Rampage Round 3 - report
Ben Gladwyn - Thu Jul 7, 2005 22:37:59 |
Ben Gladwyn, Checkendon 7th July 2005
I'm not much of a race report writer and Steve's on his sunny jolly hols, so I'll try to keep it short and to the point.
This month the Rampage returned to a modified Hammonds course which caught a few people out and ended up with one hospital trip due to an unlucky fall on a flint - get well soon Ricky!
Racing
Aston Hill's Graham Warby set an electric pace that quickly split the following pack. Luke Smith (Marin) and Mark Cracknell (AW Cycles) were evenly spaced behind him, with Bren Divall (Brixton Cycles) keeping Mark honest and narrowly missing out on a podium. Riders held station through the rest of field with the exception of Dean Frost (Liphook Cycles) who recovered from a slow first lap to catch Colin Houston... only to have an incident on the last and see Colin cycle on in to the distance.
Club
Andy Edwards (Reading CC) and Paul Sheppard (Ratz) set the pace at the front, gradually pulling away from Charlie Porter (Team Charlie) and series leader Kim Burrows (Pedalon). However Dan "pot hunter" Giffin (Ratz) was charging through the field having carelessly missed the start by a minute. Sheppard stayed in Andy's wheeltracks with his explanation being, "I didn't want to overtake him because I knew he wanted a good result." A classic line that wins Paul "Racing Excuse Of The Week" - which is a small consolation for him slicing open his tubeless tyre on lap 5. Dan continued his charge to take the race lead on the penultimate lap and finished the race in front, followed by Andy, Charlie and Kim. Michael Lancaster was fifth, pursued by two more Ratz - Brian Clements and Martin Henderson. This result squeezes the top of the table with second place Andy closing in on Kim's series lead.
Fun
In the fun Tony Davies set the pace for the first lap before Ian Blatchford made his move on lap 2. Ian continued to pull away over the remaining three laps. Hugh Chadwick missed the race start but adapted to the course well, getting faster on each lap. Davies has now taken the lead in the series after a no-show for Paul Cross.
Women
The women's race was a trifle under represented. Newcomer Wiki Daniels (another race start misser!) obviously enjoyed her two laps on the technical circuit, taking the honours for first place.
SOUTHERN XC ON SUNDAY
Hammonds Wood has been bedded in nicely now for the fourth round of the Southern XC championship this Sunday, 10th July. See you there!
Round 3 results | Series points |
Ride For A Flight 5th-7th August
Ben Gladwyn - Tue Jun 21, 2005 14:55:22 |
| The provisional details of the Ride For A Flight weekend at Checkendon have been posted. |
Rampage Round 2 - report
Ben Gladwyn - Mon Jun 6, 2005 11:32:00 |
Steve Jones, Checkendon 2rd June 2005
Round 2 of the Ratz Rampage at Checkendon was held on 2nd June on a dry course in the flat twisty singletrack of Park Wood on the RATMBC club course at Checkendon. The previous round had been hilly but sticking to plan this circuit was to be flat and fast, as the organiser of these races I don't usually get to ride them. However I am away on holiday for round 3 so some of the other committee members needed to get to grips with the computerised timing system. Plus I really fancied a crack at the Park Wood race after listening to everyone raving about it last year.
Racing
The ?Racing? Senior category is for all regular racers so that includes Elites, Experts, Masters, Sports and Vets. With 22 riders entered including Paul Lasenby ex National Champion of Marin UK this was going to be a fast nights racing. Paul led out down the start straight but Steve Jones (AW Cycles) nipped past him before the first turn and led out across the grassy field section leading to the woods. Simon Burgess (Team Torq) took the lead early in the woods and opened a small gap but made a mistake further on and was caught again. He was slowly edging away and it was Paul Lasenby who passed Jones first and tried to give chase but he overcooked the corner going into the trees on the corner of the farm track and locked up on the wet grass. This allowed a couple of chasers Mark Cracknell (AW Cycles) and Luke Smith (Marin UK) to catch up and and it was Lasenby?s team mate Smith who was the only one who managed to squeeze past. Unfortunately for the AW Cycles duo Jones and Cracknell they were blocked but they all set off together chasing Smith. Lasenby caught Smith briefly but was either not able to hold the pace or tactically slowed to let him get a gap. Cracknell was getting impatient and attacked on the long straight in the woods, Lasenby and Jones unable to respond continued their own battle for the rest of the race.
Smith went on to catch Burgess in the last lap with the fastest lap of the night and put himself 21 seconds clear. Cracknell finished in 3rd only another 20 seconds down, Jones held on for 4th place but Paul Priestley (Team Milton Keynes) and Bren Drivall (Brixton Cycles) sprinted the final straight passing Lasenby on the way who was not happy with Priestley?s tight passing manoeuvre on the gravel but it got him 5th place.
Smith now leads the series with 44 points and Cracknell is 2nd with 35 points just 4 points ahead of Lasenby in 3rd despite dropping to 7th place in the race.
Club
In the ?Club? race for Novice racers and club riders there were 10 entrants of mostly Pedal On and Ratz members. Damien Corigan (Pedal On) led in the early stages but slowed and was passed by Keith Brewster (Epping Forest MBC) and round 1 winner Kim Burrows (Pedal On). They were joined by Andrew Edwards (Reading CC) and Robin Akers (Witney Mtb) and this four all just managed to complete 6 laps before the bell and went on to complete 7 laps. Corrigan, David Lawrence (Pedal On) and Ricky White (Pedal On) were caught by Luke Smith in the final stages of their 5th lap and were the first of the Club riders to take the bell so could only complete 6 laps. Brewster went on to take the win only 12 seconds clear of Burrows and Edwards took 3rd.
Burrows is now clearly leading the series with 47 points but the battle behind is much closer with only 3 points separating the battle for 2nd. Edwards is 2nd with 38 points, Lawrence is 3rd but only 1 point down and in 4th with 36 points is his team mate Ricky White.
Fun & Women
With 7 riders in the Fun race it was a big enough entry for some good racing and Jennifer Cady (Evans Cycles) started with them as she was the only lady racing tonight. It looked like a 3 way battle all the way to the finish between round 1 winner Paul Cross (Team 606), Gavin Spiers and Antony Davies who swapped places for the lead for the first few laps. Davies dropped off the pace on lap 3 and it came down to the last lap between Cross and Spiers. Cross upped the pace with his fastest lap and went on to take the win again. Spiers took 2nd and Davies was some way back but also managed to complete 6 laps. Cady completed 5 laps and was 5th home but could do with some other ladies for competition at the next round.
Cross leads the series with 2 wins, but it is Chris Keeble-Smith in 2nd with some consistent results 3rd at round 1 and 4th this time, Spiers is 3rd overall having missed the first round. Cady leads the ladies with 47 points but could still be caught if the next 3 rounds are contested.
Steve Jones
Don?t forget round 3 is on 7th July
(a good opportunity to check out some of the course for the SXC round 4 and Southern Champs on July 10th)
Round 2 results | Series points |
RAT Ware
Paul Sheppard - Sat Jun 4, 2005 11:57:05 |
A new batch of jerseys and shorts are to be made up soon. We'll be ordering a random selection of the short sleave and long sleave standard jerseys and perhaps a few shorts.
If you want a rain jacket, winter jacket, shorts, any of the other items or to guarentee a particular size, get your order in now.
Garment descriptions, prices, sizes, and pics can be found here
The order form can be found Here (Word document)
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