James Jackson and James Whatling had planned to race the SERRL event on Sunday 15th July but a badly set alarm clock and a (slightly!) later wake up than planned meant that they missed the start, and instead raced in the Southern Counties Cycling Union Championships on a fast and rolling course at Crowhurst.
A good field gathered to race the 79 miles on a hot and humid day in Sussex, and with strong teams from AW Cycles and Wildside RT, tactics were always to play a large part in the outcome of the race. Both James' were very active from the off, attacking off the front and trying to break the race up, whilst the other sat back, ready to counter any moves. As more and more riders tried to break away, the two man Ciclos Uno team had it's work cut out, and when James Jackson punctured and a large group went up the road, James Whatling just didn't quite have enough left in the tank to follow.
No neutral service meant that the in form Jackson had to play his part from the roadside, handing up much needed bottles and giving time gaps and this information was invaluable in attempting the chase. However, with plenty of riders in the peloton refusing to work because they had team mates in the break, the gap was widening lap by lap. By the penultimate lap, a chase of sorts had been organised, with Daniel Pattern (Pacific-Flanders RT), Henry Furniss (Bike and Run) and riders from Norwood Paragon leading the charge. With the bell sounding for the final lap and a gap of 40 seconds, it looked all over, but the break were sighted within the last 2 miles and the chase for the finish began.
Although the breakaway was never quite caught, it was a close run thing at the finish as the sprint at the finish showed who still had the strength in their legs to compete. Gary Dodd (Sigma Sport) took the victory ahead of Rob Enslin (AW Cycles) and Toby Neave (Wildside RT) while James Whatling followed in for 20th.
Results:
1.) Gary Dodd: Sigma Sport RT
2.) Rob Enslin: AW Cycles
3.) Toby Neave: Wildside RT
4.) Martin Smith: AW Cycles
5.) Andrew Bye: Kingston Wheelers
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