SL Handicap - Charlwood - 2nd May '13

[Keith]

I'd forgotten how much fun the Thursday evening Handicap races can be.

It's been a few years since the [url=http://surreyleague.co.uk/courses/charlwood.htm]Charlwood circuit[/url] has been used; I've not raced it before.

A decent Addiscombe turnout, include some losing their road racing cherry, I think. 6 groups we set off by PVT, I was in the 5th. We worked very well together, which continued as we picked up the 4th, 3rd and 2nd groups on the road, eventually turning into a monster 40 man through & off. The scratch group didn't stand much of a chance of catching us. We picked up the first group on the road as we entered Charlwood for the last time.

Hopefully The Shadow has recovered - he seemed to have pushed himself to the limit in being pipped to the line by Gareth Thomas of Kingston Wheelers. Me? 7th.

P.S. Next week's South Nutfield handicap has had to be cancelled due to extensive roadworks on the course.

[Ant]

Seriously knackering but a fun way to spend a Thursday night. This was my first race and I made many tactical errors but my main aims were to avoid trouble and not finish last. I got put into the second group, along with Matt and after some initial chaos, the group got organised and we were doing well, all sharing the workload. Ended up off the front a few times with #33 who was a strong rider from Redhill. Should have been more sensible and just sat in with the group but it's all a learning experience, I suppose. Too much energy expensed in laps 1,2 & 3 that was to cost me, in the end.

The trouble came (for me) on the hill, just before the bell. Massive group (think it was 3rd and 4th groups on the road) came through us and by the time I got to the top and round the left hand turn I was off the back, with a few other stragglers. Worked with WyndyMilla bloke and one other (another casualty from my original group) to try and get back on but we were nowhere in sight of the bunch by the time we reached Charlwood. Had a little go up the final hill but had nothing left at the end and was just glad to see that chequered flag!

Well done to Steve B for his 2nd place and cheers for the lift home. Thanks to all for the tips on the night and big well done to Matt, who I believe came in 10th (according to British Cycling web results)

[Matt.H]

I will second Ant's comment about it being knackering/fun. Not much to add to Ant's report in relation to the first 3 laps were the group was generally working well together but, as Ant says above, he probably spent a bit too much time at the front - a couple of times he dropped the group and had to be called back in! He was looking strong.

Getting caught by the 3rd and 4th groups took everyone in our group by surprise. I was in the middle of a couple of riders bickering about how fast/slow we should take the climb when most of the 3/4th group flew by. I managed to latch onto the wheel of a Paragon rider (i think) and just about made it up the climb on the back of, what was by then, a group of 40 or so riders.

I made up some places coming down the descent into Charlwood and spotted Steve B towards the midle of the group - I knew that's where i needed to get to! I chose a couple of good wheels and they pulled me closer to the front; I then latched onto Steve's wheel who was beeing marshalled nicely by Steve P. I sat on this train pretty much all the way to the bottom of the final climb, Steve P peeled off and I had to fight off a couple of other riders who were trying to nudge me off Steve B's wheel.

A couple of riders attacked at the foot of the climb - including Rich - but Steve B didn't flinch and so I though I'd just stick with him. The pace increased and we started overtaking quite a few riders, we were probably around 13/14th when Steve moved up to the outside and kicked. I managed to stay on his wheel and made it up to about 6/7th; I then started fading as the road flattened out and the finish line could not come fast enough! 2 or 3 riders went passed me and i then looked back to see a larger group coming up but they were not quite close enough, I crossed the line in 10th.

I'm chuffed with the result as it's only my second ever race and I didn't think that the finish would suit me. Already looking forward to the next one!

[Marek]

Awesome stuff. Nice one Matt reading that report it sounds like you did exactly what was required. Find a good wheel and stick to it like glue to the finish and see what you can do, nice one, 2nd race and a 10th place around some classy riders. Well done Steve B on your second, the Handicap king is back.

Cheers

Marek....

[Keith]

Full result:

May 2, 2013 - Surrey League Handicap Series #2 - Redhill CC - Charlwood - E/1/2/3/4 - 30 miles

Pos Name Club/Team Cat
1 Gareth Thomas Kingston Wheelers 3
2 Stephen Broomfield Addiscombe CC 2V
3 Mike Cownley Norwood Paragon CC 2
4 Dominic Clegg Redhill Cycling Club 2
5 Darren Peachey Addiscombe CC 2
6 Wilf Sinclair Pearson Cycles 3
7 Keith Lea Addiscombe CC 2V
8 Matt Hill VO2 Development Team 3J
9 Mark Workman Festival RC 3
10 Matthew Halvatzis Addiscombe CC 4
11 Richard Buerckner Addiscombe CC 3
12 Shane Pope Bayeux Cycling Team 3
13 Brian Hennessey Redhill Cycling Club 3V
14 Matt Townsend ASL360 3V
15 Gareth Williams Prestige Velo Club 3V
16 Colin Gunn Kingston Wheelers 3
17 Alex Toghill Twickenham CC 3
18 Greg Strange Epsom CC 4J
19 Nick Preston Redhill CC 4
20 Ben Hope Private Member 4
21 Sean McAuliffe Redhill Cycling Club 3V
22 James Bonham Redhill CC 4
23 James Graham VC Meudon 3
24 George Moore ASL360 3
25 Austyn Tusler Norwood Paragon CC 2V
26 Ilija Trkulja Addiscombe CC 3
27 Mike Hawkins Norwood Paragon CC 3V
28 Marcus Brueton Norwood Paragon CC 2V
29 Barry Dodd Redhill CC 3
30 Ian Leeding Norwood Paragon CC 2V
31 David Kennett Norwood Paragon CC 3V
32 Daniel Gower Addiscombe CC 3
33 Andy Tedd ...a3crg 4V
34 Stephen Perry Addiscombe CC 4V
35 Ryan Visser Redhill Cycling Club 3
36 James Local London Dynamo 2
37 James Stuart Norwood Paragon CC 2
38 Maurice Brennan Redhill Cycling Club 2
39 Dave Larkin Charlotteville CC 2V
40 Mark Smith Crawley Wheelers 3V
41 Jason Ginn ASL360 3V
42 Dan Mitchell Redhill Cycling Club 2
43 Stephen Harvey Cardiff Ajax 4
44 Dante Carpenter Pedal Heaven RT 2
45 Anthony McCoy Addiscombe CC 4
46 Mark Bashford East Grinstead CC 4
47 Christian Bennyworth Wyndymilla 4
48 John Powell ASL360 3
49 Leeson Medhurst Redhill CC 4
50 Kieran Barber Redhill CC 4
51 Jon Masters Norwood Paragon CC 3V
52 Simon Parker Crawley Wheelers 4
53 Kevin Jones Twickenham CC 4V
53 Adam Daniel Dulwich Paragon 4
53 Anthony Steaman Crawley Wheelers 4V
53 Adam Platts Dulwich Paragon CC 3V
53 Adam Hansen Pearson Cycling Club 4
dnf Steve Smith VC Meudon 3V
dnf Claire Leonard Brighton Mitre 2VW
dnf Tony Vickers Pearson Cycling Club 3

Bonus Points
1st 4th Matthew Halvatzis Addiscombe CC 4
1st 3rd Gareth Thomas Kingston Wheelers 3
1st 2nd Mike Cownley Norwood Paragon CC 2
1st J Matt Hill VO2 Development Team 3J
1st Vet Stephen Broomfield Addiscombe CC 2V
1st W n/a

[Daniel Gee]

[quote] 5 Darren Peachey Addiscombe CC 2

[quote="Daniel Gee"][quote] 5 Darren Peachey Addiscombe CC 2