With the wind in the west it was inevitable that an ultra-fast big group finish was to be expected; shelter easily obtained on the climb of the B1230 up to High Hunsley and then the fast swoop down to the finish. 

Looking at the lap time between the front and the scratch group it seemed likely, 10 minutes difference at the start from front to back, 7′ 10” after one lap, then 4′ 30”, and with one lap to go 2′ 38”. Either the time allowance between groups two and three is too great or some riders in group two should really be in three – or perhaps both reasons.

In group one there was Mark Love, Paul Campbell, Glen Harrison. Nick Irwin, Geoff Bryan, Nicky Moore, Stewart Shallcross, Jodie Brumhead and Paul Noble.

Group two was Benjamin Bell, Tony Goundry, Craig Medcalf, Steve Cooper, David Atkin, Steven Waterall, Martin Oliver, Phil Bixby, Neil Dean, Tom Fleming, Nathan Chester , Brad Palmer, Andrew Carroll, Chris Holland, Tim Jackson, Gary Trees,Graham Lonsdale, Mike Galbraith, Chris Goodwin and Steve Roebuck.

Group three constituted Mark Robinson, Lee Watson, Martin Cockerill, Steve Johnson, Mark Walker, Mark Dicconson, Paul Waddington, Rob Brown, Chris Burton, Adam Oliver, Matthew Enticknap, Steve Macklin, Paul Hickman and Rob Busby.

Group four was composed of Ben Roberts, Mel Blackford, Stephen Swales, Thomas Atkinson, Jason Young, Dean Fulstow, John Askew and John Ketley.

Finally, the most I can remember seeing in a scratch group, was Adam Duggleby, Marloe Rodman, Chris Daddy, Steven Guymer, Matthew Fenton, Peter Fielding-Smith, Nathan Wilson, Karl Downes, David Shackleton, Adam Hardy, Richard Moore, Colin Baldwin, David Brearley and Lewis Jackson.

There was hardly any breaking up in the groups, Marloe and Adam had seven seconds on the scratch after the first lap but they were soon altogether again, although Adam showed his strength breaking away from them on his own at the finish. Paul Campbell was dropped from group one but survived nicely with group two to contend the finish with everyone. It’s often said that things were much better in the old days, I do it myself, better traffic conditions, more cyclists and so on, but racing was never as good as it is now. The groups worked very well together and were very consistent with lapping.

Next event is again on Walkington, the 10th June, maybe the finish will be closer

Result

Points after Three Events