Location: Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth
Event: 3 April 2013
Report and Photos: Graham Robins
Will Stephenson (Rapha Condor JLT) won the first round of the new league season when he was away with a group of four other riders who managed to get a lap on the remainder of the field and then won the sprint for the line.
On another bitterly cold evening at the Portsmouth track as the North Easterly wind whipped across the track it caused riders problems, as at one end the track they had a head wind and the other end they had a tail wind.
Steve Walkling (VC St Raphael) and Stuart Bettis (Southdown Bikes) tried several times to get away until finally they broke the elastic and built up a lead of about half a lap.
While these two were getting away Will was working away with Al Murison (Equip-CMI) and Andy Bryson (Peter Hansford Racing) and soon they were a lap up on the field.
Steve and Stuart eased through the field along with the other leaders to form a strong group at the front. As the race neared its conclusion of 50mins the leaders were well clear of the bunch and it was Will who was the strongest at the end to take the spoils.
Result:
1 Will Stephenson Rapha Condor JLT 50mins +5laps
2 Al Murison Equip CMI
3 Andy Bryson Peter Hansford Racing
4 Stephen Walkling VC St Raphael
5 Stuart Bettis Southdown Bikes
6 Justin Hoy Felt Colbornes Hargroves RT @1lap
7 Stuart Thompson Andover Wheelers
8 Oscar Hutchings Uni Exeter
9 Toby Neave VC St Raphael
10 Duncan Lancashire Andover Wheelers
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