SATURDAY LEAGUE RESULTS 2010

Race 1 Carburton: 27-03-10

Sunny, windy, cool conditions meant for a difficult race in the 1st of the new Saturday Series on the 7.5 mile Carburton circuit. The field was split into 3 groups with the second group starting 5 minutes behind the longmarkers and the scratch group starting a further 5 minutes behind.

The handicap worked well for the first 2 laps of the 5 lap race with the groups exactly on course to come together in the final stages. However, the conditions started to take their toll on both the front 2 groups with their lap times slowing significantly. The middlemarkers were caught with over 10 miles to go and with one lap to go, the longmarkers had just a minute's advantage over the fast closing scratch group.

Thus the whole field came together which sparked a series of attacks in the closing stages of the race. A group of 4 riders were able to prise their way from the field and in the resulting sprint Sean Smith (VS Cycles) was a clear winner ahead of Simon Keeton (Rutland CC) with junior James Baillie (Sheffield Sports CC) in a creditable 3rd place.
 

Race 2 Carburton: 24-04-10

Sunny and windy conditions meant for a difficult race in the 2nd of the new Saturday Series on the 7.5 mile Carburton circuit. The field was split into 3 groups with the second group starting 5 minutes behind the longmarkers and the scratch group starting a further 4 minutes behind.

The handicap worked well for the first 2 laps of the 5 lap race with the groups on course to come together in the final stages. However, unlike the previous race, the middlemarker group maintained their strong pace which enabled them to catch the longmarker group with 10 miles still remaining. By contrast, the loss of two riders from the scratch group halfway through the race had an effect on their lap times which made it impossible for them to have any chance of overhauling the front groups.

The front of the race split into 2 groups on the final lap and at the finish Simon Cocker (TLI) was a clear winner ahead of Alan Dawson (Wilson Cycles.co.uk) with Dan Panichella (Sheffield Sports CC) in third.

The next race in the series in on Saturday 22nd May. Entries are allowed on the day for existing TLI members.

Race 3 Carburton: 22-05-10

The hottest day of the year greeted the riders in the 3rd of the new Saturday Series on the 7.5 mile Carburton circuit. The field was split into 2 groups with the scratch group starting 7 minutes behind the longmarkers.

The handicap worked well for the first 2 laps of the 5 lap race with the groups on course to come together in the final stages. However, with the front group starting to slow and the scratch group setting a fast pace, by the bell, there was just a 25 second gap between the two groups. On the final lap, Jamie Burgan (Boneshakersbikes.com/Trek) attacked and finished 15 seconds clear of Andy Bishop (TLI) in 2nd place with former professional Chris Walker (TLI) winning the bunch sprint for 3rd place a further 12 seconds back.

Race 4 Carburton: 22-05-10

Despite the sunny conditions, a poor turnout reduced the field down to just 2 groups in the first race of the 2nd Series of the NMRRL Saturday Series. The scratch group started six and a half minutes behind the longmarker group and both groups worked hard throughout the race. The gap was gradually reducing each lap and with one lap to go (7.5 miles), the longmarkers had 1 minute 20 seconds lead which meant it was touch and go whether the junction would be made.

Within the final mile, Simon Keeton & Marc Mallender (both Rutland CC) managed to jump across the gap and onto the back of the longmarker group just as the race entered the final finishing straight, but it was just too late as, helped by a strong backwind, Simon Cocker (TLI) took the sprint from Ian Russell (Newark Castle CC) with Keeton taking 3rd place.

The result means that both Keeton & Cocker are now tied for the lead in the Overall Saturday League standings.