Road Race Report 2011
Sunday Oct 2nd – LVRC Mstina Series
Final Event .
The 11th and final event promoted by The Festival Road Club,
was held in glorious weather on the Ellens Green Circuit in
Surrey. With final positions for the overall competition
still to be determined in all age categories the event
became very tactical. The event started really fast with the
first two of eight laps making up a 48 mile race distance
were covered at 26.3 mph. Small groups edged off the front
but all came back within a couple of miles. Campbell Noon
from Team Virgin Active was as his club suggests, very
active attacking off the front from the race start. After
two laps a number of small groups got clear with
Hillingdon’s Simon Williams in the second group, these
groups merged together and some serious through and off took
place with all 12 riders pulling well. From Simons Age Cat
Series leader Rob Parker and equal 3rd with Simon, James
Pilgrim-Morris missed the split so all going well for Simon
on the road. The lead group flew along for a complete lap
and were then amazed to see the bunch homing in on them.
Altogether for a couple more laps the pace slowed until
Campbell Noon attacked again and race winner from round 6,
Marcus Brueton, Norwood Paragon CC bridged across
impressively. The breakaway group of four dropped one rider
to become three away with the bunch sprinting for fourth.
Simon needed to finish in front of Pilgrim-Morris and keep
within one rider of Keith Jarrett, Ciclisti Vecchi to secure
3rd place in the competition. Ashley Holding`s (2nd overall)
team mate took charge of the bunch, leading Ashley out with
Rob and Simon sitting on his wheel. As the sprint opened up
Holding took 3rd in the bunch sprint for 6th overall on the
day and winning the B age category overall, Simon 8th to
secure 3rd overall as Jarrett only finished one place ahead.
Rob Parker who had been leading the B cat overall finished
10th and dropped to 2nd place overall.
Malcolm Jefferies VC Elan Harry Perry Cycles, who had been
leading the A cat age group since race 5 lost the overall to
Campbell Noon who came into form over the latter part of the
season.
After finishing 4th overall in last years series Simon was
happy with his last race of the season and getting onto the
podium for 3rd overall. It was champagne in the Williams
household that night.
Newbury RR, round 8 of the LVRC Mstina
Series.
Always a good race on this circuit, the course offers a fast
rolling straight, good descent, a flat valley road and a
long climb. With Six 9.5 mile laps and a race distance of 60
miles the climb seams to get steeper each lap!. After two
laps a group of eleven drove clear on the climb and worked
well to stay away on the tail wind assisted straight keeping
the bunch at bay.
Once down in the valley road the leaders were out of sight
and the bunch blew apart with small chase groups forming.
Most of the main contenders for the Series were in the lead
group so the chasers never caught up.
Simon was in the lead group and tried to mix things up with
an attack going through the short finish hill with three
laps to go, with two other riders all working well a split
was made, but with too many riders in the break chasing, the
attack was soon neutralised. Jon Stephenson (Team Jewson- MI
Racing) drove hard the next time up the climb and two riders
were dropped. With a lap and a half to go Steve Nunn from
the Arctic Premier RC, drifted clear, the move did not
appear to be dangerous but the lead group mucked about and
no serious chase was organised and the lone rider moved
clear and out of sight.
With some good sprinters in the group Simon did not want to
leave it to a sprint and attacked four times in the last
lap, three along the valley road into the wind and once
going up the climb, but unfortunately was chased down each
time. The attack on the climb put one rider into trouble and
the group was down to eight to contest the sprint for
second, taken by Jon Stephenson with Simon half a wheel down
for third place.
Derek Witt Memorial Road Race July
17th
Event 7 of the LVRC Mstina Series.
Wet and windy weather was the order of the day which made
the undulating course near Winchester even harder.
A break of 4 containing Simon were away after 6 of the 58
mile event. This group swelled to 10 with riders bridging
the gap but after 10 miles only had a 15 second lead.
However the group worked well on the hardest part of the
circuit and gradually pulled away and the bunch was never
seen again. With 20 miles to go the break started to attack
each other with small groups forming but then chased down in
true Tour de France style. Then with 12 miles remaining
Simon attacked with three others forming the final
breakaway. Only three of the four worked to keep the group
ahead and sure enough this `rested` rider Tim Costello from
the Ciclisti Vecchi Road Team attacked the break with 7
miles to go and soloed away to victory. The remaining three
stayed clear from the chase group with Simon winning the
sprint for second place from Cambell Noon, Team Virgin and
Paul Smitherman, Colourtech Racing Team.
