Not happy with his performance in the Winter Series on Saturday 29th December, James Jackson proved how professional he plans to be in 2008 by foregoing the New Year celebrations and racing in the New Year's Day Winter series race at Hillingdon.
An understandably smaller field gathered for the race but, with all the main contenders for the series there, the high standard of racing that the series has experienced was set to continue. The strong men of the race attacked from the start, but the lack of wind, coupled with some co-operation in the bunch, meant that the breakaways never quite succeeded. James Jackson, conscious of the fact that a bunch sprint would suit his stellar sprint, worked hard at the front of the front of the bunch, pulling the field and covering moves to try and keep it all together.
Unfortunately, as the team weren't racing today, James had a lot to do on his own and, with 12km to go, another break went and James had no answer to it. Once again the main contenders for the series were in the four man move and, with them all working together, they were never going to be caught. Colin Parry's (VC St Raphael) sprint was too much for Paul Pickup and he took the win, with Steve Golla (Sigma Sport) and Mick Hill (Team Quest) following them in.
Now well known in the peloton for his sprint, James was heavily marked in the finale but once he lit the afterburners, no one had an answer to his speed and he took the bunch kick with ease. Returning to the Winter Series to improve on his performance of three days earlier and to prove a point to himself, James showed his pride, his growing maturity and his competitive spirit, qualities that will serve him well as he grows as a rider in 2008.
Results:
1.) Colin Parry: VC St Raphael
2.) Paul Pickup
3.) Steve Golla: Sigma Sport
4.) Michael Hill: Team Quest
5.) James Jackson: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac
Pictures by Dennis Sackett: www.dgs-photography.co.uk
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