Alastair Kay is overall winner once again

Not as many riders for the last of the road race league series as I expected, 34 in all, and it could be because White Gap road from Little Weighton to the finish had been newly dressed. That’s what they call laying granite chips down. Otherwise it was a perfect evening.

In the first group were Ian Chapman, Digby Rusling, Nathan Chester, Chris Jordan and Dave Millson; a short diversion for Nathan to get away from the flood damage to his home. Group two starting five minutes later comprised Peter Fielding-Smith, Steve Macklin, Andy Askwith, Andrew Johnson, Mark Walker, Lee
Watson, John Brearley, Mark Ollerenshaw, Mattie Barrat, John Galway, Derek Palmer, plus another, no 49, who didn’t sign on so I didn’t get his name. Fielding-Smith was lying third overall, only 8 points behind leader Ali Kay, so he had something to ride for tonight.

Two minutes later were Vince Cartwright, Matthew Fenton, Jimmy Finch, Jason Shipton, Adam Duggleby, James Wagstaff, Phil Graves, Paul Noton, Nathan Wilson, Anthony Pearson, Craig Gath and Ryan MacLachlan. Two minutes later a quintet of Alastair Kay, Mark Wordsworth, Dave Shackleton, Chris Daddy and Martin Smith started their performance

Not the usual pattern of the race tonight as group three were driven along and working together well. It’s usual for this group, which contains some of the sprinters, to hang about a bit waiting for the scratch group to overtake. It seems that Jimmy Finch was the real agitator to keep it going and Adam Duggleby, Phil Graves and Ryan MacLachlan were keen to keep this going. Over the laps they lost only 24 secs the first lap to the scratch group, then 21 secs and then a fast lap which conceded only 7 secs. At two laps to go it did seem that Wordsworth and Kay would get up to the leaders but this was not to be.

With two laps to go the first three groups were getting close and, whilst group one still had a 20 sec gap, Ian Chapman tried to go it alone; a brave attempt but riders were not hanging about behind. The scratch group gained another 19 secs. but were still 49 seconds adrift when the merged first three groups reached the bell lap. Still time for Mark Wordsworth to show his power at the finish but there was a lot of determination tonight and the heat was never turned down; the scratch group were only able to recoup another 7 seconds.

There was some really good racing tonight and a decent crowd at the finish. A pity, I think, there aren’t more. A superb opportunity to bring out some youngsters to watch, get to know the riders, and learn about racing and build up some enthusiasm.

Jimmy Finch from Newark Castle was a worthy winner and group three riders took first five positions in a tight finish that had us judges scratching our heads for a while – thank God for digital cameras.

With Peter Fielding-Smith finishing sixth and earning 6 points plus 2 for first in his group, he put himself level pegging with Ali Kay in the overall points competition. Ali, however, managed to get that extra point for finishing in the first 20, and he got another 2 bonus for first in the scratch group. Close in this competition was young Vince Cartwright, still a Junior and only another two points away. He was unlucky in Event 5 to puncture as he may well have been the overall winner.

The end of series prize presentation took place in the Black Horse in Little Weighton. Betty Philipson of City Road Club presented the Overall Wionners trophy once again to Alastair Kay and Roy and Norma Baskerville presented the Under 23 Paul Baskerville Trophy to Vince Cartwright, in memory of their son who was killed in a bike race some years ago, and Richard Moore, in his absence, was lauded as the Veteran winner. Thanks were given to Mally Daddy for running the series and Ali Kay rounded of his victory speech saying that the series was brilliant for all bike riders … … and it is.

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