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Southend
Wheeler Junior George Pearl (17), rounded off a recent string of top ten
places with an impressive win on Saturday in the Eagle Road Club Race at
Hog Hill. Just 10 minutes into the 1 hour race, Pearl started to wind up
the pace forcing a break from the bunch, taking two riders away with
him. Of the 71 mostly senior riders the two were, like Pearl, both
Juniors, Alex Peters of CC Hackney and Mat
Cook of API Metrow |
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The gap from the bunch immediately stretched to 6 seconds. Pearl, drove his small group on to commit to the break, encouraging the other two to ride ever harder each time they came to the hill, and to maintain the pace on the flat sections. The lead continued to extend until at the halfway mark the pace on the day became too much for Cook and he dropped off, eventually to be engulfed by the chasing bunch, but not before he had bravely helped drive the lead out to 40 seconds. Lap after lap the two continued to increase their lead until with the gap at a minute, two riders broke free from the bunch and started to make progress on Pearl and Peters. The chasing two closed the gap to 45 seconds with the chasing bunch now at I min 10 secs, at which point the gaps stabilised. In the last 3 laps the Pearl and Peters partnership was dissolved as both prepared to settle the final outcome. Pearl, never wanting to leave it until a final sprint, tried all his usual tricks and tactics but could not shake Peters off and was forced to sprint it out for the chequered flag. Coming up the hill towards the line the two were wheel to wheel and in the thrilling final surge there was still nothing between them. As they crossed the line the watching crowd audibly groaned, as by eyesight alone is was not possible to determine the winner. There was a long painful wait as the judges scrutenised the photo finish, but eventually Pearl was announced as the winner. This was cause for a double celebration as this win confirmed Pearl’s promotion from 3rd to 2nd category rider, which means that in future races he will be up against some of the best senior riders in the country, including local heroes Jason White and Dean Shannon. On Sunday three Southend members rode in the Witham Wanderer 104 km Audaz Randenee from Woodham Mortimer to Stisted and back. Alison Horsley, Mike Street and 80 years old Roy Godbeer all completed the course in 4 hours, 30 minutes, including a lunch stop at Stisted. There was also a high turn out of members for the training and social rides at Canewdon.> |
