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Location: Happy Valley Park, Brighton
Event: 25 September 2011
Report: Snowdon Sports
A last lap dash from VC Londres rider Jules Birks gave him a comfortable victory in the third round of the London League - and the opening round of the Sussex League - at Happy Valley Park in Brighton on Sunday.
The 31-year-old Londoner crossed the line 2:46 ahead of his nearest rival after a blistering attack late in the race, which was run off in warm and dry conditions on a fast course laid out mainly to grass with only a few technical areas.
Birks was one of six riders to hit the front early in the race, but after a couple of laps with company he decided to try a solo attack.
He established around 20 metres on his rivals, but was quickly pulled back, and after working well with VC Deal's 17-year-old junior Jack Finch he attacked again, this time making it stick and crossing the line well ahead of Finch in second, while London Dynamo's James Duguid took third, another eight seconds off the pace.
And while VC Londres were celebrating their win in the senior race, they also won the women's prize with Monica Lichter the fastest female.
Sussex 15-year-old Jake Marley (VC Jubilee) was the best of the youth riders, but was just three seconds ahead of Under-14 David Barnes (Condor), while top girl was VC Londres' Abi Van Twisk.
Results:
Seniors:
1 Jules Birks (VC Londres) 1:02:20
2 Jack Finch (VC Deal) @ 2:46
3 James Duguid (London Dynamo) @ 2:54
4 Silvain Garde (La Fuga-Sigma Sport) @ 2:56
5 Ciaran O'Grady (Team Toachim) @ 3:43
6 Stuart Spies (London Dynamo) @ 4:40
7 Mick Bell (London Fire Service) @ 4:44
8 Nigel Ling (Gemini BC) @ 4:50
9 Josh Parkin (Arctic RT) @ 5:01
10 Mark Smith (Crawley Wheelers) @ 5:07
Juniors: Jack Finch (VC Deal). Veterans: Mick Bell (London Fire Brigade). Women: Monica Lichter (VC Londres).
Youth:
1 Jake Marley (VC Jubilee) 34:24
2 David Barnes (Condor) @ 3sec
3 Thomas Butler (VC Deal) @ 8sec
4 Callum Anderton (VC Deal) @ 10sec
Girls: Abi Van Twisk (VC Londres. Under-14s: David Barnes (Condor). Under-14 girls: Amy Smith (VC Jubilee). Under-12s: Ben Tullett (Herne Hill YCC). Under-12 girls: Bethany Lewis (Palmer Park Velo). Under-10s: Joe Blackmore (Herne Hill YCC). Under-10 girls: Megan Anderton (VC Deal).
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.
