Army CU/Allsports International Energy Products Eelmore Circuit Race 04 June 2003

What started out as a fairly mild and bright day turned into a bit of a puncture nightmare as the heavens opened and the grit was washed around the circuit.  A better turn out saw some fast and exciting racing, with very close sprint finishes deciding both events.  Justin Hoy takes over as winner in the E/1/2 with Paul Pickup missing out by the width of a tyre and Lee Day obviously recovering for 3rd.  Luke Myers was pretty much out there all day and well deserves his 4th place, as does Nick Dawes in 5th.  James Millard gave a brave effort to try and get across to the bunch but just never made it, puncturing just as he crossed the finish line too!  Dave Larcombe also took a jump on the bunch after sitting on, as per!!!  The bunch came in close together in a furious sprint won by Tom Smith from Matt Starey and about a dozen other survivors.

Results

E/1/2

1    Justin Hoy            Evans RT

2    Paul Pickup        Liphook Cycles

3    Lee Day            Sport & Publicity

4    Luke Myers        Team Axiom

5    Nick Dawes        Farnborough & Camberley/Luciano.co.uk

6    James Millard     API Bikes.com

7    Dave Larcombe    VC Meudon

8    Tom Smith            Prestige VC.com/viner

9    Matt Starey          Pacific Racing

10  Alex Peterson        Reading CC

3/4/W/V/J

1    Nick Allen            VC Meudon

2    Neil Cooper           Reading CC

3    Lee Smith            VC Meudon

4    Ashley Lambert    Economic Energy

5    Sam Sturgeon        Evans RT

6    D. McKeaveney    CCB 2000

7    Anthony Maynard    Reading CC

8    D Smith                Evans RT

9    Nick Pickering        Army CU

10  Eamon Watson    Peloton

Race numbers 20, 41, 57, 40, 44 & 101 - YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE - are on an official warning after being spotted tagging onto the back of the E/1/2 race and gaining an advantage.  Next time you'll be DQ'd without remorse from my good self and the team of organisers.  Be warned, no cheating at Eelmore please.  Enough said!

Well, the VC Meudon were out in force once again and rode well to set up Nick Allen with the win.  Neil Cooper - still a junior and famed for his wicked turn of speed on the track would have won, had there been a few more yards apparently, but I'm sure Nick will say he still would have had the legs to fend him off!  Lee Smith finalised the podium places for VC Meudon - so named after their twin town somewhere in France.  So, it's up to all the others to find out how to beat them, now that they have laid down the foundations for complete domination at Eelmore this season.  Can anyone stop them?

Youths

A very poor turn out saw just three start.  Not very nice for young Andrew Ferris who's riding alongside the far stronger and more experienced pair of Gareth Dickinson and Rob Jackson, the latter two riding together with Gareth once again sprinting clear of him at the end.  Young Andrew wanted to pack, but with a few choice words of encouragement from Dad and others, he was back on his way to complete the 20 minutes of racing.  Well done young 'un!

Result

1    Gareth Dickinson    Farnborough & Camberley/Luciano.co.uk

2    Rob Jackson          Farnborough & Camberley/Luciano.co.uk

3    Andrew Ferris        Farnborough & Camberley/Luciano.co.uk

It's refreshing to see so many youngsters sporting the distinctive gold and black Team Luciano kit nowadays.  Dudley Samuels, Team Luciano supremo, is doing a fine job to promote the sport through the youngster ranks, while gathering together a good, strong ladies team as well.  Good luck to you and all the best for the teams.

If I could ask you all to do me a favour and visit our sponsors website at www.allsports-int.co.uk and see what products they have that will be of benefit to you.  I personally recommend Amino Load for recovery and winter training fuel for those longer rides, particularly in the cold and wet of our winters, it's also ideal as race food I've found, so if you have trouble or forget to eat during long races, this is for you!  Finale Boost is a perfect mixture of Caffeine and carb's for the last 10-15 miles of a race or as a pre-TT booster instead of a dodgy cup of coffee from the HQ!  If any of you are interested in any of the products, let me know and I'll get it to you at preferential Eelmore rider rates!  E-mail me on gary_k@v21mail.co.uk for prices and availability.