Crit Series Results

Results and write up on the forum.

Results and write up on the velouk website

Sloan Trophy Road Race, Sunday 22 April

Sunderland Clarion’s Michael Sloanes secured a top ten finish on a wet day in Northumberland, in the Sloan Trophy. The race in and around Stamfordham, saw a full field of 60 riders, from 4th through to 2nd category. Joining Michael on the start line from the Clarion were Chris Barnard, Paul Cottrell, and Charlie Monchâtre. Going into the race Michael was looking to improve on last Sundays’ performance in the Phillip Russell Memorial Road Race, where he finished 16th.


The racing started fast and hard in miserable conditions, with the first 20 miles covered at a speed of around 26mph. As things started to settle a group of five riders disappeared up the road, today this break would stick, with those riders to fight it out for the win. A battle won by William Haynes (Blackhawkbikes.com), from Mark Perry (Dirtwheels Cycles) and James Alder (VC Briganti). Meanwhile in Michael’s group with a lap to go a group of 3 riders saw their chance and slipped away up the road. As the pace heated up on the rain soaked roads Michael kept his position, rather than putting in any extra effort, before the final uphill sprint. Michael launched his effort at the bottom of the hill, and was strong enough to hold the rest of the pack, apart from Richard Kipling (MTS Cyclesport). Michael finished tenth, but was the first 3rd category rider home.

The other Sunderland Clarion riders had a mixed bag of a day, Chris Barnard found himself distanced from Michael’s group on the first lap, but worked well in the third group on the road. Charlie also found himself off the back in the first lap. After the fourth lap a number of riders, including Charlie, called it quits after being soaked through with hailstones. Paul meanwhile must feel thoroughly deflated after having his race ruined for the second week running by a puncture. Paul will be hoping his luck returns next week at the Ballantyne Memorial Trophy, where a number of Sunderland Clarion riders will be hoping for good results.

1. William Haynes (Blackhawkbikes.com)
2. Mark Perry (Dirtwheels Cycles)
3. James Alder (VC Briganti)
4. Richard Moore (Squadra RT)
5. Craig Anderson (Blackhawkbilkes.com)
6. Neil Taylor (Edinburgh RC)
7. Sam Boast (Hope Factory Racing)
8. Karl Denton (Blumilk.com)
9. Richard Kipling (MTS Cyclesport)
10. Michael Sloanes (Sunderland Clarion)
11. Adam Robertson (Blumilk.com)
12. Alan Nixon (Blackhawkbikes.com)
13. James King (Mountivation)
14. Russell Bayliss (GS Metro)
15. David Johnson (Adept Precision RT)

 

Phillip Russell Memorial Road Race, Sunday 15th April

Three Sunderland Clarion riders took part in the Phillip Russell Memorial Trophy in Stokesley, Sunday 15th May. The 73 mile long race would be a real challenge, the longest race that any of the riders have raced. Michael Sloanes, Charlie Monchâtre and Chris Barnard took to the start line as part of a very strong field of 2nd, 3rd and 4th category riders.
Despite the length of the race it was all action from the start, with riders trying their best to get in the first group on the road. Once the dust had settled Chris and Michael found themselves in the fifth group on the road, while Charlie had found it too much and retired from the race. The duo then went to work getting further up the road. Michael managed to get into the second group on the road with a lot of hard work. In the meantime Chris found himself in the third group of the road, the sight of Michael a few hundred yards up the provided a target to reach, so Chris tried his best to get his group in contact with Michael groups. These efforts proved futile, and eventually cost him dearly as the energy expended cost him as the pace cranked up once again, and he lost contact. Meanwhile Michael was doing well amongst his group, with the numbers being reduced gradually as the race went along, so much so that there was only 6 riders in the group as they started the final lap. With a pack of 14 up the road there was little only one chance of getting points from the race, there was only points available to the first 15 riders. So with half a lap to go decided to conserve energy at the back of the group, this ploy almost paid off as with 150 yards to go he opened up his sprint, narrowly being beaten to 15th place by Alan Nixon (Blackhawk Bikes). At the front end of the race Mark Perry (Dirtwheels Cycles) beat Jordan Stokes (Pedal Power-Endura-Forme Racing) and
Karl Denton (Blumilk.com).

1. Mark Perry, Dirtwheels Cycles
2. Jordan Stokes, Pedal Power-Endura-Forme Racing
3. Karl Denton, Blumilk.com
4. Richard Kipling, MTS Cycle Sport/Inkland/Elvet RT
5. James Alder, VC Briganti – Cycleways RT
6. Tim Allen, Clay Cross Road Team
7. Adam Robertson, Blumilk.com
8. Mike Bell, Fietsen Tempo
9. David Johnson, Adept Precision Racing Team
10. Matthew Bulmer, Dirtwheels Cycles
11. Russell Bayliss, GS Metro
12. Arron Sands, Lomond Roads CC
13. James Anderson, Blackhawk Bikes
14. Neil Baxter, Blumilk.com
15. Alan Nixon, Blackhawk Bikes

 

Beveridge fourth in big finish

17th/18th March
A busy weekend of racing saw Sunderland Clarion riders take to the start line on Saturday and Sunday. The racing began with round 3 of the Highfield Kitchens Spring Shield at the Prissick Park circuit in Middlesbrough. A strong 6 man team took to the start of the 3/4 category race. The numbers paid off for the club, as the race as is usually the way at Prissick finished with the bunch together, with two Sunderland Clarion riders making the top 10. Iain Beveridge narrowly missed out on a podium with 4th place, behind Matt Rossister (Durham University), Will Stavely (Ferryhill Wheelers) and Mike Rennison (Cleveland Wheelers). Michael Sloanes was the second Clarion rider to make the top 10, finishing 9th. Iain’s 4th place sees him standing 9th overall in the 3/4 category overall, with Michael lying just behind in 11th.
The Sunday saw Michael, along with Charlie Monchâtre, Chris Wilson, Paul Cottrell, and Chris Barnard racing for a second day in a row in the first road race of the season. The Wansbeck CC Australian Pursuit, in which riders set off in 3 groups with a time gap based on rankings. The race in and around Longhirst, in Northumberland, saw Matt France also racing. He joined Paul, Charlie and Chris Wilson in the first group of riders to set off. The 6 lap race saw the groups trying to avoid being caught by the higher ranked riders, eventually after 3 laps the race joined together. The pace soon picked up with riders soon falling off the back of the main field, with some riders opting to retire rather than continue chasing in vain, Chris Wilson and Chris Barnard were amongst that number. While at the other end an elite group formed at the front. Eventually two riders broke free, with the victory going to Tom Murray (IG-SigmaSport) who was third overall in last years national criterium series. Dan Smith of Velo29 OTR-Vankru finished 5 seconds behind his breakaway companion in second, while Richard Kipling (MTS Cyclesport) came third, leading home the first large group of riders. The first Clarion rider to finish was Michael Sloanes as part of a second large group of riders, 1 min 25 seconds later. He was followed by Paul Cottrell and Charles Monchâtre, who finished 4 minutes behind Murray. Matt France came home a little later, the last man to finish.
Next weekend see’s a quieter weekends racing with round 4 of the Highfield Kitchens Spring Shield, with Iain and Michael no doubt keen to improve their overall rankings.

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Ian Taylor wins the 21 mile Barnesbury CC SPOCO event on March 17 in the North East

...more results to follow, watch this space.