CCC News

Caesareans' compete in UK road race

Image by Belinda Sinclair - belinda.sinclair@blueyonder.co.uk

Four riders from Jersey’s Caesarean Cycling Club – Chris Spence, Adam Wojtkiewicz, Robin Ovenden and Chris Seviour – took part in the 50th anniversary of the National B race, the Dulwich Primavera Wally Gimber Trophy, on 15 March. This tough 75 mile classic early-season event takes in the undulating countryside of rural Kent and always attracts a top class field of riders.

Warm, early spring sunshine and blue sky graced the 50th Wally Gimber ride, which is usually held in appalling early season conditions. The welcome appearance of the warm weather seemed to bring out the best in the 80 riders, to produce several early breaks, some hard fought chases and a couple of escapees, most of whom were caught after steady riding and work-sharing between the bunch as well as the fact that the course comprised fast and relatively straight roads without any hard climbs.

Eventually a move broke away from the main bunch, without any of the Jersey contingent, establishing a gap of between 1:30 to 20 seconds, with no real concerted chase emerging from the chasing pack. It was from this leading bunch that Rob Hurd of DHC Colnago emerged to break from the front group of riders to cross the line first, in 3 hours 4:23, to take his fourth Wally Gimber title. Of the Jersey riders, Adam Wojtkiewicz placed highest at 32nd, fifty seconds behind the race winner. Chris Spence also finished in the main bunch, back in 51st place.

Whilst continental riders might have to contend with the famous Belgian pavé of the early Spring classics, the Jersey riders faced the English alternative in the form of potholes, which caused problems for Robin Ovenden and Chris Seviour, who both suffered serious mechanical difficulties but who still managed to ride the distance and to finish the race. Chris Spence was not immune to bad luck and finished with an almost flat front tyre that had started to deflate on the last lap, together with a cracked front carbon rim, resulting from an excursion into one of the pot holes on the course. [CS, KP]

Result

1. Rob Hurd DHC Colnago
2. David Creeggan VC Meudon +0:07s
3. John Heaton-Armstrong Fit-For
4. Mark Daly private member
5. Richard Mason Fit-For
6. Herny Furniss WyndyMilla
7. Grant Bayton Sportsbeans/Wilier
8. Roger Smith Wildside707RT
9. Chris McNamara Team Corley
10. Rob Enslin AWcycles.co.uk
11. Andy Betts SigmaSport/Specialized/Sportful
12. Tom Hemnant London Dynamo
13. Steven Saunders Kingston Wheelers
14. Daniel Felstead Dulwich Paragon
15. Alex Higham WyndyMilla (+0:50s)
16. james stuart Norwood Paragon
17. Ben Luckwell Sportsbeans/Wilier
18. Tom Smith AWcycles.co.uk
19. Justin Hoy Felt Racing
20. Simon McNamara Wildside 707 RT
21. Josh Cunningham In-Gear Development Squad
22. Andy Davies Fit-For
23. Jason Humphries Norwood Paragon
24. Billy Joe Whenman Sportsbeans/Wilier
25. Darren barclay Arctic Premier RT
26. Guy Powdrill London Dynamo
27. stephen skuse private member
28. Julian Bray Dulwich Paragon
29. Philip Jones Dulwich Paragon
30. Ian Paine London Dynamo
31. John Venness
32. Adam Wojtkiewicz Caesarean Cycling Club
33. Adam Cotterell In-Gear Development Squad
34. Mark Perry Dulwich Paragon
35. Mark Sussex Wildside 707 RT
36. Mark Perry Sportsbeans/Wilier
37. Kevin Knox Dulwich Paragon
38. Doug Baldock In-Gear Development Squad
39. Jaco Ehlers In-Gear Development Squad
40. Alex Peterson AWcycles.co.uk
41. Warren Jesse Felt Racing
42. Ishmael Burdeau Agiskoviner.com
43. Shaun Reed Bayeaux Landscapes
44. David Kennett Norwood Paragon
45. Steve Calland Norwood Paragon
46. Gary Dodd Sigma Sport
47. Matthew Melville AWcycles.co.uk
48. Ashley Holding Wildside 707 RT
49. Andy Waterman Dulwich Paragon
50. Russell Shingles In-Gear Development Squad
51. Chris Spence Caesarean Cycling Club
52. David Seager San Fairy Anne CC
53. Chaz Hollosi Gemini BC
54. Joe Hemnant London Dynamo
55. g mccullough Medway Velo
56. Jake Butler In-Gear Development Squad
57. John Wager Felt Racing
58. Michael Kingan Fit-For
59. Matthew Miles Wildside 707 RT
60. Toby Neave Southdown Velo
61. Valentino Fontana Colour-tech Lapped
62. Gyles Wingate In-Gear Development Squad

BCF Report here...

Northern Europe has its Spring Classics for the professional peloton but riders in the South East of England have their own classics too, with three top races in March. If the new race on the block, the Dengie Marshes, is the British equivalent to Paris-Roubaix, the longer established Jock Wadley and Wally Gimber trophy races are the South East's versions of the Tour of Flanders and Omloop.

This year is a very special one for the Wally Gimber as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Wally Gimber always attracts a top class field and this year is no exception. There's a mix of strong individual riders, including Rob Hurd who is going for a record breaking fourth win in the event. Teams such as Sport Beans Wilier and Fit-For both field strong line ups whilst the leading London teams will be there too, including the London Dynamo, Norwood Paragon and the promoting Dulwich Paragon.

For more information on the Jock Wadley & Wally Gimber trophy races go to http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/.

50th Wally Gimber Road Race, 15 March 2009

Caesareans' compete in UK road race