Club Road Race Championships 2010

On Saturday Southend Wheelers took over the Redbridge Cycle Circuit at Hog Hill for the annual running of the club’s Road Race Championships. Thirty eight riders were listed to compete in the three races scheduled and together with their friends and family supporters, there were about seventy people in attendance in warm sunny conditions.
 

George Pearl & Mark Elms make an early break

George Pearl powers to a solo victory

Twenty competitors lined up for the first race which was for the Senior, Junior and Veterans Championships. Included in the field was youth rider fifteen years old Matt Kane, aiming for the Junior title and the only lady in the field veteran Denise Kemp up against the male vets. After two laps a pattern was established at the front of the field with junior George Pearl, last year’s winner, taking the lead with Mark Elms in close attendance. However, Pearl, showing his hill climbing skills, soon had the lead to him self and was never to be challenged. Mark Elms continued alone with dad Martin, Graham Pearl, Matt Kane and time trial specialist Robin Bevan forming the chasing group, with the remainder of the field in the second chasing group. Soon Bevan was dropped from the chasing group and later Matt Kane lost contact, leaving Martin Elms and Graham Pearl to fight it out for third place and the Veterans Championship. At the end of the one hour plus one lap race, George Pearl crossed the finishing line unopposed to claim both the Junior and Senior Championships. He was followed home 1min, 10secs later by Mark Elms to finish  second in the Senior Championship with dad Martin out sprinting Graham Pearl up the hill to take 3^rd place and the Veterans Championship a further 15secs in arrears of son Mark. The outstanding ride of the day came from 15 years old Matt Kane finishing in 5^th place overall and runner up in the Junior Championship, while lady Veteran Denise Kemp finished in a creditable 14^th place, a fine effort against the men.
 

Competitors lining up for the main race

Half an hour later both Denise and Matt were on the start line again for the half hour plus two laps Ladies and Youth Championships on the flat small circuit. The field consisted of nine ladies and five youth riders.  Included in the field was 8 years old Sean Waller who was to race for 15mins plus 1 lap. The pace was fast right from the gun, with Matt Kane taking the lead with Niall Swanwick and 12 years old Hannah Kane in close attendance. The rest of the field were left some distance in arrears by the strong riding of these three, but soon, predictably, Denise Kemp picked up the pace with mum Eileen Bristow on her wheel. However, the pace was too hot for Bristow and she soon dropped back into the chasing group. Kemp, getting into time trialing mode, soon had Hannah in her sights and caught and passed her on the 4^th lap and continued on to pass Niall on lap 7.  These positions were to remain the same for the remainder of the 16 lap race with Matt Kane taking the chequered flag for a well deserved top podium place and the Youth Championship. Kemp finished 2^nd to take the Ladies Championship with Swanwick 3^rd and second youth. 12 years old Hannah Kane finished in a creditable 4^th spot and 2^nd lady, followed by Carol Cartwright 5^th. Under twelve youth Jordan Kemp, rode well in her first ever race to finish in a creditable 12^th place and young Sean Waller completed his race to take the chequered flag. 

The third race of the day was for Novices and all-comers. Fifteen riders lined up for the start, including several who had ridden in the senior race. Marc Holdich, Dave Whybrow, Andy Webster, Gavin Archer and Mark Waller, coming out of retirement to take part, soon went clear to establish a good lead. The gap between these five and the remainder of the field steadily grew to one minute. As the pace got hotter towards the finish, Archer dropped back to leave the rest to fight out the sprint finish. In the run up to the line, Waller sprinted clear to take the chequered flag, with Holdich taking 2^nd spot, Whybrow 3^rd and Webster finishing 4th. This had been an excellent days racing for the Wheelers in very pleasant surroundings.