Hot Racing on Cold day at Ixworth Criteriums

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Story posted May 5, 2010; Report from Fergus Muir, Photos by Mark Cozens

Slideshow of the photos by Mark Cozens (www.mphotography.co.uk)

West Suffolk Wheelers and Triathlon Club promoted a nine race criterium programme in the picturesque village of Ixworth on the bank holiday weekend.  Competitors ranged from six year olds up to Elite roadmen and with the weather being unseasonly cold, the Scouts were doing better trade in burgers than Major Miles from his ice-cream tricycle. There was plenty of hot racing to keep the crowd warm though!

The climax was an Invitation “A” race, for the leading contenders from races earlier in the programme. In this Peter Middlehurst (Octagon), Oliver Rossi (PCA Ciclos Uno) and junior Connor Dunne were soon stretching out the field. Soon Dunne, the tall Glendene rider who had already won the junior race broke clear on his own. However James Stewart (Raleigh) from Swindon and Steve Lampier (Pendragon) closed the gap and Stewart took the prime. Local man Joe Skipper and Lampier also launched a bid but the race regrouped before Martin Ford (Team Goldtec) made the move that stuck, finally opening a big gap before taking the flag.

The race programme had opened with a Masters race in which Jeremy Greengrass, once a prominent local junior, made a fine solo effort. Now 46 and living in Glasgow, he crowned a family visit to Norfolk with a convincing win. The race for third and fourth cats saw an early break including Patrick Harbord (VC Baracchi), Adam Ellis (Spalding CC) and Matt Cook (API/Metrow), chased by the promoting club’s Paul Rooke and Elliott Katz (London Dynamo). However, with four laps to go Cook and Greg Simcock (XRT/Elmy Cycles) established a clear lead.

Cook was restricted to junior gears, but he has no less than 12 seasons of racing experience and was just back from competing in Holland over Easter.  With controlled exuberance, Cook spotted where he could gain a yard or two and opened a gap on the penultimate corner. Simcock fought back onto his wheel, but Cook led out of the vital last corner and scored his first senior win.

The Elite/1/2 race was soon strung out, with Lampier, Rossi and Skipper active at the front. With one lap of the tight one kilometre circuit to go Stewart got away for the win. Matt Ellis (Spalding CC) was the early leader in the Under 10s, but Mason Hollyman (Sowerby Bros) was the eventual winner. The Under 12s went to Jack Plumley of Welwyn Wheelers who opened a gap with three laps to go. Oliver Plumley took the Under 14s.

Josh Hannan (Extreme Sports Therapy) and Alan Trolove of the promoting club West Suffolk Wheelers animated the Under 16’s race but Jack Oliver-Blaney of Team Terminator took the win in the end. Sara Gent (Onelife) outsprinted Imogen Buick (Thetford MTB) for the Girls prize. Glendene/Biketrax dominated the Invitation “B” race – for those not selected for the finale – Tom Moses getting the verdict from team mate Alex Murrison.

Ixworth cycle races 2010 Results 

Invitational  Race “A”
1. Martin Ford    Team Goldtec
2.  Steve Lampier   Pendragon/Lecol/Colnago
3. Oliver Rossi   PCA Ciclos Uno
4. James Stewart  Team Raleigh
5. Robert Jackson  Team Goltec
6. Connor Dunne  Glendene Bike trax
7. Dean Shannon  Orbea/For goodness shakes
8. Joe Skipper   Cycles Dauphin
9. Peter Middlehirst  Octagon VC
10. Kristian Downs  Orbea/ For goodness shakes
11. Daniel Tilley   One life Development Squad
12. Mark Thomson  Dulwich Paragon
13. Daniel Kogan   Orbea/ For goodness shakes
Primes   Connor Dunne; Connor Dunne; James stewart.

