Dan Patten is ECCA Champion!

On Sunday 4th May, the team lined up for the Eastern Counties Cycling Association (ECCA) Senior Championships at High Easter, Essex and were rewarded with beautiful weather, which has been something of a rarity this season!

After a long neutralised section the race got underway and straight away the attacks started, instantly stringing out the field along the Essex roads. Although the early moves were frequent, the bunch made sure they were unsuccessful, reeling in any attempts to break free. The PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT were ever present at the front of the bunch, working hard to make sure we were represented in all of the moves. Daniel Kogan got away in a what looked like a dangerous group, with teams such as Wildside RT being represented with Mark Daly. However, yet again, with the attacks from the peloton, it was not long before this was swallowed up. As the race headed back onto the main section of road towards Leaden Roding, Dan Patten punctured just as the attacks were in full flow. As Dan rolled back through the peloton Martin Bryant, team player that he is, offered a wheel but Dan told him to go on, and went back for neutral service. A mix up occurred as Martin also stopped and then found it hard to get onto the back of the car pacing Dan back up to bunch. As Dan made his way through the convoy, Martin just couldn't quite make contact with the bunch and his race was over, a real shame after his gallant gesture.

On the second lap, Ian Franklin made a classic counter after an attack from Dan Kogan had been nullified, and soon formed what would become the break of the day containing about 8 riders, including Stephen Skuse (Wildside RT). With Daniel Kogan and Dan Patten slowing things down at the front of the bunch, the break soon got a about a minute's gap. With the break seemingly established, Dan Patten decided it was time to join the leaders and took Mark Daly (Wildside RT) and a few other riders across the gap to the leaders.

With a large group of 16 riders at the front including Dan Patten and Ian Franklin from the PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT, Chris Macnamara, Stephen Skuse and Mark Daly (Wildside RT), Kevin Chambers (API-Metrow) and Phil Hetzel (Ipswich BC). This was the move of the day, but with so many of the top riders in it, there were always going to be a number of passengers, so it was no surprise when, a lap later, the lead group was split under the attacks of Wildside RT. Knowing he had to be in any move that contained those riders, Dan Patten went with the break and found himself in the final selection with Mark Daly, Phil Hetzel, Matt Seaton (Rapha/Condor) and Chris Macnamara, and a few other riders who all worked hard to pull it out further.
Once away it became a hard working group with everyone tapping through and doing their turn. Ian Franklin, having done a great job making the initial break, was now in amongst the rest of the break which were later swallowed up by the bunch.

Into the last 10km and it wasn't long before the expected attacks came from the Wildside duo. Chris Macnamara was determined to get away and Dan tried to make sure he followed any attack from him or Mark Daly. It seemed as though Wildside had played it perfectly, with the other riders in the break seemingly more interested in beating Dan for the ECCA Championship than chasing the two from Wildside for the win. With about 2km to go, Chris Macnamara attacked again and, with no one chasing, it proved to be the winning move and he held out to take the win. Neil Chapman (Maldon CC) rider then attacked but went too early and Mark Daly and then Dan rounded him before the line to take second and third. It was a well worked Wildside RT 1-2, but with these riders not eligible for the Eastern Counties Cycling Association, Dan Patten took the title and becomes the ECCA Senior Champion 2008.

A couple of minutes later the bunch arrived, containing Daniel Kogan who had done a fantastic job policing the bunch, James Jackson and Stephen Griffiths (Glendene/Bike Trax CC) who had done a lot of work in the race to pull things back, but with numbers working against them, were unsuccessful in doing so. Ian Franklin, having worked hard throughout the race rolled in a little later, but pleased to have helped to form the shape of the race.

Results:

1.) Chris Mcnamara: Wildside R.T.
2.) Mark Daly: Wildside R.T.
3.) Daniel Patten: PCA-Ciclos Uno-Isaac RT
4.) Vince Divine: Finchley R.T.
5.) Edward Whitehorn: Glade C.C

Thanks to Simon Gooderham for the photos: http://good.zenfolio.com