Round 9 - Aston Down

A perfect summers evening greeted riders for the final round of the CCRL hosted by the extravagant Las Vegas Institute of Sport Cycle team. The venue was Aston Down Airfield; this was the first time a cycling event has taken place there, thanks mostly to the co-operation of the Cotswold Gliding Club.

The race took in 6 circuits of the airfield which included riding down the main runway then back up it again and also included some tight corners.

Three groups set of as per normal, with 3 minutes and 4 minutes separating the groups with group two being by far the largest group which showed as they caught the first group quite soon on.

The scratch group were working hard, instigated by Lee Davis (Pinarello), probably spurred on by the BBQ afterwards which only resulted in reducing the group even smaller so the group resigned to the fact their efforts were in vain.

There were numerous attempts from the middle group to break away but none succeeded, with just 1k to go 20 riders were still in with a chance of a win.

With 200 metres to go, which included the 2 final bends, George Bryant (Tri-Team Glos) made the text book move, getting to the corners first and accelerating out to take the win followed in by the VC Montpellier pair of Simon Willis and James Smith and the rest of the main bunch. Overall series winner Kurt Green, came in with the scratch group arms aloft amid the cheers of the watching spectators.

 1. George Bryant (Tri Team Glos)
 2. Simon Willis (VC Montpellier)          10
 3. James Smith (VC Montpellier)            9
 4. Marcus Mumford (LVIS)                   8
 5. Iain McKenny (VC Montpellier)           7
 6. James Alexander (Swindon RC)            6
 7. Phil Moore (LVIS)                       5
 8. Andy Barnes (Swindon RC)                4
 9. David White
10. Claire Smith (Swindon RC)               3
11. Nick Mason
12. Michael Horsman (Gloucester City CC)    2
13. Michael Grey (Swindon RC)               1
14. John Rawlings (VC Montpellier)
15. Graham Brookhouse (VC Montpellier)
16. Matt Bernard (VC Montpellier)
17. Steve Hill (VC Montpellier)
18. Kurt Green (VC Montpellier)
19. Ian Packer (VC Montpellier)
20. Lee Davies (Pinarello RT)

Prime 1: Jerry McGarr
Prime 2: Iain McInnes (VC Montpellier)

Final Overall

 1. Kurt Green (VC Montpellier)            47
 2. Ian Packer (VC Montpellier)            26
 3. Marcus Eales (LVIS)                    25
 4. Pete Hutchinson (Corinium CC)          23
 5. Phillip Moore (LVIS)                   22
 6. Colin Mattinson (VC Montpellier)       20
 7. James Griffin (VC Montpellier)         15
 8. Ian Alexander (Cheltenham & County CC) 13
    Marcus Mumford (LVIS)                  13
10. Andy Wilcox (LVIS)                     12
11. Simon Willis (VC Montpellier)          10
12. Crispin Doyle (Swindon RC)              9
    James Smith (VC Montpellier)            9
    David Roper (Corinium CC)               9
15. Ian Reece (Newbury RC)                  8
16. Iain McInnes (VC Montpellier)           7
    Dave Asbridge (Cheltenham & County CC)  7
    Steve Yates (Corinium CC)               7
19. John Smith (Swindon RC)                 6
    Andy Bentley (Swindon RC)               6
    James Alexander (Swindon RC)            6
22. Andy Barnes (Swindon RC)                4
23. Clare Smith (Swindon RC)                3
24. Michael Horsman (Gloucester City CC)    2
25. Michael Grey (Swindon RC)               1

Final Team classification

 1. VC Montpellier                        134
 2. LVIS                                   72
 3. Corinium CC                            39
 4. Swindon RC                             35
 5. Cheltenham & County CC                 20
 6. Gloucester City CC                      2

Round 8 - Chedworth

A cool evening greeted the riders for the Cheltenham & County Cycle Club round of the league at Chedworth. There was a good turn out which meant three evenly sized groups set off with equal time gaps.

As it was the fast moving scratch group caught the middle group after two of the four laps - soon followed by the remnants of the first group.

The strong riders from the scratch group immediately started attacking and a group of five quickly escaped the bunch. Colin Mattinson, Lee Davis, Duncan Jamieson, Ian Packer and Ian Alexander got their heads down and did what they could to stay away.

They worked well right to the last kilometre where Jamieson decided to attack on a rise before the last bend. It was well timed and he managed to hold on for the win as Mattinson claimed the sprint for second.

The bunch behind waited for the sprint which was lead in by Pete Hutchinson.

