Promoted by Ashfield RC,†Week 3
3rd/4th Category Race 10.00am
A total of 7 DMRC riders made the start line for the third race in this early season series put on by Arthur Gamble & Ashfield RC. However it is fair to say that for four of us (Pete Turner, Dave Luscombe, Dave Barber & Stuart ) it was more of an opportunity to saviour the atmosphere and experience of a large (120+) peloton under racing conditions.
Our main chance of victory lay with Clive Lockwood who had already won the first race of the series. However this made him a marked rider so every move he made to break away was quickly chased down by the field.
Darley Moor is notorious for windy conditions mainly due to its elevated position on just south of Ashbourne. My contact in the ACU informs me that, at 1800 feet above sea level, it is the highest track in the country.
The wind can make it difficult for a breakaway to succeed and this race was no exception so it came down to a mass sprint.
Unfortunately Clive got taken out approaching the last corner by a rider going for a gap that wasnít there so by the time he had regained control the sprint had gone by.
There had already been a mass pile up approaching the hairpin on the final lap so the field came in well spread out.
This didnít stop the two Daveís sprinting it out at the end although modesty has prevented the winner from making use of the bragging rights† gained.†
Junior Races
Due to all the age groups racing together, to the outsider the junior races seem a blur of action with riders coming past continuously. I am sure that the parents keep a close eye on the action but to the uninitiated† it can all seem a bit confusing ( this is my way of saying I donít know who won!)
However the results can be seen on the veloriders link or in due course the BC website.
Elite/1/2/3 Race 1pm
Pity the poor 3rd cat rider who decided to have a lie in and enter this race instead of the earlier one.
Lined up on the start line was the cream of the UK pro scene including reigning Premier Trophy champion Russell Downing, his brother Dean in his UK criterium†champions jersey, and strong squads from Pinarello including the evergreen Malcolm Elliot, Plowman Craven including local rider Steve Adams, Rapha and Halfords. †
After a long break by Jon Mozley and Russell Downing, the field came back together for the sprint won by Russell Downing.
A more detailed account from Plowman Craven can be seen on the BC website.†
