Les Ingman Memorial RR 2008

Les Ingman Memorial RR 2008 Promoted by Norwood Paragon CC Bletchingley / Outwood, Sunday 27th April 2008

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Paul writes; It seemed as if almost everyone was hoping for a continuation of Saturday’s glorious weather for the day’s event and, at first, it seemed to be looking good. As the start time of eleven o’clock approached, there were a few spots of rain but not enough to make anyone think that there would be the downpour that arrived in the closing stages. As the riders rolled away from the changing rooms one rider managed to clip the service car and crash, leaving him a long chase to try and regain the pack.

Near the end of the first lap a group of eight riders had escaped the field but a concerted effort from two small chasing groups saw a larger lead group formed by mid-way through the second lap, effectively splitting the race in two.

Early on the second lap, on the climb towards Outwood Windmill Norwood Paragon’s Steve Calland, riding in his first event of the year, had opened a ten second gap on the rest of the lead group, although this was quickly nullified as the rest of the leaders seemed unwilling to allow and individuals their freedom.

Approaching the end of the second lap a group of eight riders had broken clear and, seeing the danger in this, Paragon’s Christopher Moores set about crossing to this group alone.

Yet again, there was a regroupment and as the lead group climbed up Bletchingley High Street another attack was launched. This time Sigma Sport rider Steve Gowar was the man making the move. Paragon’s Mike Hawkins was the first to see the danger and attempted to close in on the leader, as the rest of the group strung out behind. Hawkins was quickly pulled back but Gowar persisted with his efforts for a further lap as the rain started to come down. As they approached Blenchingly on the next lap his lead was just five seconds on a chasing group of four riders – Chris McNamara (Wildside RT), Steve Saunders (Kingston Wheelers), Gareth McCulloch (Medway Velo), and Norwood Paragon’s Christopher Moores.

Gowar was caught and along with Saunders was replaced in the lead group by London Dynamo’s Paul Delahunty.

At this point one rider’s event came to an abrupt end. Nat Spurling (Finsbury Park RT) had snapped his chain and, having already been passed by race service, was left to “walk home”. The damage to the chain had initially been cause by a wheel change prior to the start, which had weakened it.

The race had now split into three distinct groups, the leading four, the remains of the original “lead group” and the main field, now many minutes behind.

As they climbed towards Outwood Windmill on the final lap the four, Chris McNamara, Paul Delahunty, Gareth McCullouch and Christopher Moores, had opened a minute’s lead on one rider (45632), Kevin Knox (Dulwich Paragon) who was just seconds ahead of the remaining riders from the original break.

Through Bletchingley and on towards the finish, the leaders had extended their lead on Knox to almost a minute and a half and he in turn ad pulled out twenty five seconds on the chasers.

At the finish it was Paul Delahunty who proved to be too strong for the other three riders crossing the line two seconds clear. Second place went to Gareth McCulloch with Chris McNamara third and Norwood’s Christopher Moores in fourth, possibly paying for his earlier efforts when he bridged a gap to the leading riders on his own.

Knox held on to fifth place crossing the line twenty five seconds clear of the chasers. Medway Velo’s Ivan Jordan led the group in just managing to hold of a fast finishing Marcus Brueton (Norwood Paragon). Team Fit-For’s Andy Davies took eighth place with the rest of the group fighting it out for the rest of the minor places.

Pictures by Paul J Wright, contact him for more pictures and Hi-Res - pjw2409@tiscali.co.uk
Paul's website - www.pjwphotos.co.uk