The road racing season has now started in earnest, and the ever-growing FCCC road race team has been competing at many local (and some not-so-local) events. Some of the more significant results are listed below, although these are just a few of the events where the club has been represented.
Particular congratulations are due this month to Dean Hendry, who earned his 3rd Cat licence with his 2nd place at Preston Park. Well done Dean!
If you’re not familiar with the various racing licence “categories”, then this system is explained further in this article.
It’s been a busy month, with the club also running two road races for Surrey League on the Seale road circuit on 7 April. A full report on the races is available on the Surrey League website, including photos and several videos. This event went extremely well, and we’d like to pass on the club’s thanks to all those who gave up some of their free time to help make sure that the races were a big success. Without volunteers, these events simply can’t happen, and all the racers really appreciate it.
30 March Hillingdon, West Drayton Specialized Crits 2019 #3 4th Cat – Dean Hendry 6th
7 April Winchester, Velo Club Venta 2019 Criterium #1 4th Cat – Dean Hendry 5th. Dean said afterwards: “Loved the circuit as expected. Bunch shredded from the start down to six, four of us were sharing work. I felt good and tried to split it further quite a bit, no luck though. Knew I had to be first into the last corner but everyone else had the same idea, so no joy. Fifth in the end. I could think what might’ve been, but I loved it.”
10 April Portsmouth, Evening Circuits #2 E12 – Nick Hale 9th
19 April Castle Combe, Easter Classic 4th Cat – Jamie Parkinson 10th
22 April Preston Park (Brighton), Easter Monday 4th Cat – Dean Hendry 2nd
23 April Hillingdon, BC West Thames Series #2 4th Cat – Jamie Parkinson 2nd
25 April Kitsmead Lane, Surrey League Handicap #1 E1234 – Mark Nuttall 5th, Joe Naylor 13th (Dean Hendry, Matt Davies and Ollie Rastall were also racing). Joe said afterwards: ‘I was in the lead group, stayed away until one lap to go. Held on to Mark’s wheel when he passed and stayed in the group, but got a bit caught out by someone’s chain slipping coming out of the last corner so ended up in no-man’s land with nothing left. No one passed me at least though! Awesome fun, very happy with just being at the business end, and I can’t wait to go again.’
30 April Thruxton, Behind the Bikeshed Racing #3 4th Cat – Alex Ballinger 5th.
The club will be hosting three LVRC races at the Dunsfold Park aerodrome circuit on Sunday 12 May. It’s free to come and watch.
If you’re interested in the idea of road racing, then get in touch with our RR secretary, Warren Vye. He looks after a friendly team with a wealth of experience who can pass on plenty of advice and tips.