 1. Duncan Jamieson (Felt Racing)
 2. Colin Mattinson (VC Montpellier)       10
 3. Ian Alexander (Cheltenham & County CC)  9
 4. Lee Davis (Pinarello RT)
 5. Ian Packer (VC Montpellier)             8
 6. Peter Hutchinson (Corinium CC)          7
 7. James Griffin (VC Montpellier)          6
 8. George Bryant (Tri Team Glos)
 9. Marcus Eales (LVIS)                     5
10. Mark French

Round 7 - Castle Coombe

Video: [YouTube]

Showing his strength after returning to racing in the previous round Neil Coleman proved he hasn't lost any form by winning today on a rain soaked circuit. Jon Pain had launched his sprint from a long way out but couldn't quite hold on as Coleman came past right on the line.

 1. Neil Coleman
 2. Jonathan Pain (GWR)
 3. Jason White	(BCDS)
 4. Grant Bayton (Sport Beans - Wilier)
 5. Callum Lister (Torq - Colnago)
 6. Richard Forrest (CC Cardiff)
 7. Graham Clarke (Velo Club Walcot)
 8. Kevin O'Hara (Army Cycling Union)
 9. Lewis King
10. Philip Moore (LVIS)                    10
11. Shaun Harding (Severn RC)
12. Ashley Roles
13. Lee King
14. David Roper (Corinium CC)               9
15. Tom Southam (Team Halfords Bikehut)
16. Neil White (Bristol RC)
17. Colin Parry (VC St Raphael)
18. Robert Peart (BCDS)
19. Kurt Green (Velo Club Montpellier)      8
20. Peter Scott (Total Fitness Bath)

Round 6 - Liddington

Photos: [Facebook] Video: [Facebook] [YouTube]

Blustery conditions were the order of the day (similar to those in the Tour de France) for the Newbury RC event based around Liddington. Three groups set of as per usual each separated by three minutes. With only six riders in the scratch group they had their work cut out to make up the deficit. Luckily elite riders Neil Coleman (back from injury) and Lee Davis were on hand to add some extra power to the four VC Montpellier riders.

The rolling course and windy conditions made for a hard race with several riders loosing touch from the front two groups. As it were they came together on the second lap with the scratch group still chasing behind. Eventually their efforts paid of and they caught the leaders with half a lap to go. Coleman and Davis immediately started attacking - trying to drop the others but with fresh legs the group wouldn't let them go.

It was with 1km to go that Sam McCurdy attacked. Closely followed by Ian Packer the two entered the last 200m with a narrow margin over the bunch behind. McCurdy kicked again and took the win with Packer conceding to the bunch led in by Lee Davis.

 1. Sam McCurdy (Pro Map RT)
 2. Lee Davis (Pinarello RT)
 3. Colin Mattinson (VC Montpellier)           10
 4. Kurt Green (VC Montpellier)                 9
 5. Ian Reece (Newbury RC)                      8
 6. Martyn Harris (Banjocycles.com)
 7. Adam Buckland (Banjocycles.com)
 8. Marcus Eales (LVIS)                         7
 9. Andy Bentley (Swindon RC)                   6
10. Marcus Mumford (LVIS)                       5
11. Ian Packer (VC Montpellier)                 4
12. Lewis King

Round 5 - Winchcombe

Photos: [VCM]

Kurt green continues with his good current form by finishing in 5th place but still getting the maximum Cotswold league points. Round 5 was hosted by VC Montpellier whose course took in the tough circuit of Winchcombe and Greet. The riders knew from the start it would be a tough race.

The usual 3 groups set of as in previous rounds; the handicapping was spot on as the groups came together on the last lap. Jason White (B.C.D.S) escaped the bunch on the wheel of Duncan Jamieson (Felt Racing) who had set off in pursuit of Adrian Bird (Echelon-Spiuk) as the race entered the last kilometre. Bird had tried his luck again in similar fashion to last week but was caught in sight of the finish by Jamieson. Here White made his move and sprinted clear for the win with Jamieson in second. Bird hung on for third whilst the bunch behind sprinted for 4th. Series leader Green came in 5th.

 1. Jason White (Bristol RC)
 2. Duncan Jamieson (Felt Racing)
 3. Adrian Bird (Echelon - Spiuk)
 4. Graham Waller (Shreffrec CC)
 5. Kurt Green (VC Montpellier)            10
 6. Ian Packer (VC Montpellier)             9
 7. Pete Hutchinson (Corinium CC)           8
 8. Dave Asbridge (Cheltenham & County CC)  7
 9. Andrew Wilcox (LVIS)                    6
10. Marcus Eales (LVIS)                     5
11. George Bryant (Tri Team Glos)
12. Dave Hayward (Private)

Prime 1: Pat Alexander (Cheltenham & County CC) [Courtesy of Lady Jane's - Winchcombe]
Prime 2: Marcus Eales (LVIS) [Courtesy of CPLC Associates]

Round 4 - Staunton

Kurt Green made it maximum points after the latest round of the CCRL at Staunton in Gloucestershire. The latest event, hosted by Gloucester City CC, took in 8 laps of the fast and flat Staunton/Corse circuit.

