Met Police Road Race - Sun 25th March

Metropolitan Police Road Race - Sun 25th Mar 2007 - Cat 3/4, Hatfield Heath

Report from Trevor Burke

With a full compliment of 5 North Road riders entered we were looking to make a good start to the Essex RR League season and build on the good team racing from the end of last year.

On a cold morning the race started very steadily with no rider willing to commit to making the pace and any attempted break away efforts quickly shut down.

Tony B and Trevor were holding a high position in the bunch with Ian, Tony M and Frank sitting comfortably in the middle of the pack .

With the start of the 3rd lap of 5 the pace started to hot up with Ian showing well at the front and Tony working hard to make and close down any breaks. This resulted in the pace of the bunch increasing.

The fourth lap saw things start to liven up with Ian making numerous attempts to get away off the front  forcing the bunch to chase. At the end of the lap Frank came through from the pack and started to make a big effort at the front this helped push the pace even harder.

After his hard work in the middle part of the race Ian started to feel the pace and slipped back into the pack with Tony M.

 Frank, Tony and Trevor were placed at the front of the bunch covering aggressive riding from Harlow and Eagle riders with Tony closing a number of breaks allowing Trevor to hold his position at the front of the bunch.

The pace getting to high for any rider to get away Trevor started to position himself at the front of the bunch for the final rise to the finish. Tony having done great work pulled off of the front as the field strung out for the finish.

Trevor got onto the 4th wheel and waited to go through the final bend into the slightly up hill finish, with two riders making the jump for the finish Trevor was able to get onto a wheel and come through to win by just about a bike length.

Frank came through finishing at the front of the bunch and the rest of the team following in the main part of the group.

With the morning completed with a celebratory cup of tea and the obligatory wait for the finishing places to be sorted out. The journey home was a good one.

 

1	Trevor Burke	North Road CC
2	Michael Watts	St Ives CC
3	Hugo Robbins	Team Economic Energy
4	Jason Jeffers	Team Economic Energy
5	Mark Westrup	VC Baracchi
6	Lawrence Oldershaw	Cycle Club Ashwell
7	Richard Wood	Angliasport
8	Brad Lamb	Victoria CC
9	Barry McDonald	Interbike RT
10	Jamie Caldwell	St Ives CC