Carol had a great ride as well, riding the course in the
opposite direction on her own in windy wet conditions…
recording 40 miles at 16mph !!
Sunday evening’s reward was spent at a Beer Festival in our
local pub in Penn Street. (My favourite kind of day !!!)
Veterans National
Road Race Championships
Sunday 26th June, Nettlebed, Nr Henley on Thames
What a day for a championship, the hottest day of the year
thus far, very little wind(as pointed out by Scott before
the start, you can tell he is a Time Triallist now !)
Scott and Simon represented the club in the `B` Category
Championship Race. A quality field of fifty five riders from
all round the country lined up to do battle over a rolling
course near Henley on Thames. The main features on the
course were a hair raising steep descent with a sharp 90
degree right hander and the wrong camber at the bottom, plus
the climb up through the finish followed by a draggy rise up
to Nettlebed. Seven laps making up 55 miles, temperatures in
the high twenties, it was all set for an exciting race.
Simon`s game plan was to stay near the front, watch the
moves and go with what looked good and keep out of trouble
on the descent. Scott had the red light on at the back of
the bunch and made the odd appearance at the sharp end.
Simon`s plan went out the window when 2 riders went clear on
the very first lap with 2 riders drifting across to make a
lead group of four. With the pace high and the group in
sight for a whole lap Simon thought `they won't stay
away…..` but they did, all the way to the finish dropping
one rider to make a trio out in front.
Scott made an attack after five laps which was soon brought
back. The race favourite Phil Rayner and a couple of others
made a move the fifth time up the climb and a small group
formed, Simon saw the danger and sprinted across to the
group, at last a split was made. The group flew along and
Simon thought this was it, but a big reaction from the bunch
and within two miles it was all together again. The same
happened the following lap up the finish climb, Simon going
with small group only to be caught on the drag up to
Nettlebed. Simon Hime from the Finchley Racing Team took off
with six miles to go, then Scott put in an attack with five
to go. Scott dangled off the front of what was left of the
bunch but no one really chased, saving themselves for the
sprint. The final descent was a real epic as riders sprinted
down the hill to hold their position, Simon held 3rd place
round the hairpin bend and all of a sudden Scott was in view
of the bunch. Scott drove on to the finish and did well to
hold off most of the bunch who were sprinting for 5th place
on the uphill finish. Scott finished 11th overall and Simon
almost coming past him for 12th.
The winner was well deserved, Malcolm Smith from the St Ives
Cycling Club, the instigator of the attack on the opening
lap, 2nd was Nigel Stevens from the Finchley Racing Team and
the Bronze medal went to Simon Alexander from the Wyre
Forest Cycling Club.
Our thanks go to the Reading Cycling Club for providing us
with an excellent days racing, with other age category
championship races going on throughout the day, well done to
them all.
National Crit Champs LVRC 19th June Hogs Hill
Simon Williams Andrew Barnes and Scott Holmes rode on
Sunday at the hilly Hogs hill circuit
With a strong field of 45 riders. The demanding wind
and course soon took its toll with Andrew first to falter.
Simon was ridding well and was in a lot of the moves with
Scott putting a few attacks in after mid way. A group of 3
riders held a 15sec lead with 10 laps remaining and that's
how it stayed until the finish with Andy Engers breaking
clear with 4 Laps to go followed by Scott a lap later .
Simon with a lap to go unfortunately sustained a slow
puncture which wrecked his chances high finish.
1st
Robert Windsor East London Velo
2nd
Robin Parker East Grinstead CC
3rd
Tim Carter Virgin Active
4th
Andy Eagers Derby Mercury
5th
Scott Holmes Hillingdon CC
6th
Martin Badell CC Luton
Swindon LVRC Road Race Sun 8th May.
This event was the second counting event of the Mstina
Series for Veterans. A season long competition of 12 events
with the riders best seven placings counting towards the
overall series leaders prize.
