E/1/2 - 60km

After a very casual start that saw the 3/4/W/V/J race catch and pass them, the big boys eventually got themselves going when a select group of four got away from the smallish bunch.  This group contained Luke Myers (Team Axiom), Justin Hoy(Evans RT), Paul Pickup(Liphook RT) and Lee Day(Sport & Publicity), regular Eelmore riders all four.  They easily maintained or increased the distance from the chasers every lap and it was a case of individual riding for no real purpose back in the bunch, instead of getting it together, working together and trying to pull them back.  Another case of race up the road and we're racing for 5th place!!!  Tom Smith (Prestige VC.com/Viner bikes) did try to get across once or twice to his credit, but with tired legs and fraught nerves from his first outing on the Reading track and spangly new fixed wheel bike on Monday, he decided to leave it to the sprint.  In the last few laps there were a few attempts from the leading four to break things up and get away, with Luke gaining 30-40 metres for a few laps, but it all came together and was decided on a sprint, with last weeks Guildford winner Justin Hoy, dressed in rather fetching Lance'esque sock type attire (see photo), who pipped Paul Pickup to the line with Lee rolling in 3rd and Luke just behind, spent after trying to get away alone!  The remaining bunch had split into a pack of six and the rest, making the judges' lives a bit easier at least!  Tom Smith duly won the sprint followed by "old man" Alan Flight (Luciano) and Eelmore newcomer Fergus Brady (Pearsons).  You'll note, and it was nice to see, the VC Meudon only taking 1 point in the form of Dave Larcombe after their Surrey League Jaunts 5 Day team domination and scare tactics!!!  Shame!!

Result

1    Justin Hoy                Evans RT

2    Paul Pickup                Liphook Cycles RT

3    Lee Day                    Team Sport & Publicity

4    Luke Myers                Team Axiom

5    Tom Smith                Prestige VC.Com/Viner

6    Alex Peterson            Reading CC/MAR Services/T3

7    Alan Flight                Team Luciano

8    Fergus Brady            Pearson Cycles

9    John Mulholland        Reading CC

10    Dave Larcombe        VC Meudon

11    Colin Addison            VC Meudon

12    Kieran Williams        BC Private

13    Mick Metcalfe            Team Axiom

14    Robin Dix                VC Meudon

3/4/W/J - 55km

After having a year off, Berni Charlick of CCB 2000 has certainly come back with a bang tonight at Eelmore.  He was off the front and catching the Elites within two laps and maintained a sizeable lead for a good few more until the pack turned up the speed and caught him back.  A break of five went away shortly after containing Max Harris (Army CU), Richard Waler (CCB 2000), Roy Ludford (Team Axiom), Sam Sturgeon (Evans RT) and  Dean Frost (Liphook RT), however the latter two dropped off the pace once Berni Charlick crossed a gap of 200 metres and immediately advanced the pace of the leading bunch.  A very impressive ride on the night by the 46 year old!  With a few laps to go, Berni once again rode away from the others to solo in alone some 30 seconds ahead, with Richard Waler clipping off to come in 2nd and alone and the rest being decided in dribs and drabs down to 10th place.  Once again, shame to see no VC Meudon placing top 10, not that I'm all bitter and twisted or anything!!!!!!! :-)

Result

1    Berni Charlick        CCB 2000

2    Richard Waler        CCB 2000

3    Roy Ludford            Team Axiom

4    Max Harris            Army CU

5    Dean Frost            Liphook Cycles RT

6    Richard Pearman        Team Axiom

7    Neil Cooper            Reading CC

8    Sam Sturgeon        Evans RT

9    Eamon Watson        Peloton

10    Damien McKeaveney    CCB 2000

11    Nigel Meadows        Beyond MTB's

12    Steven Ferris        VC Meudon

13    Coco Moody        Kingston Wheelers

14    Jackie Roberts        Beyond MTB's

15    Keith Brooks        VC Meudon

DNF    Paul Cooper        Reading CC (wrapped his hand in!)

Youths

Crashes are just like buses, you get none for ages and then two come along together.  They must have been watching Le Tour!!  Poor Gareth Dickinson, off to Holland to race in seven days time and he'll be carrying some battle scars to impress the clogheads!  He was out there, all alone, rounding a bend he has done hundreds of times before and down he went!  Cuts and grazes and bruised pride, but nothing more serious thankfully.  New shorts required though Mr Samuels of Team Luciano please!!!  Not to be outdone, Rob Jackson (Farnborough & Camberley CC/Luciano cycles), on the wheel of Toby Meadows (Beyond MTB's) and into the last lap, fell in exactly the same spot!!  Nightmare!!  After covering 50 metres of grass and race track in a little under 4.2 seconds, Mrs Alison Jackson, the "whoops I've come to a grievance's" mum must surely be good for a gold in the Olympics next year?  Just smear her youngest at the end of the track and watch her light up the runway!  Rob was heard to say "Mum, I'm going to die" as he hollered a throaty cry, but I fear he was just worried what his old fella, Phillip "competitive dad" Jackson would say when he saw the damage done to the shiny new Ultegra STI unit end covery bits!  See classy photo's for damage reports!  Anyway, Toby Meadows quite easily won the race, with Rob getting back on his bike to complete the event (after "gentle" persuasion by yours truly) as he's desperate for the Surrey League points apparently!  I reckon BC are going to have to increase levies for 2004 to cover the cost of my wet wipe and wound dressing bills alone!!!

Result

1    Toby Meadows        Beyond MTB's

2    Rob Jackson            Farnborough & Camberley CC/Luciano cycles (crashed but finished)

DNF    Gareth Dickinson    Farnborough & Camberley CC/Luciano cycles (crashed big style!!)

Another big thanks to all the helpers and spectators, especially Lorraine Day for sweeping the corners (again - thanks!) and Katkins for the admin support.