Race 1 Laughton Series: 26-04-07

Cold, clear and windy conditions greeted the first race of the 2007 North Midlands Road Racing League series.
For much of the race it appeared that the scratch riders would struggle to overcome the 8 1/2 minute handicap. However, their consistency resulted in their catching the rest of a slowing field with less than 2 miles to go.

In a bunch sprint, Marc Etches (Sheffrec CC) sprinted clear to win ahead of Tom Skubala (J E James RT)
and Daniel Storey (Sheffrec CC).

Race 1 Finish:

Race 2 Laughton Series: 3-05-07

The race handicap would have run to plan with the field coming together on the final lap, except for the 3 juvenile riders, who having started with the long markers group, immediately rode away from them. Working well together throughout the whole of the race, they finished well over a minute ahead by the end where Ben Last (Stealth Racing Team/Chris Last Sports Massage) won the sprint from Adam Oliver & Alex Wallis (both Doncaster Wheelers/Don Valley Cycles). In fourth place was Ian Cooper (Doncaster Wheelers) who had ridden clear of the rest of the bunch.

Race 2 Finish:

A little bit after…

Race 3 Laughton Series: 10-05-07

Better conditions resulted in the fastest race of the series so far. The original 5 handicap groups were reduced to 2 with 1 lap remaining and the scratch group finally caught the rest of the field with barely a mile to go. Ian Cooper (Doncaster Wheelers/Don Valley Cycles) attacked when the junction was made and looked a likely winner but faded on the uphill run up to the line and was caught with only 50 metres to go. Dave Pratt (TLI) was a clear winner, a length ahead of Marc Etches (Sheffrec CC) and Mark Fidler (J E James RT) with Cooper finishing in fourth place.

Race 3 Finish:

Race 4 Laughton Series: 17-05-07

Bright and calm conditions stimulated the whole field into faster times, but in particular the longmarker group, which established a significant gap in the early laps. Although slowing in the later stages of the race they remained clear to contest the finish where Stephen Bye (Sheffrec CC) was a clear sprint winner ahead of John Hadley & Simon England (both Doncaster Wheelers/Don Valley Cycles).
  
Behind them, the rest of the field came together in the final stages but were still some 40 seconds behind at the line.

Marc Etches (Sheffrec CC) remains the overall leader after 4 races.
  

Race 4 Finish:

Race 5 Laughton Series: 24-05-07

Warm, calm conditions produced another fast race with all the groups starting well, but the race ended up being dominated by 2 riders. By half distance Tom Skubala (J E James RT) & Simon Keeton (Rutland CC) had left the scratch group and bridged the gap to the group in front. They then continued with this fast pace with every group caught being totally blown apart. By the final lap there were just 3 groups left with the remains of the scratch group now totally out of contention. On the bell, the leading group still had a 40 second advantage but Skubala & Keeton closed this with ease and at the finish Skubala sprinted clear to win 3 seconds ahead of Keeton with veteran Ron Pyne (Rossington Wheelers) taking the sprint for third place a further 5 seconds adrift.

The win means that Skubala is now joint leader in the overall series with Marc Etches (Sheffrec CC) who had a night off.

The NMRRL now moves to the Harworth circuit for the next set of 5 races.
  

Race 5 Finish: Sorry but the DVD disc corrupted!!!!!

Race 6 Harworth Series: 31-05-07

Report to follow

Race 6 Finish:

Race 7 Harworth Series: 7-06-07

Report to follow

Race 7 Finish:

Race 8 Harworth Series: 14-06-07

RACE CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS

Race 9 Harworth Series: 21-06-07

RACE CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS

Race 10 Harworth Series: 28-06-07

Racing resumed at Harworth after 2 weeks lost to heavy rain and flooding. A reduced field resulted in just 3 handicap groups starting and with the scratch riders performing to their full ability the whole field came together with 10 miles still remaining.
  
Marc Etches (Sheffrec CC) attacked on the hill approaching the finish to be a clear winner with Dave Pratt (TLI) second and Michael Brammall (Rossington Whls) third.

Race 10 Finish:

