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Newton’s Farewell Victory in the NE

Story posted August 16, 2010 | thanks to Ben Walton (race organiser)

The 2010 Premier Calender winner, Chris Newton (Rapha Condor-Sharp), bid farewell to the tough roads of Northumberland last Sunday; the roads which helped build his career, with a victory in the Sam Walton Border Trophy Road Race. Promoted by Barnesbury Cycling Club and staged over a gruelling 86 mile course around Netherwitton in Northumberland, Newton's victory in the race showed everyone he was bowing out of racing at the peak of his career.

Chris Newton in winning form. Photos: Ben Fursdon (Fursdon Photography

After the race, Newton announced his retirement from competitive road cycle racing following an illustrious domestic career spanning some twenty years. This year alone has seen him score victories in the Lincoln Grand Prix, the Beaumont Trophy and Tour of DoonHamme. In recent years on the track; where he is perhaps best recognised, he won Gold in the Points race on the track at Copenhagen in 2002 (World Championships) and returned to the same venue this year where he was fourth. Chris is also a multi-medal winner on the track in the Olympics in both the Team Pursuit (Silver & Bronze) and the Points Race (Bronze).

Back to the Sam Walton Border Trophy RR and the 37 year old was made to work for his farewell race win. Riding without any team mates and describing the race as ‘hard’ afterwards, he faced some strong northern opposition from Team Sportscover. In particular, 32 year old Colin Humphrey (Sportscover) showed his mettle. The 2008 North East Road Race Champion matched Newton in the early part of the race as the two broke clear within the first 10 miles. The pair notched up a healthy lead over the chasing bunch of about two and a half minutes by the time the race reached the first Prime of Ritton Bank after 25 miles.
The gap began to shorten slightly over Coldrife and again on the descent of Ewesley Fell. By the time the race reached Elsdon village, some 40 miles into the race, Andrew Beattie (Infinity Cycles), followed by Ashley Brown (Sportscover) had closed to within one minute of the leaders. Unfortunately, Beattie was struck down by mechanical problems up the first climb of Billsmoor, leaving Brown no option but to wait for the chasing bunch.

As the race headed back through Sharperton and then over the Billsmoor Prime, heading back west to Elsdon, Humphrey and Newton were still away but the gap was closing and as the race ascended Winters Gibbet Prime after 61 miles, they were caught by a group of three riders which had splintered from the main bunch. The new front group now consisted of Newton, Humphrey, Jake Tanner (Sportscover), Kevin Dawson (Sportscover) and Kit Gilham (SigmaSport).

The whole race threatened to regroup on the flat section of the Gibbet road towards Cambo as the new leaders hovered in front of the bunch by a mere one and a half minutes. However, on the home run, and over fast rolling roads, the leading riders asserted themselves and galvanised their advantage. The lead increased to three minutes over the bunch by the time they reached Mitford.

Colin Humphrey (Sportscover) was dropped however shortly before Pigdon, most probably paying the price for his earlier efforts in the day. Newton meanwhile had no such problems as he sprinted for victory into Netherwitton ahead of the promising 18 year old Jake Tanner who was second. Matt Kipling led the bunch in a further three minutes adrift.

Result

1. Chris Newton - Rapha/Condor/Sharp; 85 miles in 3hrs 32mins
2. Jake Tanner - Team Sportscover @ st
3. Kit Gilham - Sigmasport / Specialised @ st
4. Kevin Dawson - Team Sportscover @ st
5. Collin Humphrey - Team Sportscover @ 2 minutes
6. Matt Kipling - MTS Cyclesport / Inkland @ 3 minutes
7. Ashley Brown - Team Sportscover @ st
8. Alan Nixon - Blackhawkbikes.com @ st
9. Rob Carter - Velo 29 @ st
10. Chris Mark - Adept Precision RT @ st
11. Stuart Wearmouth - MTS Cyclesport / Inkland @ st
12. Simon Baxter - Adept Precision RT @ st
13. Richard Lambert - Cottingham Coureurs @ st
14. Liam Armstrong - VC Briganti @ st
15. Callum Sewell - Team Chevin @ st
16. Jon Sturman - Adept Precision @ st
17. Dom Munnelly - Activ Cycles @ st
18. Ian Taylor - Team Bglobal @ st
19. James Alder - Blackhawkbikes.com @ st
20. Tony Fawcett - Hetton Hawkes @ st
21. Neil Baxter - ActivCycles @ 17 min 10 secs

King Of Mountains – Chris Newton