Here’s the result from Thursday’s final event in the road race series.

The last event in the road race series took place on the Walkington circuit to decide who would be the overall winner. It was a very ‘Iffy’ night with rainclouds threatening and thunderstorms forecast, fortunately these didn’t occur and there was only slight wind, but it was a gloomy evening.

In group one was Sam Hoad, Jonathon Snowdon, Phil Bixby, Andy Noble, Sebastian Pickard, Victoria Hood and David Betts (to look after Victoria).

Group two after two minutes was Lee Coulson, Brad Palmer, Tom England, Paul Campbell, Gerry Lumb, Paul Drop, Glen Harrison, Peter Cox, Rob Stones, Nicholas Fairfield, Cameron Brooks, Craig Medcalf, Simon ickering, Tim White, Richard Cutsforth and Andrew Carroll.

In group three after another minute and half were John Hopper, Paul Rymer, Mark Robinson, Steve Johnson, Marloe Rodman, David Atkin, Paul Waddington, John Askew, Tony Goundry, Rob Brown, Mark Walker, Stewart Pickard, Neil Dean, Mark Mckeown and Benjamin Bell.

Group four, a further minute and half afterwards, comprised Stephen Swales, David Brearley, Karl Downs, Jason Young, Lewis Jackson, Peter Fielding Smith and Mel Blackford.

Finally, seven and a half minutes after the first group set off, were David Shackleton, Chris Daddy, Nathan Wilson, Steven Guymer, Matthew Fenton, Richard Moore and Nick Coupland.

On paper it seemed that the scratch group would score another win tonight, but there was a lot of strategy involved. Dave Shackleton’s only challenger, Chris Daddy, was in the same group so it was in Shack’s interests to preserve his lead by not giving Chris any chance to get points. Nathan Wilson was also there to protect the lead and make sure he finished in front of Chris. Chris had Richard Moore to help drive the scratch group but if he did too much work himself he’d be knackered in the sprint, plus he was riding on his dad’s bike as his electric gears on his own bike had gone kaput. A good part of the scratch group engine was missing because Ben Ives had had an accident during the week and was absent, and Marloe Rodman had broken his frame and actually rode a lap with group three on a mountain bike sporting knobblies.

After one lap the gap from front to back was 4:50. After two laps when groups one, two and three merged as did groups four and five, it had come down to 2:20. When the bell rang for the last lap the gap was 1:30 and now looking a little uncertain. At the finish Nathan Wilson was first of the scratch bunch back, three quarters of a minute in arrears.

Lap Times

The Barrel Inn in Walkington has rarely, if ever, seen so many people within its walls, all gathered for the prize presentation. Prizes were given to the first thirty in the points competition and £100 worth of goods presented by Ken Ellerker Cycles. Dave Shackleton was acclaimed the overall winner and he thanked everyone for the organisation. Mrs Baskerville presented the under 23 trophy for Ben Ives in memory of her son Paul who was killed in an event some years ago. The Vic Sutton trophy for the best veteran was presented to John Hopper who overtook Steve Swales in this last event.  Paul Rymer was acclaimed the best Junior and Rob Stones, not the oldest swinger in town, but the best old age pensioner. Rob has been given no age-related favours in these events.

The racing has been really excellent and I’ve had my job cut out to work out everybody’s position. Thanks to a number of people who’ve helped over the series. Most of all we should thank Mark Robinson and John Galbraith for running the series.

Maybe see you at my training rides in January?

and Points overall