CCC News

Caesareans' compete in UK classic road race

Three riders from Jersey’s Caesarean Cycling Club – Chris Spence, Adam Wojtkiewicz and Chris Seviour – took part in the classic early-season Essex race, the 27th Jock Wadley Memorial, held over 83 miles rolling miles in Colchester, Essex on 09 March.

This is the first UK road racing action of 2009 for Caesarean club members Spence, Wojtkiewicz and Seviour, as they look to prepare their bids for 2010 Commonwealth Games selection. The event, classified as a National B event on the British Cycling Calendar, was very well attended attracting a large full field of Elites and 1st category riders from UK cycling teams.

‘The Wadley’ classic is a mix of flat and rolling roads, taking in a crossing of the Abberton Reservoir twice every lap. Even on a slightly windy day, conditions here are tough – and the 2009 event saw riders face strong and blustery winds. The conditions created havoc for the peloton with riders frantically looking for any shelter they could get and causing the group to split and regroup over the first few laps. The constant fragmentation of the race saw Adam Wojtkiewicz and Chris Seviour split from the main bunch, resulting in their early retirement from the event.

Chris Spence, with years of high level bike racing experience, anticipated the mayhem likely to be caused by the conditions and placed himself at the front out of trouble where he was able to weather the storm of the early constant attacks. Having missed what was to be the decisive break, Spence secured a spot in the chase group, which was unable to bridge the gap to the leaders. The chase group split further in the race with Spence finishing 27th at the rear of the group contesting 19th place. The event was won by James Millard riding for the UK professional cycling team Plowman Craven. “Not having raced an event of this standard or distance for several years now, I was pleased with my performance and hope to build on it over a number of forthcoming events in the UK” said Spence.

This coming weekend the same Caesarean Cycling Club riders, Chris Spence, Adam Wojtkiewicz and Chris Seviour, will be joined by clubmate Robin Ovenden, as they prepare to compete in the 50th anniversary of Wally Gimber Road Race - another National B ‘spring classic’ race held in Ashford, Kent over a distance of 81 miles. [Report: CS & KP]

RESULT
1. James Millard Plowman Craven/Madison 3-44-57
2. Simon Gaywood Team Corley Cycles 11"
3. Yanto Barker Le Col/Colnago S.T.
4. Marcin Bialoblocki Sports Beans/Wilier S.T.
5. Jack Kirk Wyre Forest S.T.
6. Billy Joe Whenman Sports Beans/Wilier 19"
7. Ben Luckwell Sports Beans/Wilier 41"
8. Jon Tiernan-Locke Plowman Craven/Madison 1'46"
9. Grant Bayton Sports Beans/Wilier S.T.
10. Will Bjergfelt Sports Beans/Wilier S.T.
11. Jason White Bc Pm Eastern S.T.
12. Daniel Kogan Bmc Uk Racing Team 3-06"
13. Chris Macnamara Team Corley Cycles 3-14"
14. Andy Lyons Bmc Uk Racing Team S.T.
15. Daniel Patten Cyclesport.Se Magnus S.T.
16. Matthew Higgins Team Corley Cycles S.T.
17. Alexander King Twickenham Cc S.T.
18. Roy Chamberlain Team Corley Cycles S.T.
19. George Atkins Webster Cycles 5-06"
20. Richard Cartland Team Corley Cycles S.T.
21. Ben Thompson Bmc Uk Racing Team 6-09"
22. Joe Skipper Bmc Uk Racing Team S.T.
23. Waynes Coombes Vc Montpellier S.T.
24. Mike Wragg Team Milton Keynes S.T.
25. Justin Hoy Felt Racing S.T.
26. Martin Smith Aw Cycles Co.Uk/Giant S.T.
27. Chris Spence Caesarean CC S.T.
28. Dominic Schils Lotto Olympia Team/Interbike Rt S.T.
29. Jason Edwards Wildside Rt/Ewhurst Control S.T.
30. Andrew Hastings Finchley Rt S.T.
31. Samuel Parker Geoff Thomas Foundation S.T.
32. Kevin Knox Dulwich Paragon S.T.
33. Simon Macnamara Wildside Rt/Ewhurst Control S.T.
34. Oliver Davies Dinnington Rc S.T.
34. Warren Jesse Felt Racing S.T.
34. Flavio Zappi Geoff Thomas Foundation S.T.
34. Sean Kilroy Glade Cc/Ciclos Uno S.T.
34. Adam Cotterell Ingear Dev Squad S.T.
34. Steven Saunders Kingston Wheelers S.T.
34. Stephen Skuse Bc Pm South East S.T.
34. Ben Wilson Solihull Cc S.T.
34. Mark Perry Sports Beans/Wilier S.T.
34. Tom Kirk Team Corley Cycles S.T.
34. Dave Coulson Team Sabath/Clayton S.T.
45. Ian Franklin Bmc Uk Racing Team 8-00"

Northern Europe has its Spring Classics for the professional peloton but riders in the South East of England have their own classics too, with three top races in March. If the new race on the block, the Dengie Marshes, is the British equivalent to Paris-Roubaix, the longer established Jock Wadley and Wally Gimber trophy races are the South East's versions of the Tour of Flanders and Omloop.

This year is a very special one for the Wally Gimber as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. The Wally Gimber always attracts a top class field and this year is no exception. There's a mix of strong individual riders, including Rob Hurd who is going for a record breaking fourth win in the event. Teams such as Sport Beans Wilier and Fit-For both field strong line ups whilst the leading London teams will be there too, including the London Dynamo, Norwood Paragon and the promoting Dulwich Paragon.

For more information on the Jock Wadley & Wally Gimber trophy races go to http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/.

27th Jock Wadley Memorial Road Race, 8 March 2009

Caesareans' compete in UK classic road race