The usual 3 groups set off with 4 minutes separating them. A high pace was set in each group with speeds topping 30mph. Anyone hoping to break away needed to work very hard due to the high speeds being maintained, 2 riders managed to bridge the gap from the 2nd group to the first, the remainder of the 2nd group caught them with 4 laps to go. The scratch group worked well together and their hard work paid of catching the swollen 1st group just as light rain began to fall. The finish would suit the sprinters now.

Coming up to the last bend, Adrian Bird from the Echelon cycling team managed to open a small gap and used the remains of his energy to make it to the line before getting caught. The first 5 finishers did not qualify for CCRL points so Kurt’s fine sprint for 6th place earned him maximum points, with the remaining points going to his team mate Jason Griffin and the Corinium CC pair of Pete Hutchinson and Steve Yates.

 1. Adrian Bird (Echelon)
 2. Jason White (BCDS)
 3. Scott Chalmers (Johns Bikes)
 4. Graham Waller (Sheffrec CC)
 5. Lee Davis (Pinarello RT)
 6. Kurt Green (VC Montpellier)            10
 7. James Griffin (VC Montpellier)          9
 8. Jon Pain (GWR)
 9. George Bryant (Tri Team Glos)
10. Pete Hutchinson (Corinium CC)           8
11. Steve Yates (Corinium CC)               7
12. #43 ([Grey])
13. ? (Severn RC?)
14. Andy Wilcox (LVIS)                      6

Prime 1: Richard Cook (VC Montpellier)
Prime 2: Andy Kirk (LVIS)

Round 3 - Aldbourne

Photos: [SRC] [Facebook]

The 2009 Cotswold Cycle Race League finally got under way this week after the previous rounds fell foul to either the weather or teething problems. The latest round was hosted by the Swindon Road Club whose riders were out in force to gauge to see if their winter training had been in vain.

3 groups set out from Aldbourne Village, the 1st going were the 4th cat riders and the only lady of the race SRC’s Clare Hall. Next away were the intermediate riders then the scratch riders containing some strong riders.

The course took them up the long drag towards snap where they turned left before turning left again taking them on to the long descent back into Aldbourne. There was an early break from group 1 including riders from Swindon and the Las Vegas Institute of sport team,2 riders managed to get away from group 2,Kurt Green of VC Montpelier and SRC’s Crispin Doyle . The scratch group were working hard together to catch the previous groups. Kurt and Cris’s hard work paid off and caught the first group where they went on to catch the break away from group 1. The scratch group had also managed to bridge the gaps to the first group The race was climaxing for a great finish.

Coming up to the last climb to the finish Kurt managed to have the strongest pair of legs out of the 2 riders and managed to get to the finish line first with Cris a few seconds behind. The scratch group managed to catch the remnants of the group at the bottom of the climb and followed the stragglers in. The riders certainly felt they had been in a race afterwards!

Kurt will be the proud wearer of the leagues green jersey awarded to the overall leader going into the next round at Staunton Gloucestershire next Tuesday 24th starting 7pm

1. Kurt Green (VC Montpellier) 10 2. Crispin Doyle (Swindon Road Club) 9 3. Marcus Eales (LVIS) 8 4. Phillip Moore (LVIS) 7 5. John Smith (Swindon Road Club) 6 6. Lee Daivs (Pinarello RT) 7. Scott Chalmers (Johns Bikes) 8. Peter Kench (GWR) 9. Ian Packer (VC Montpellier) 5 10. Ian Alexander (Cheltenham & County CC) 4 Prime 1: Phillip Moore (LVIS) Prime 2: Phillip Moore (LVIS)

Round 2 - Brinkworth

Cancelled due to flooding.

Round 1 - Down Ampney

Due to the rather interesting turn of events and change of format to Corinium CC promotion that took place on 20th May all results / placings will not count towards the 2008 Cotswold Cycle Racing League. We apologise to all those that turned up and raced with the intention of scoring points, but with three different groups (two of them finishing together) and no proper ‘handicapping’ taking place, the event cannot be classed as a handicap road race – which is the format around which the entire league is based – therefore no points can be awarded!!

The 2008 league will now run over a total of seven events (starting with the Chippenham Wheelers event on Tuesday 3rd June) with your best placings in five of those seven events counting towards the overall league positions.

For the record, Colin Mattinson (VC Montpellier) crossed the line first from the main scratch group and last years league winner, Sam McCurdy (ProMap RT), won the sprint from the ‘middle group’ who were the last bunch on the road.

We look forward to seeing you all at the Chippenham Wheelers event on 3rd June for a handicap road race that will count towards the Cotswold League.

Andy
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Co-ordinator
Cotswold Cycle Racing League