A grey windy day and wet course greeted the riders and as
soon as the flag dropped attacks started with small groups
getting off the front of the bunch. Within five miles 10
riders were clear and out of sight in the small twisty
roads. Simon Williams jumped from the bunch and took about
four lung bursting miles to bridge the gap alone just as the
lead group hit the ascent of Carrow Hill. As Simon Joined
the group an attack from within the break split the lead
group and Simon was left in the second group unable to go
with the leaders after having just making an effort to get
across to them. The five strong lead group rode steadily
away and the chase group swelled to eleven riders.
The leaders stayed away to the finish with Simon Bayne from
the Giant Racing Team winning from Roland Tilley,
Ridebike.co.uk. Simon came home 3rd in his group for an 8th
place overall and 6th in his age category.
Cranfield LVRC RR 1st May
Simon won this event last year and was keen to do
well as this course suits his riding.
After many attempts to break clear he eventually went with 5
riders to try and bridge the gap
in witch there was 4 away . But that was how it stayed and
Simon had to settle for 7th place
*************************************************************
Road Race Report 2010
Peter Win at Hog Hill.
Sunday 19th Sept at the Hog Hill Cycle Racing Circuit.
Hillingdon’s Peter Jones finds his end of season form with a
win in the LVRC event for E/F & G category riders. In windy
conditions, Peter escaped the bunch with 5 miles of racing
to go along with two other riders, easily winning the sprint
for victory.
Peter Jones winning the sprint
Simon Williams came in fourth and third B category in the
young pretenders event for the A/B/C & D age groups at the
same venue.
In the previous weeks events, Simon finished 2nd winning the
sprint from a breakaway group. Peter finished fourth in his
event and 3rd E Cat rider.
Mstina Series Report
The Veterans Road Race Series Penultimate event was held on
Sunday 5th Sept organized by the Finsbury Park Cycling Club.
With overall places still to be decided, this event was very
tactical. Any move by the leading riders was chased down.
Simon tried to get away from riders above him in the overall
competition without success. Lone A Category Jason Edwards
from the VC Meudon who also won the last Mstina event took
off with 8 miles to go leaving the bunch to sprint it out
for 2nd place. Current B Category leader Ashley Holding from
the same club won the bunch sprint, Simon finished 4th for
5th overall in the race and 4th B cat. With one more round
remaining in the Series, Simon is lying in 4th place
overall.
LVRC Newbury RR 29-08-10
With Simon starting to find his form again on this hilly
windy circuit he rode well as the bunch whittled down to
around 15 riders to take 5th overall and 2nd in his Cat from
Paul Caton .
Carol was seen yet again riding around in the other
direction getting the miles in.
On Sunday 22nd August four members of the Hillingdon
Cycling Club competed in the LVRC Masters 60 Mile National
Road Race Championship in the Portsmouth area. It was a very
tough course which included climbing the very steep
Portsdown Hill seven times. Andy Barnes was the first to
retire after two laps, then Duncan Sherwood retired on the
3rd lap, Simon Williams managed 4 laps, but it was club
coach Scott Holmes who managed to complete the course with
enough strength to sprint to the finish at the top of
Portsdown Hill to take 3rd place and win the bronze medal.
Overall winner Paul Stubs.
Paul Stubs Cat B Winner
Category B National LVRC Crit Championships
1st Duncan Sherwood Hillingdon CC
2nd Robert Windsor ELV
3rd Rob Kennison Medway Velo
4thScott Holmes Hillingdon CC
10th Simon Williams Hillingdon CC
Sunday 30th May
Duncan won the LVRC Crit Championships.
The team Andrew Barnes Simon Williams Scott Holmes & Duncan
Sherwood.
On the first Lap 2 riders attacked from the start with
Duncan getting across 1 Lap later.
The 3 riders settled down well and worked together to a
25sec Gap after 6 Laps of the 0.8 mile circuit. With the
Finchley team and others trying to bring the break back but
with no great impedes.
On the 7 Lap Scott put a hard attack in to try and bridge
the gap alone but took Simon with him.
2 Laps later the break was down to 10 secs but the bunch was
back and lined out behind Scott and Simon, easing back the
bunch rested and the break was at 40 secs .
Scott continued to try and attack in bursts to bridge the
gap without dragging the bunch with him but was closely
marked as last years champion.
