Race Report Wakefield Yorkshire Spring Crit Series 1/3
U14/U16 A& B Boys & Girls
A good sized field of 30 mixed riders set off just after 10:30 completing a maximum of 20 laps in this 30 minute race at the BKCAT Wakefield Yorkshire Circuit ( the one with the hill)
First sixteen under 16 rolled out first in this staggered start and it was a a consistent effort all the way around but consistently strong showing from the off by the two Cystic Fibrosis Race Team members Jamie Stewart and Mackenzie Riley. Jamie Stewart recorded the best lap time of 1:20.2 and was in a good battle with Aaron Cocker of Team RTD - JS Cycle Shack clocking a hundreth of a seconfd slower for the next fastest lap. But the tall Mackenzie Riley won the first race of the series with a time overall of 28.51
Next off where the next largest group were 8 under 15 boys who completed a max of 19 laps with Archie Whittemore Clifton CC lapping the fastest with a 1:23.862 which kept in him in contention throughout the race. Archie went on to win beating Cormac Denwood Harrogate Nova CC and Oliver Swinburn Velo Club Lincoln.
Finally the five female athletes set off collectively with three under 16s, however it was the younger athlete Izabel Young Shibden CC who showed her strength and took the win with 1:28.144 ahead of Jasmine Townend Scarborough Paragon CC and Aoife Byrne Calder Clarion CC.
Cat 4 Mens
Thirty Cat 4 Men set off, 7 of which had never raced before. It was a great atmospher before during and after the race a real coming together of athletes - true comaradery. But the race began and it was a cagey affair with some slow laps and positioning taking place over the 26 laps the fastest lap going to Joe Barker Shibden Cycling Club. At the bell a the pelton had began to stretch and in the sprint to the line from the final corner 6 riders were in contention. Joe Barker was in this bunch with Elliot Robertson Alboroas CC, Oliver Glen Reifen Racing, local lad Chris Venters and Leo Guiloyle FTP-Fufil The Potential- Racing. Joe Barker held for first followed by Elliot Robertson and Oliver Glen with Chris Venters and Leo Guilfoye wishing the could have had one cm more to the line!
Cat 3&4 Women
A small field but a perfect number for points as tweleve females rolled ove rthe start line for 26 laps of the undulating track at Wakefield. A clear and decisive break became apparent befoe the half way mark was hit. Racel Galler Saint Piran, Evelyn Field and Ruby Oakes of JRC-INTERFLON Race Team accelerated away and the remainder of the race was a thre way race to the final straight where Ruby Oakes won by hundreths of seconds on the line. Big shout to the fastest lap by Evie Steed Sherwood Pines Cycles Forme
Elite Mens 123
26 Men shot off! This was a test for those Cat 3 that had entered but Chapeau to them as they knew it was going to be tough. The field included Andy Nichol returning after injury in the summer, in fact there was a big group of athletes who know each other from the Sheffield area! a 20n strong group stayed together until the final quarter when Ben Pease pressed the after burners and shot off the front! The strong group of 19 had no fears of ultimately winding in this break.But and this is where big kudos goes to Ben Mewes of Moonglu Race Team (a team mate) who controlled the chasing groups so well Ben Pease went on to win nearly 30 seconds ahead of second place Janmes Hartley Cycling Sheffiled and Matt Webster Trainsharp Elite.