Invitational Race “B”
1.  Tom Mosses   Glendene Bike trax
2. Alex Murrison   Glendene Bike trax
3. Jim Lewis   Glendene Bike trax
4. Paul Lewis   Glendene Bike trax
5. Philip Hetzel   Ipswich BC
6. Daniel Zagini   Ipswich BC
7. Steve Locke   Plan B
8. Jason Hucklesby  St Ives CC
9. Brook Duncombe Rodgers One Life development Squad
10. Ben Paton   Amis Velo RT
11. Bruce Mackie   Lea Valley
12. Mark westrup   VC Baracchi
13. Philip Thomerson  Glendene
14. Robert Cox   Cambridge CC
15. Tim Snook   Ipswich CC
16. Tom Worthington  Vortex CC
17. GianCarlo checchi  Private
18. Matthew Shotbolt  Sudbury CC
19.  Patrick Harboard  VC Baracchi

Masters
1. Jeremy Greengrass  VortexRT
2. Paul Alderson   SWRC
3. Steve Lock   Plan B
4. Paul Verlander  Team Spiuk
5. Bruce Mackie   Lea Valley
6. Mark westrup   VC Baracchi
7. Robert Cox   Cambridge CC
8. Philip Thomerson  Glendene
9. Ben Paton   Amis Velo RT
10.  Simon Layfield  Team Welwyn
11. Adrian Trott   Welwyn Wheelers
12. David Farrow   Eagle Road club
13. Adrian Ward   Shartbury Road club
14. Tom Worthington  Vortex CC
15. Daniel Zagni   Ipswich BC
Prime   Jeremy Green grass

Senior  3 / 4
1. Matthew Cook  API Metro
2.  Greg Simcock   Elmy XRT
3. Adam Ellis   Spalding CC
4. Nick Esser   VC Baracchi
5. Patrick Harboard  VC Baracchi
6. James Jackson  Private Member
7. Gavin  Mitchell  Twickenham CC
8. Matt Shotbolt   CC Sudbury
9. Elliott Katz   London Dymano
10. Mark Donald   Ford CC
11. Paul Rooke   West Suffolk Wheelers & Tri Club
Prime  Matthew Cook

Junoirs
1. Connor Dunne  Glendene  Biketrax
2. Alex Murrison   Glendene Biketrax
3. Tom Mosses   Glendene  Biketrax
4. Jim Lewis   Glendene  Biketrax
5. Oliver Rossi   PCA Ciclos Uno
6. Paul Lewis   Glendene  Biketrax
7. Sam Connolley  Maldon & District
8. Tom Fitzpatrick  Extreme Sports Therapy
Prime  Connor Dunne

E/1/2
1. James Stewart  Team Raleigh
2.  Steve Lampier  Pendragon/Lecol/Colnago
3. Martin Ford   Team Goldtec
4. Peter Middlehirst  Octagon VC
5. Dean Shannon  Orbea/For goodness shakes
6. Kristian Downs  Orbea/For goodness shakes
7. Joe Skipper   Cycles Dauphin
8. Bryan Taylor   VC Londres
9. Daniel Tilley   One LifeDevelopment Squad
10. Daniel Kogan   Orbea/For goodness shakes
11. Robert Jackson  Team Goldtec
12. Will Kemp   One LifeDevelopment Squad
13. Nathan Miller   Elmy Xrt
14. John Mc Clellend  Agisco Viner

Under 10
1. Mason Hollyman  Sowerby Bros.
2. Matthew Ellis   Spalding CC
3. Felix Mackie   Lea  Valley Youth
4. Matthew Farrow  Eagle Road Club
5. Colin Mantle    Mildenhall CC

Under 12
1.  Jack Plumley   Welwyn wheelers
2. Georg Jensen   Lea Valley Youth
3. Callum Mackie  Lea Valley Youth
4. Mitchell Powell  Chelmer CC
5. James Jackson  Colchester CC
6. Reece Mardtham  Spalding CC

Under 14
1. OliverPlumley   Wlwyn Wheelers
2.  Ollie Fenson   Spalding CC
3. Chloe Evans   Welwyn Wheelers
4. Jonathan Sjolin  West Suffolk Wheelers & Tri
5. Lewis Freeman  West Suffolk Wheelers & Tri
6. Francesca  Morgans –Slader Lea Valley Youth
7. Dominic Freeman  West Suffolk Wheelers & Tri
8. Nick Brown   Welwyn Wheelers

Under 16
1. Jack Oliver Blaney   Team Terminator
2. Josh Hannan   Extreme Sports therapy
3. Alan Trolove   West Suffolk Wheelers & Tri Club
4. Ross King   Velo Schills Inter bike
5. Kieran Brady   Ely & District
6. Ben Lamb   Gateway CC
7. George Bateman  Team Welwyn
8. Harry Bellars   Spalding CC

Girls:
1. Sara Gent,One LifeDevelopment Squad
2. Imogen Birch, hetford MTB