Duncan was still out there riding well in his group with a
60 sec gap but finding it hard.
Scott finally broke clear with 4 riders then Simon with 3
riders
Duncan powered in to win with Scott winning his sprint 30
secs later with Simon finishing in the next group 10th and
then Andrew in the bunch behind.
Great race great result with two champs in two years well
down Duncan
Team Hillingdon Nationals Duncan Winning
Sat May 1st - Greg Riley Memorial Road Race sponsored by
Phil Corley Cycles for Cat A & B Veterans.
This race was run over 14 laps of a hilly 2.3 mile circuit
at Cranfield Nr Milton Keynes.
A couple of attempts by various riders tried to get away
from the bunch in the first couple of laps. As these riders
were recaught by the bunch Hillingdon’s Simon Williams put
in an attack on the main hill hoping to pull a few riders
clear, but after reaching the top and looking behind found
out that he was on his own with about a 10 second gap. With
10 laps, 23 miles remaining this was a long way to go for a
solo rider but Simon suits this circuit and felt good on the
day so decided to keep going. After two more laps the lead
was still small, about 30 seconds. Taking it steady on the
climb but riding hard around the rest of the circuit the
lead gradually went up to 55 seconds. With four laps to go a
group of seven riders went clear of the bunch and worked
together to try and pull Simon back but the gap was held at
about one minute. This gap was maintained all the way to the
finish with Simon winning, Phil Wilkins, MI Racing Team won
the sprint from the chasing group for 2nd place.
Mon 3rd May – Finchley Road Club Road Race. 56 Miles for Cat
A & B Veterans.
This event is was held on a twisty rolling course on the
Hertfordshire / Essex border. As the race started in a heavy
rain two riders went clear and stayed away for the whole
race. The Finchley Road club rode very strongly, with one
rider in the break the team nullified various attacks from
within the bunch, until three of the seven laps remained.
Hillingdon’s Simon Williams was in a group of five riders
and worked well to bring the leaders gap down from one
minute fifty seconds to twenty seconds and in sight of the
chase group. With five miles to go the bunch re-caught the
chase group with the leaders still 15 seconds clear. With
two miles to go Simon attacked taking Kenton Road Club rider
Des Gaylor with him, Des is a strong time triallist and the
two worked well together but were caught with a mile to go
as another rider clipped off the front. Simon was just piped
for the bunch sprint settling for 5th place and 3rd B
Category rider
Sunday 4th April - Ciclos Uno Spring Road Race.
This event was the first in a Series of Road Races which is
sponsored by Mstina and are organised through The League of
Veteran Racing Cyclists (LVRC). British Cycling Veteran
races have declined over the years with the loss of The
Peter Fryer Trophy Series so this Series has grown in
stature and attracts vets from afar. Points are awarded at
each event and the leaders at each race are awarded with a
“Leaders Jersey”, the winners of each age category are also
awarded at the end of the season long competition.
This event was on the Essex/ Herts border over a 56 mile
undulating course. The bunch stayed pretty much together for
the first three of seven laps. Matt Seaton from the London
Cycle Sport Team, was clear with another rider on the fourth
lap. Matt is a strong rider and has been riding cyclo cross
races throughout the winter so I knew he was a danger. I
bridged the gap along with Paul Caton (last years B category
winner) and a rider from the Eagle RC. We all worked well
together but not gaining much time on the bunch. After 18
miles clear we still only had about a 20 second gap, but
with an open section of the course coming up again, slightly
rising and into the wind for a about four miles I thought we
would break the elastic, this was exactly what happened, the
bunch chase broke down into the wind and we pulled clear and
out of sight. Mark Daly from Colour Tech Road Club bridged
across to us on his own and was riding very strongly. All
working in the break (some more than others) we stayed
together until 2 miles to go Mark Daly attacked and stayed
away to the finish, the rest of the group tried to pull him
back but with half a mile to go settled to sprint it out for
second place. Paul Caton took Second and I came home 3rd.
The winner was a younger `A` Category, Paul and I are both
`Bs` making me 2nd B cat on the day. Well pleased with that,
first event of the season you never know where your fitness
is compared to others. This series is a target of mine for
the year, so watch this space……..
