Archive - Thursday, 2 September 2010


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Thurrock's Simon Alexander in cycle action

CYCLING: Southend Wheelers had a busy Bank Holiday weekend with criterium competitions at the Redbridge cycle centre at Hog Hill.

In this, the 20th running of the event, there was a very strong field, with many professional riders to contest the main race for Elite and 1, 2 and 3 category riders over 66 km of the hilly circuit.

Fresh from leading in the Tour of Utah in the USA, Alex Dowsett - riding for Livestrong Trek - stretched out the field from the start and only Darren Barclay, Arctic RC and Local man Jason White, could hold his wheel.

With Dowsett dictating the pace, a group of riders joined the leading three.

However, Dowsett upped the pace again and only a Spanish rider, Raffa Rodriguez, Obea For Goodness Shakes team, was able to go with him.

These two rode together sharing the pace until, with two laps remaining, Dowsett made another effort down the long hill and raced ahead to take the chequered flag and the trophy for the top podium place. Rodriguez followed at 20secs to take sevond place, with Kristen Downs also riding for Orbea for Goodness Shakes, out sprinting the next group of riders to take the last podium place two minutes in arrears.

In the supporting 50km race for thirs and fourth category riders, the main field stayed in tact until with two laps remaining Dominic Berner (Shaftsbury CC) sprinted clear and stayed away to take the chequered flag and the Asprints Trophy.

In the mass gallop for the finish line and 40secs in arrears, Jeffery Oprey, Essex Roads CC out sprinted Oliver Glakin, East London Velo to, to take second place.

Southend Wheelers duo of Thurrock’s Simon Alexander and Stephen Dalby finished unplaced.

In the youth race for the under 16’s, Kristian Woolf (Kingscliffe Flyers) out sprinted Josh Maynard (Welwyn Wheelers) at 4secs with Jack Finch (VC Deal) in third place.

Southend Wheelers Matt Kane finished 11th, Niall Swanwick was 12th and Fergal Swanwick in 14th place.

The under 14’s race was won by Dan Tullett, Palmer Park Velo while Bethany Hayward, Welwyn Wheelers, took the first girl prize. Southend Wheelers Hannah Kane was the fourth girl.

Charles Page, Hillingdon Slipstreamers, was the winner of the under 12’s race from Thomas Finch, VC Deal.