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Imperial Winter Series New Years Day
 
Event: January 1, 2011 | by Imperial Racing Team (Lucy Collins)

At last! Although dull and gloomy with light rain, 82 riders signed on for the various events for only the second race in the series due to the inclement weather. In the 3rd category race, James Lowden (Lewes Wanderers) took first place, a position he has been chasing and come close to since the last winter series.

Second was Rudie Marais (Archer RC) who was third in the last race and obviously now has the taste for a win. The 4th category race meanwhile was won by Phil Gibbs (Dulwich Paragon) with Steven Cottington in second and Liam Bremer (London Phoenix CC) third. Getting the bigger result however proved to be a problem as the generator let the club down at the crucial time, rendering the photo finish equipment useless. So all the riders gathered in the clubhouse and worked out the placings and later a photo was provided that confirmed their positions. Well done to an honest bunch!

In the Ladies event, again a much higher standard is being set and although only 10 riders started, they rode hard for the whole of their 40 minutes plus 5 laps. There was however an outstanding performance by Charlotte Easton (Look Mum No Hands!) who rode away from her rivals, stayed away and finally lapped the other riders. At one point, she rode back past the 3rd cat race!  She had the help of two team mates in Lydia Boylan and Helen McKay and was encouraged by her sponsor/manager Sam Humpheson who later rode in the E/1/2/3 race. Easton emphasised the need and desire for more ladies races.

In the E/1/2/3 race, an entry of 33 riders lined up. All were bemoaning the lack of miles in their legs, although it did not show from the start, as the speed was furious with young Jake Martin (Pendragon) attacking on his own in the first 2 kilometres. Phil Holloway (Southend Wheelers), a veteran of the series and Lewis Atkins, a former series winner (Twenty 3C  Orbea), saw the opportunity of an early break and went across to him.

The main group however were very vigilant and the race was brought together again - certainly the Christmas blues appeared to have been blown away? Next to string the race out was Stoyko Bussarov (Eagle RC), who’s looking to race in Italy this season. Also in the move was Chris Dick (London Phoenix) but again they were quickly brought back.

Next to move off the front were Brock Duncumb Rogers (One Life Dev Squad) who escaped with circuit veteran Bill Butterworth (Team Quest), winner of the first ever Winter Series back in the 90's.  That break though soon came back and next saw the largest gap of the early part of the race to appear. Gaining a 35 second advantage was Sam Humpheson (Look Mum No Hands!) café owner but like previous attempts it was thwarted.

Next to try was Henry Furniss (WyndyMilla/MaxiFuel) and David Murrell (London Phoenix), Nat Spurling (Finsbury Park), Felix English (Science&Sport), Phil Holloway and Vince Halpern (Awcycles) and once again the strongest and fastest rider Jake Martin. This was the basis of the final break and also included Graham Hills (Southborough & Dist CC) and Bussarov.

This group of nine worked hard and with only 12km to go, they were not likely to be caught. Furniss seized the chance in the back straight to open up the sprint and the effort split the nine leaders. The others were quick to react though and a slight headwind finish uphill was going to make it difficult to find the right wheel.

Atkins had to dig really deep to hold off Martin, English and Furniss with previous winner Jo Skelton (Look Mum No Hands!) leading in the main group. All in all, an excellent finish to an action packed race. Atkins now leads overall and will be a marked man although he looks to be at his best again.

Race6 - 3rd January Bank Hoilday Monday - starts 11:00
Race 7 - 8th January - starts 13:00
Race 8 - 15th January - starts 13:00
Extra Date - 16th January SUNDAY - starts 11:00 (originally the Boxing Day race)
 
Full details at

RESULTS

E/1/2/3/ Cats 
1st  Lewis Atkins Twenty 3C  Orbea
2nd  Jake Martin pendragon-lecol-colnago
3rd  Felix English Science-and-Sport.com
4th  Henry Furniss WyndyMilla/MaxiFuel
5th  David Murrell London Phoenix
6th  Graham Hills southborough & dist CC
7th  Stoyko Bussarov Eagle RC
8th  Arijan Planting Dulwich Paragon
9th  Chris Dick London Phoenix
10th  Jo Skelton Look Mum No Hands!
11th  Mark Ottaway WyndyMilla/MaxiFuel
12th  Tom Smith Felt Colbornes
13th  Vince Halpern Awcycles.co.uk
14th  Mark Smith Welwyn Wheelers
15th  Mike Diggins Gregarios Superclub Ciclista
16th  Jon Lewis Charlotteville CC
17th  David Swan Cycles Dauphin
18th  Ralph Keeler Cambridge CC
19th  Bill Butterworth Tm Quest
20th  Wayne Thomas Reading CC
21st  Phil Holloway Southend Wheelers
22nd  Geoff Powell High Wycombe CC
23rd  Nat Spurling Finsbury Park
24th  Ajelo Ghristides Ermis Hellas
25th  Brock Duncumb Rogers One Life Dev Squad
26th  Jerzy Kuzminski London Phoenix
27th  Sam Humpheson Look Mum No Hands!
28th Oliver Newlan Twickenham CC
29th David Martin Zimbabwe

3rd Cats 
1st  James Lowden Lewes Wanderers
2nd  Rudie Marais Team Archer
3rd  Tom Kruger 45 Road Club
4th  David Robinson CC Ashwell
5th  Ralph de Kanter Norwood Paragon CC
6th  Vaughan Luff De Ver/Neovite
7th  Stuart Harvey Ultimate Fitness
8th  Phil Adams Ashwell CC
9th  Lee Mead Vc meudon
10th  Robert LeMaster Private member
11th  Mike Sanders Team Corridori
12th  Mike Betts Vegetarian C & AC
13th  Phill Keefe iCycle
14th  Barry Gerhold Redhill CC
15th  Adam Elderfield quest thebike shop
16th  Martin Porter Thames Velo
17th  Dylan Kenneway London Dynamo
18th  Mark O'Brien Archer RC
19th  Michael Leonard Brighton Mitre
  
Womens Race Cats E/1/2/3/4
1st  Charlotte Easton Look Mum No Hands
2nd  Cassie Gledhill Orbea-for goodness shakes
3rd  Claire Leonard Brighton Mitre
4th  Tanya Hunt Team Endurance
5th  Lydia Boylan Look Mum No Hands
6th  Monica DaPolenza Awcycle.co.uk
7th  Rachel Przybylski Rapha Condor
8th  Helen McKay Look Mum No Hands
9th  Cathrine Hills Wyndy Milla Maxifuel
10th  Hilary Hillhouse Kingston Wheelers
  
4th Cats
1st  Phil Gibbs Dulwich Paragon
2nd  Steven Cottington Private member
3rd  Liam Bremer London Phoenix CC
4th  Mark Gregory Private Member
5th  Taimur Tanwir London Dynamo
6th  Michael Vance Dulwich Paragon
7th  Henry Latimer Team Zappi's
8th  Iain Gillam Private
9th  Steve Middleton Ultimate Fitness
10th  Ian Cardy Inverse / CyClaim RT
11th  Samuel Hilton Maidenhead and District CC
12th  Simon Parton Kingston Wheelers
13th  Phil Wege Inverse/Cyclaim
14th  Ian Miller Dulwich Paragon
15th  Paul Simpson Arbis llp Roy Pink Cycles Road Team
16th  Steven Green Thames Velo