Cycles
8 Jonathan Farnaby Crosstrax
9 Milan Sihelsky Kuota-Spinergy-GSG
10 Samuel Lowe Raleigh Avanti
11 Adam Robertson Activcycles-Fentimans RT
12 Jonathan Dibben Hargroves Cycles
13 Jason Wiltshire Lancashire R.C.
14 Tim Rowson RVO Racing
15 Andrew Marsh Dinnington R.C.
16 Jack Tipper Halesowen A & C.C.
17 Graham Payne Whitfield R.T.
18 Lloyd Kellett Aire Valley R.T.
19 Paolo Brucciani Lune R.C.C.
20 Jordan Skinner Dinnington R.C.
21 Neil Robinson Lune R.C.C.
22 Steven Leigh B Global
23 Mike Rowson Mischief R.C. - Watt Bike
24 Andrew Donaldson Ferryhill Moujntain High
25 Craig Eden Coveryourcar.co.uk
26 Jerrod Hartley Cleveleys R.C.
27 Tony Workman Lancashire R.C.
28 Calum Nicholson Herbalife / Wheelbase
29 Matthew Jones Lotto Interbike
30 James Dunlop Herbalife / Wheelbase
31 Karl Freeman Team Corley Cycles
32 James Warren Bill Nickson Cycles
33 John Holt Clwb Beicio Llyn C.C.
34 Luke Bolton Team Wallis CHH
35 Geoff Wiliams Python R.T.
36 Liam Brennan Birkenhead N.E.C.C.