Race 11 Stainton Series: 05-07-07 RACE CANCELLED DUE TO THE WEATHER CONDITIONS FOLLOWING THE CANCELLATION OF RACE 11 AT STAINTON PLESE READ:   Race 12 Stainton Series: 12-07-07 Racing resumed in the NMRRL after the cancellation of the first event at Stainton. Warm but breezy conditions resulted in a fast race. After 2 of the 8 laps it looked as though the scratch group were unlikely to catch the 2 middle groups who were setting a strong pace. However, by half distance the scratch group were back on track after a couple of quicker laps and the field had been reduced to 3 groups. With 7 miles remaining there were just 2 groups left but it was still touch and go whether the scratch group would be able to make it. The junction was finally made with just 1 mile to go with series leader Marc Etches (Sheffrec CC) clearly winning the bunch sprint ahead of Rob Blackburn (Newark Castle) & Dave Furniss (Doncaster Wheelers/Don Valley Cycles). Etches now has a clear lead in the overall series with 4 races left. 1 Marc Etches Sheffrec CC 27.2 miles in 1hr 04m 13s 2 Rob Blackburn Newark Castle   3 Dave Furniss Doncaster Wheelers   4 Michael Brammall Rossington Wheelers   5 Stewart Burrows South Elmsall CC   6 Ian Cooper Doncaster Wheelers   7 Kieran Williams AW Cycles   8 Ian Littlewood TLI   9 Sam Smith Norton Wheelers   10 Chris Harbon Doncaster Wheelers All Same Time Race 12 Finish: Race 13 Stainton Series: 19-07-07 The best conditions of series so far produced a fast race with all the groups setting faster lap times than the 2 previous weeks. The front group consisting mainly of older experienced veterans and young juveniles set a strong consistent pace throughout the whole race. By half distance the scratch group looked on course to catch them but a couple of slightly slower laps meant it suddenly was in the balance. With one lap to go there were just the two groups left with the scratch group a minute in arrears. Amazingly, the front group just managed to hold off with the groups merging on the finishing straight! Simon England (Doncaster Whls/Don Valley Cycles) was the the clear winner ahead of teamate John Hadley. Overall series leader Marc Etches (Sheffrec CC) was the only rider from the scratch group to get placed in the first ten in fifth place. One rider was excluded from the result for starting in front of his nominated group.   1 Simon England Doncaster Wheelers 27.2 miles in 1hr 8m 05s 2 John Hadley Doncaster Wheelers   3 Pete Ryalls Sheffield Phoenix   4 James Walker Rutland CC   5 Marc Etches Sheffrec CC   6 Alan Hamshaw Dinnington RC   7 Melvyn Woodhouse Dinnington RC   8 Peter Ward Dinnington RC   9 Jamie Raven Rutland CC   10 Stuart Knowles Sheffield Racing CC All Same Time Race 13 Finish: Race 14 Stainton Series: 26-07-07 A heavy downpour before the event reduced the field by a half and resulted in only three handicap groups. Early on the middle group split with the leaders going on to catch the longmarker group. This reformed front group managed to stay away and a contest a sprint finish where father and son, Dave & Andrew Marsh (Dinnington RC/Universal-Auditoria) were 1st & 2nd ahead of Dave Furniss (Doncaster Whls/Don Valley Cycles) a close third. 1 Dave Marsh Dinnington RC 23.8 miles in 1hr 02m 32s 2 Andrew Marsh Dinnington RC   3 Dave Furniss Doncaster Wheelers   4 Ben Last Stealth RT   5 Barry Parker Fusion CC   6 Fred Easton Doncaster Wheelers   7 Chris Harbon Doncaster Wheelers   8 Hector Perez Dinnington RC   9 Ken Downing Thurcroft CC   10 John Hadley Doncaster Wheelers All Same Time   Race 14 Finish: SORRY FOR THE DARK VIDEO - THE WEATHER STRIKES AGAIN! Apologies for the swearing – Obviously in the heat of the moment!!!!   Race 15 Stainton Series: 2-08-07 Warm, sunny but windy conditions at the final race of the Stainton Series produced another fast race. The scratch group set a good consistent pace throughout which meant that despite some good lap times from the longmarker groups, the race came together just before the start of the final lap with 3.5 miles to go. Ian Cooper (Doncaster Wheelers/Don Valley Cycles) attacked the bunch on the approach to the finish and easily held them off to be a deserving winner. Dave Pratt (TLI) won the sprint for second place ahead of Rob Blackburn (Newark Castle). The result means that Overall Series leader Marc Etches (Sheffrec CC), who was marshalling this week, is the winner of this year's League. With just the NMRRL Final to come this Saturday he has a insurmountable lead. 1 Ian Cooper Doncaster Wheelers 27.2 miles in 1hr 02m 33s 2 Dave Pratt TLI @4 seconds 3 Rob Blackburn Newark Castle   4 Ian Davenport Dinnington RC   5 Michael Brammall Rossington Wheelers   6 Charles Tennick Stealth RT   7 Mick Green Thurcroft CC   8 Andrew Wasteney TLI   9 Stuart Burrows South Elmsall CC   10 ??? ??? All Same Time   Race 15 Finish:     THE FINAL Stainton: 11-08-07 The North Midlands Road Racing League Final was held over the longer distance of 37.5 miles on the Stainton circuit. Five handicapped groups finally came together with 5 miles remaining. In spite of several attempted breakaways over the final miles, the race ended in a bunch sprint where Marc Etches (Sheffrec CC) scored his win to consolidate an already unbeatable lead in the Overall Series. Rob Blackburn (Newark Castle) was second which lifted him to second overall and the new Best Veteran award. 1 Marc Etches Sheffrec CC 37.5 miles in 1hr 29m 10s 2 Rob Blackburn Newark Castle   3 John Hadfield Rutland CC   4 Stuart Burrows South Elmsall CC   5 Steve Bye Sheffrec CC   6 Stephen Holmes Sheffrec CC   7 Michael Brammall Rossington Wheelers   8 David Houlton Retford & Distict Whls   9 Andrew Marsh Dinnington RC   10 David Clarke Thurcroft CC All Same Time   Final Finish: