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Report: South West Regional Road Race Championships

Event: 22nd May 2011
Promoted by: Mid Devon CC
Event HQ: Hatherleigh Community Centre
Report: Mark Dolan

The South West Regional Road Race Championships took place at Hatherleigh on Sunday 22nd May with three worthy winners crowned South West champions. The 2011 event had a new format with separate events run for Junior men (age 16-18) and women riders in the morning and senior men in the afternoon. Indeed this is the first separate Junior men's event in fifteen years, demonstrating the growth in cycle race in the South West.

Organised by Jake Durant of the Mid Devon CC, the events enjoyed the support of Kitsons Solicitors, Mercedes Benz South West, The South West Road Race workgroup, Kalas sports wear and Colin Lewis Cycles. This enabled the promotors to raise a £700 prize fund which was distributed across the categories to encourage participation.

JUNIOR MEN'S IMAGES

The day's racing kicked off with the Junior event run on a rolling seven mile circuit with a strong wind prevailing. An early attack took George Pym of Exeter Whls, Brennan Townshend (Mid Devon CC), Jack Plummer of Somerset RC and Chippenham Wheelers' Ash Martin clear and the quartet soon forged a substantial lead on the chasing group.

Townshend, a natural climber and regular point scorer in the National Series, was under pressure to shed his faster finishing break away companions, but despite launching several searing attacks on the climbs and headwind sections he couldn't shake them.

With a lap to go George Pym pulled his rear wheel over and after a two mile chase rejoined the lead group. Indeed all eyes were on fast finishing Pym as the quartet entered the last 200 metres. However Ash Martin launched a searing sprint for the line to claim victory by nearly a length from Townshend with Plummer third and a fading Pym in fourth.

WOMEN'S IMAGES

The women's race followed a similar pattern with a lead quartet of Ali Holland (Shred Racing), Holly Russell (Yogi), Lucy Commander (Exeter Whls) and Wiebke Reitz (Chard Whls) dominating the event. The lead group steadily built its lead over a chasing group of Emily Adkin (Okehampton CC), Lindsay Galazier (Yogi), Gail Aspden (Squadra Donne) and Harriet Whewell (VC St Raphael). In the closing stages Lucy Commander attacked on the final climb and together with Ali Holland opened a small gap. Into the final 200m and Lucy launched a devastating sprint claiming the victory from Holland and cementing a fine debut season. Seconds later Holly Russell pipped Weibke Rewitz to the line in a closely fought sprint for third place.

SENIOR MEN'S IMAGES

Next up was the senior men's race which would tackle an hilly 40 mile loop before returning for four laps of the finishing circuit covered by the Juniors in the morning. Chief Commissaire Nick Lumb travelled in luxury in a vehicle supplied by event sponsors Mercedes Benz South West and with six NEG motor cyclists covering the event the riders were ensured safe passage.

With the neutralised zone over attacks came thick and fast and with the climb of Follygate looming the writing was on the wall. Over the top of the climb the main protagonists had formed into a lead group of ten riders consisting of Junior Heffernan and Chris Opie (Pendragon - Le Col), Blake Pond and Gary Chambers (Willier- Go Self Drive), James Smith and James Williams (Primal Europe - RUTT -Bike Chain Ricci), Pete Vincent (Mid Devon CC), Jamie Howard (Exeter Whls), Glen Borret (Team Tor 2000) and Doug Dewey (GWR).

This group set about distancing themselves from the fragmenting bunch which soon split into three chasing groups. Passing through the scenic Roadford Reservoir at 25 miles the lead group had already built a two minute lead which was to stretch to seven minutes by the time they hit the finishing circuits. James Smith was unlucky to puncture but regained the lead group after a hard chase, whilst Junior Heffernan launched a solo bid for freedom lasting over five miles. Into the finishing circuits it was all to play for and with a growing crowd watching the race play out it was anyone's guess who would win.

With two laps to go Wilier duo Blake Pond and Gary Chambers launched alternate attacks and with Chambers joined by Doug Dewey the pair took flight. Meanwhile the chasing group fragmented under the pressure and never looked like getting back on terms. Into the final 200 metres and with a slight rise Dewy launched a devastating attack claiming the South west Championship with Chambers second, chasing duo Blake Pond and Chris Opie had a close fought tussle for second with Pond claiming the third place.

A cracking day's racing was had by all with the South West holding a championships to be proud of.

RESULTS

Senior

1st - Doug Dewey - team GWR - 1
2nd - Gary Chambers - Willier/goselfdrive - E
3rd - Blake Pond - Willier/goselfdrive - E
4th - Chris Opie - Le Col/Pendragon/Colnago - E
5th - Junior Heffernan - Le Col/Pendragon/Colnago - E
6th - Adam Bright - Revo Racing - 1
7th - James Williams - Primal Europe/RUTraingtoday/Bike chain ricci - E
8th - Phil Borrett - Team Tor 2000 - 1
9th - Jamie Howard - Exeter Wheelers - 2
10th - Peter Vincent - Mid-Devon cycling club/Coling lewis cycles - 3

Junior

1st Ashley Martin - Chippenham Wheelers
2nd Brennan Townshend - Mid-Devon cycling club
3rd Jack Plummer - Somerset road club
4th George Pym - Exeter Wheelers
5th Seb Baylis - 1st Chard Wheelers
6th Adam Thompson - Camal Valley C&TC
7th Alex Challis - Taw Velo
8th Sol Warwick - Penzance Wheelers

Women

1st - Lucy Commander - Exeter Wheelers
2nd - Alli Holland - Shred Racing
3rd Holly Russell - Yogi
4th Wiebke Rietz - 1st Chard Wheelers
5th Emily Adkin - Okehmapton Cycling club
6th Gail Aspden - Squadra Donne/Shutt VR/Bike food
7th Harriet Whewell - VC St Raphael
8th Lyndsey Glazier - Yogi
9th Rhiannon Smallworth - Primal Europe/RUTrainingtoday/bike chain Ricci
10thRachael Tyers - One and all/Bike chain Ricci
11th Fiona Telfer Brunton - One and all/Bike chain Ricci

MORE IMAGES

Above: Senior Podium: left to right Jake Durant organiser, Blake Pond 3rd, Doug Dewey 1st, Gary Chambers 2nd, Andy Perkins of event sponsors Kitsons.

Above: SW champions with Mercedes Benz South West vehicle.

Above: Jake Durant interviews mens winner Doug Dewey with film crew.

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British Cycling would like to thank the organising team, officials and everyone else who helped promote this event. Our sport could not exist without the hundreds of people, many of them unpaid volunteers, who put in many hours of hard work running events, activities and clubs.