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Dobbin wins 1st Chard Wheelers Road Race

Long Sutton, Somerset, 63 miles
Event: 17th July 2011
Report: Snowdon Sports

FORMER National Hill-Climb Champion James Dobbin (Adeo Cadence RT) showed his road racing form with victory in the First Chard Wheelers Huish Episcopi Road Race in Somerset on Sunday.

Dobbin was part of a seven-rider break which went clear early in the race and stayed away until the line, where he held off VC Montpellier's Conor Ryan.

Brenan Townsend was one of two Mid-Devon CC riders in the break, but he had to settle for third in the end.

Like most races across the country, rain and strong winds greeted the riders and an initial field of 70 was whittled down to just 29 by the end of the event.

But the heavy rain at the start didn't stop the break going almost from the gun, with Seb Baylis (Mid-Devon CC) driving the initial escape.

The pace of the break was such that the bunch began to fragment, and as it did some riders dug deep and tried - unsuccessful - to bridge the gap to the leaders.

Peter Vincent attacked off the bunch in a bid to make it three Mid-Devon CC riders in the leading group, but he blew up about 20 seconds short of catching them.

The rain stopped for the closing stages of the race but the wind grew stronger, making the finish a real struggle but one that Dobbin eventually won.

Results:
1 James Dobbin (Adeo Cadence RT) 2-40-00
2 Conor Ryan (VC Montpelier)
3 Brenan Townsend (Mid-Devon CC)
4 Seb Baylis (Mid-Devon CC)
5 Ross Clayton (Climb On Bikes) all @ same time
6 Peter Vincent (Mid-Devon CC) @ 2-10
7 Hefin Price (Port Talbot Wheelers) @ 2-30
8 Jason Duckworth (Team Tor 2000)
9 Ben Pedley (Cheltenham & County CC)
10 Andy Miles (Durham University CC) all @ same time