Main photo – That winning feeling! Jamie Parkinson taking the win ahead of the chasing bunch at the BC West Thames Series #13, Hillingdon
Well, what can we say… we are now well and truly at the heart of the 2019 racing calendar and FCCC’s Road Race team season continues to go from strength to strength. July has seen the team entering events across the board from road races, closed circuit races to town centre criteriums. Indeed, picking up on the latter, a big highlight of the month included seven FCCC riders racing in front of big crowds at the Farnham Town Centre Criterium.
Special congratulations to Giles Short, Gavin Lattimore and Joe Naylor, all of whom earned their 3rd Cat licence during the month. This adds to the three FCCC Road Race team members who we mentioned in last month’s round-up as gaining promotion in June.
A special mention also goes for the excellent finishes by Warren Vye and Mark Nuttall in the National Masters Circuit Race Championships held at Hillingdon on 13 and 14 July. A 9th place for Warren and a 12th for Mark are tremendous results in a highly competitive national championship.
The most notable results from a busy July are listed below:
2 July – Hillingdon BC West Thames Series Rnd 12, 3rd Cat, Luke Stratford – 7th Place, 4th Cat – Gavin Lattimore – 9th Place
3 July – Dunsfold Park Surrey League Vets Series #9, ME/MF Warren Vye – 6th Place
4 July – Hillingdon Masters Series #7, Masters 50+ Warren Vye – 10th Place
5 July – Dunsfold Park Surrey League, 4th Cat, Joe Naylor – 2nd Place, Gavin Lattimore – 4th Place, Giles Short – 7th Place
7 July – Lee Valley LE COL/Arcadian Series 2019 – Round 11, C, Warren Vye – 8th Place
7 July – Charters Peugeot Farnham Town Centre Races, 3rd Cat, Mark Nuttall – 6th Place
9 July – Hillingdon BC West Thames Series Rnd 13, 3rd Cat, Jamie Parkinson – 1st Place, Luke Stratford – 7th Place
13 July – Hillingdon National Masters Circuit Race Championships, E, Warren Vye – 9th Place
14 July – Hillingdon National Masters Circuit Race Championships, B, Mark Nuttall – 12th Place
16 July – Hillingdon BC West Thames Series Rnd 14, 3rd Cat, Jamie Parkinson – 6th Place, Luke Stratford – 10th Place
20 July – Omega Portsmouth Circuits #4, 3rd Cat, Jamie Parkinson – 2nd Place, 4th Cat – Noel Brooksbank – 3rd Place
23 July – Hillingdon BC West Thames Series Rnd 15, 3rd Cat, Adam Bassom – 9th Place, 4th Cat – Gavin Lattimore – 5th Place
25 July – Surrey League Handicap Series #14, Kitsmead Lane, E1234, Ollie Rastall – 5th Place
26 July – Dunsfold Park Surrey League, 4th Cat, Joe Naylor – 2nd Place
28 July – Hog Hill, LE COL/Arcadian Series 2019 – Round 13, C, Warren Vye – 10th Place
A worthy mention
A result which didn’t produce a top 10 finish for FCCC, but would have made any team’s sponsors very pleased with the media coverage, goes to Mark Nuttall and Matt Davies. In mid-July, both FCCC riders entered the Surrey League 3rd Cat Road Race on the popular Dunsfold 6.7 mile circuit. The below summary is taken from the Surrey League Race Report produced from the event:
The weather was perfect – warm and sunny conditions with little wind. Come race start, 50 plus riders took to the start line for the morning 3rd Cat event and with a strong field present, racing was going to be brisk. Paceline RT brought the biggest number of riders to the race with 8 so they did have the upper hand as regards numbers.
Once the riders joined the circuit (start of lap 1), coming down Wrotham Hill, 2 riders Mark Nuttall and Matt Davies, both from Farnborough and Camberley CC attacked. They quickly gained ground and passing me had a slender lead of around 15 seconds. A lone Addiscombe rider was in pursuit but was dangling just off the front of the steady-paced bunch.
As the leading duo passed me on the second lap, they had gained around 40 seconds lead, but the bunch behind were chasing. The front 3rd of the bunch was lined out with the sole purpose of catching the leading duo.
By lap 3, the leaders still had a good advantage, around 30-40 seconds, but by the reaction from the bunch behind, I doubt this pairing would go the distance. Behind them the bunch was gunning it. 2 riders had escaped the bunch and were chasing the leading duo, but this just created pace in the bunch. Also, the bunch had split due to the pace, but by lap 4 the bunch was together still chasing the Farnborough and Camberley guys.
By lap 5 Mark and Matt’s lead had come down slightly and just as they entered the final lap, they were caught.
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.
