Location: Middlesbrough Cycle Circuit, Middlesbrough
Event: 22 September 2013
Report: Jack Rees/Snowdon Sports
Spennymoor rider Craig Anderson (Achieve-Skinnergate Racing) sprinted to victory in the Achieve Autumn Cup in Middlesbrough on Sunday afternoon.
The 25-year-old, who finished second in the Hartlepool Carnival Criteriums last month, was part of a break which stayed clear to contest a thrilling finish to the 53-kilometre National B race which attracted 30 riders.
Ben Hetherington (Dirtwheels Cycles) – fresh from a 19-minute 10-mile TT the previous day – attacked straight from the gun and quickly established a 20-second lead.
A strong group then got a ten second lead off the front of the bunch as they chased Hetherington down, with Will Brown (Velo 29), Ben Kellet (Hope Factory Racing), Anderson and Callum Wilkinson (Bicycleworks.com).
After they caught Hetherington, the five ploughed on and by half distance had a healthy lead.
With five laps to go the leaders were each trying to break away, but nothing stuck and they prepared for the sprint, which Anderson took by half a bike length from Will Brown.
“It’s a great way to end my season,” said Anderson afterwards. “I was motivated today with it being the team's race, I have a good season with a number of wins, but myself and the team are really looking to step up again next year with more success."
Prior to the elite race, the 3/4 Cat race also provided some scintillating racing, and it was Jonathan Dexter (We Love Mountains) who took the win.
There were lots of attacks throughout the 38-kilometre race, but despite this everything was together as the race entered the final 10 laps.
With four laps to go Mike Coxon (Achieve Skinnegate Racing) made a great solo move, however with two laps to go James Moohan (Ashburn Wealth RT) and Jonathan Dexter (We Love Mountains) got across to him.
Mike was eventually distanced going into the last lap, and it was down to James and Jonathan for the win.
James clipped his pedal coming down on the final bend, leaving Jonathan to ride on for a great solo victory, the bunch sprint was won by youth rider Ralf Hodgson of Marton RT with David Atkinson of Achieve Skinnergate Racing in third.
Results:
E/1/2/3:
1 Craig Anderson (Achieve Skinnergate Racing)
2 Will Brown (Velo 29)
3 Ben Kellett (Hope Racing)
3/4 Cat Race:
1 Jonathan Dexter (We love Mountains)
2 Ralf Hodgson (Marton RT)
3 Dave Atkinson (Achieve Skinnergate Racing)
Youth A Boys:
1 Ralf Hodgson (Marton RT)
2 Robert Harper (RST RT)
3 Jake Dobson (Newcastle Phoenix)
Youth B Boys:
1 William Turnbull (Marton RT)
2 Richie Allen (Marton RT)
3 Ben Moody (Achieve Skinnergate Racing)
Youth C Boys:
1 Joe Wilson (Stockton Wheelers)
2 Hugo Lutz-Atkinson (Marton RT)
3 Connor Eyeington (unattached)
Youth D Boys:
1 Henry Demoily (Cleveland Wh)
2 Matthew Wells (Tyneside Vagabonds)
3 Lewis Dolan (Stockton Wheelers)
Youth E Boys:
1 Daniel Saba (Newcastle Phoenix)
2 Joel Hurt (Stockton Wheelers)
3 Matthew White (Stockton Wheelers)
Youth A Girls:
1 Esther Farnell (Clifton CC)
Youth B Girls:
1 Samantha Verrill (Marton RT)
2 Sophie Enever (Tyneside Vagabonds)
3 Fiona Turnbull (Tyneside Vagabonds)
Youth C Girls:
1 Robyn Jones (Stockton Wheelers)
2 Eve Baines (Stockton Wheelers)
3 Maisie Hurt (Stockton Wheelers)
Youth D Girls:
1 Grace Castle (Newcastle Phoenix)
2 Roisin Lally (One Life Racing)
3 Latitia Hay (Hetton Hawks)
Youth E Girls:
1 Daisy Freer (Stockton Wheelers)
2 Kasey Eyeington (unattached)
3 Willow Morris (Hetton Hawks)
Please credit www.britishcycling.org.uk and link back if you use any of our race results.
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.