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Road Race Reports 2009
4/04/09
Hog Hill 2/3/4 BC
Simon 4th 6bc points
7/04/09
Hillingdon LVRC
Peter 1st in cat 3vet points
Scott 3rd in cat 1 vet points
Andy and the two Grahams finished in the bunch
22/04/09
Hillingdon LVRC
Scott 2nd in cat 2 vet points
2/05/09
Cranfield RR LVRC
Simon 5th 2nd in cat 2 vet points
Peter in the bunch
6/05/09
Hillingdon LVRC
Peter 1st in cat 3 vet points
Scott 3rd in cat 1 vet point
Andy 3rd in cat 1 vet point
The two Grahams and Simon in the bunch
12/05/09
Milton Keynes King of the Bowl LVRC
Peter Jones
Scott 2nd in cat 2 vet points
Peter 6th
Andy in the bunch
19/05/09
MK Bowl LVRC
Peter 3rd 1 vet point
20/05/09
Hillindon LVRC
Scott 1st 3 vet points
Peter 4th
Simon and the two Grahams in the bunch
31/05/09
Hog Hill LVRC National Crit Championships
Scott 1st National Champion 3vet points
Simon in the bunch Duncan DNF
3/06/09
Hillingdon LVRC
Scott 1st 3vet points
Peter 1st 3 vet points
9/06/09
MK Bowl LVRC
Scott 1st 3 vet points
Andy 2nd 2 vet points
Peter 5th
13/06/0 (Saturday)
MK Bowl LVRC
Peter 3rd in cat 1 vet point
16/06/09
MK Bowl LVRC
Peter 3rd 1 vet point
17/06/09
Hillingdon LVRC
Simon 1stin cat 3 vet points
Scott 2nd in cat 2 vet points
Peter 2nd in cat 1 vet point
23/06/09
MK Bowl LVRC
Peter 4th
5/07/09
Dave Grithfiffs memorial RR LVRC
Scott 3rd in cat 1 vet point
Simon 11th
7/07/09
Hillingdon LVRC
Scott 3rd 1 vet point
Andy in the bunch
15/07/09
Hillindon LVRC
Scott 2nd in cat 1 vet point
Peter 2nd in cat 1 vet point
Andy and Graham Weeks in the bunch
29/07/09
Hillindon LVRC
Scott 2nd in cat 2 vet points
Peter 3rd in cat 1 vet point
9/08/09
Hog Hill LVRC
Peter 1st 3 vet points
11/08/09
MK Bowl LVRC
Andy 1st in cat 3 vet points
Peter 3rd in cat 1 vet point
12/08/09
Hillingdon LVRC
Scott 1st in cat 3 vet points
Peter 1st in cat 3 vet points
Simon and Andy in the bunch
18/08/09
MK Bowl LVRC
Andy and Peter in the bunch
22/08/09
Hog Hill LVRC
Peter 5th in cat
23/08/09
LVRC NATIONAL ROAD RACE
Scott got away after 7 miles to join Colin roshier and 2
other big names.
They stayed away the whole race only to get get wheeled in
the last 1 km.
It was a tough up hill finish and Simon came in 8th with
Scott to follow.
Simon 8th
Scott 10th
26/08/09
Hillingdon LVRC
Scott 1st in cat 3 vet points
Peter 1 st in cat 3 vet points
Simon 3rd in cat 1 vet point
Duncan 3rd in cat 1 vet point.
Andy and Graham Weeks in the bunch
6/09/09
Hog Hill LVRC
Peter 3rd 1 vet point
9/09/09
Hillingdon LVRC
Peter 1st in cat 3 vet points
Duncan, Scott, Simon, Andy and Dave Barnes, and the two
Grahams
Eight Hillingdon riders – what a team!
13/09/09
Hog Hill LVRC
Peter 3rd 1 vet point
19/09/09
Hog Hill LVRC
Peter 1st 3 vet points
Andy crashed
26/09/09
Hog Hill LVRC
Simon, Andy, Peter finished in the bunch in their respected
races.
4/010/09
Hog Hill LVRC
Peter 1st 3 vet points
11/10/09
Hog Hill LVRC
Peter 3rd 1 vet point
VETS CHAMPIONSHIP ( LVRC )
Peter 33 points Scott 31 Simon 8 Andy 6 Duncan 3
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