Location: Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire
Event: 28 January 2012
Report: Snowdon Sports

The promoting club’s Jack Rees won the opening round of the Velo29 Winter Series at the Croft Motor Circuit in North Yorkshire on Saturday.

The 22-year-old first cat rider from Stockton on Tees came out on top after the handicap race for all categories, holding off 26-year-old Mike Sloanes (Sunderland Clarion), while Scottish 17-year-old Ryan Fenwick (Gala CC) made the trip from Kelso worthwhile with third spot.

And in the Regional C+ race for fourth cat riders, Halifax 16-year-old Levi Moody (Pedalsport CC) took victory from Durham-based Matt Rossiter (Durham University CC), while Carl Donaldson, the 31-year-old Breeze Bikes rider from Morpeth, took third.

Last year was the first running of this popular event and we expected good numbers today but we were all blown away by the massive 113 competitors who turned out.

Lots of work goes into making Velo29 Events a success and we were delighted with the attendance, a huge thank you to everyone who turned up and made the event such a success!

Racing got underway at 11:30 with the 4th Cat/Go-Race event and an amazing 74 riders took to the line in two groups. Go-race went off first with a 45 second handicap over the 4th cat riders. To our knowledge this is one of the biggest 4th cat/Go-Race fields in ever seen in North East racing!

Despite many first timers in the bunch the good conditions made the racing fast with some spirited attacks from the gun. There was never to be any catching of young Levi Moody from Pedalsport CC who spent the majority of the race in front alone with a brave and impressive ride to romp home with a huge advantage over the chasing bunch.

Matt Rossiter of Durham University CC brought the bunch home ahead of Carl Donaldson in third place. It was great to see so many first timers taking to racing and we really do hope you enjoyed the event and will make it back to the next 2 races.

After the prize presentation the E/1/2/3/4 race was underway, again an impressive size field made even bigger by the 4th cats taking the opportunity to ride both events for one entry fee.

We set the riders off in three groups: 4th cats, then 3rd cats then finally 1st and 2nd. No elites were present.

The race came together on lap 5 with an attack launched immediately from Velo29 Elite Team rider Jack Rees. Another 4 riders joined Jack and this was to be the winning move. Despite a number of aggressive attacks and some counter moves by Velo29 Team Mates, the Rees bunch was never going to be caught.

Jack controlled the small break well and with 200 metres to go jumped clear to cross the line, arms in the air to claim Velo29′s first victory of the season. Michael Sloanes of Sunderland Clarion crossed the line second, closely followed by Ryan Fenwick of Gala CC.

A great start to the 2012 season, an amazing turn out and loads of new riders to the sport.

There are two more Winter Series events on Feb 11 and 18, followed by the prestigious North East Trophy on the 25th. All events are at Croft and can be entered via the velo29.com web site.

Thank you all, riders, spectators and our loyal helpers for you contributions to opening the season in such style. Hope to see you all and more on the 11th Feb.

Results:

E1234 Handicap:
1 Jack Rees (Velo29)
2 Mike Sloanes (Sunderland Clarion)
3 Ryan Fenwick (Gala CC)
4 Sean Moon (Edinburgh RC)
5 Matt Rossiter (Durham Univ CC)
6 Chris Mark (Velo29)
7 Matthew Bulmer (Dirt Wheels Cycles)
8 Andy Heath (Fietsen Tempo)
9 Mark Johnson (Yorkshire Road Club)

4th Cat:
1 Levi Moody (Pedalsport CC)
2 Matt Rossiter (Durham Univ CC)
3 Carl Donaldson (Breeze Bikes)
4 Ruari Grant (Durhan Univ CC)
5 Steven Bell (unattached)
6 Chris Ranson (Infinity Cycles)
7 Will Russ (Durham Univ CC)
8 Paul Cottrell (Sunderland Clarion)
9 Craig Smith (Colomba)
10 Robert Allport (unattached)

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.