Location: CLECKHEATON
Report :
The Derek Smith Memorial Road Race – 25 April 201
Organised by the Halifax Imperial Wheelers, this was the first running of the Derek Smith Memorial RR on what was a new course for the club based on Hartshead Moor near Cleckheaton.

In the A/B race it was Darren Otter (Rutland CC) who won in what has become his signature fashion, alone and several minutes up on his chasers. The winning move was made with 6 laps to go (of the initial 10). Several riders immediately saw the danger and took chase. It was to no avail, Darren soon gained time and held a group of what was to become 3 chasers at over 2 minutes all the way to the finish. In the sprint for second place Richard Binks (Holme Valley Wheelers) beat the promoting club’s Sean Smith (and Derek’s son), these two taking first and second place in the Bs respectively. Paul Dixon (VS Cycles) finished fourth to claim second A.

Meanwhile John Hadfield (Rutland CC) took off alone in the latter stages of the C/D race. He said afterwards that it was seeing his team-mate Darren’s solo efforts that had inspired him. It proved to be a successful strategy as he too held off his chasers – winning the race alone. Again a small group of chasers were sprinting it out for second place with Paul Webster (Dinnington RC) getting the verdict from Chris Miller of the Clayton Velo (who claimed first place in the Ds). Mick Day of Paul Milnes Cycles finished fourth in the race and second D.
In the E/F/G race it was the turn of Mick Holmes (Batley CC) to solo to victory with Phil Etches (Witham Wheelers) and Kev Shand (West Pennine) having to settle for second and third respectively. First F was Jeff Hardy and, in what is becoming something of a habit, Jack Watson of MI Racing won the first G prize.

Thanks to Darren for the write up !!!

Last Sunday saw round four of the Rudy Project time series. A challenging and picturesque course round the Retford region greeted the riders and luckily the weather was fairly kind to the riders with the sun shining for most of the event. For those of you who understand the crazy language of time trial code speak it was using the O13C course. Veterans, Juniors, Disabled and Women rode one lap of 13.44 miles while the Men and Espoirs faced two lap for 27.20 miles. The generally traffic free course included two climbs, at Gringley on the Hill and Clarborough Hill, a couple miles from the finish.

Three Rutland riders were on show with Marc and Danny finishing 12th and 13th in the seniors category while Stuart took 15th in the vets category.

Full results can be found here…senior result…vets result

I have to say on the whole I really enjoyed the event and would recommend riding a Rudy Project series event to anyone thinking of giving time trialling a go. It’s great to ride off against the best time trialist in the country even if it is slightly humbling to have 7 minutes put into you over 26 miles…

Stu Smith collecting his Bronze medal

Yes! Where were all the Rutlers on B/H Monday morning for the Yorkshire 10 mile TT Champs? You did not miss much in weather terms but you did miss winning medals and jerseys.

Congratulations go to Stuart Smith who picked up a bronze medal in the 60+ catogary with a sound ride on a very cold day (5 c)

Don’t miss this next year!!!

It was a great start to the 2010 road race league campaign for Rutland last night who managed a one two in the first event at Torworth. Jamie Burgan (true Rutler currently riding for Boneshakers) outsprinted Marc Mallender at the end of the seven lap race to bag maximum points.

It was the first night of the revised structure of the event which is now split in three separate leagues. Last night Group C and Group B were in action and we had Rutland riders in both groups.

The new un-handicapped structure of the events suited the Rutland riders attacking style down to tea. The race started in a lively fashion with Rutlands Danny Lowthorpe involved in a early move which went away virtually from the gun. After three laps Jamie and Marc bridged the gap and then blasted straight past to form a leading duo that forged ahead to gain a gap of approximately one minute by the line.

Steve had a dig of his own on the last lap but that was brought back before the bunch contested a hectic bunch sprint which was won by Sheff Recs Marc Etches, who rounded the podium off in third.

In the Group B race…I’m not sure what happened….all I know is that Dave was riding and finished in the bunch. Fancy writing a report for us Dave ???

Were you invloved in the racing ??? Why not comment on the article and give us your opinions on the first weeks competition.

Congratulations go out anyway to Marc and Jamie for a great Rutland 1-2 !!!

The sun was out and people flocked to make what has to have been one of the finest teacakes of the year…The turnout was amazing…something that I have not seen for a while but if you don’t believe me check out the pics below. (ps sorry for the quality they were taking using my sweaty camera phone!!).

I was also very pleased to see a great turnout for the slowcake also with eight or so riders tackling what turned into an epic slowcake of slightly elongated proportions.

All groups congregated back at the cafe for a well earned brew and plenty of banter. I’m sure I’m not the only person who feels really pleased to have found the Hathersage baths cafe. It’s great to actually feel welcome at a place and they have been brilliant catering for our ever increasing numbers with a smile. “Chapeau” to all at the cafe.

One of the main highlights for me though had to be newly signed Pinarallo test rider Dave Webster. Pinarello were apparently not getting enough of the right kind of feedback from their sky team members and so have turned to teacake stalwart Dave to put their product through it’s paces. Dave added, “Well Pinarello bosses approached me and said they were after some feedback on how the Dogma handled a rider capable of putting down some serious wattage, last week topping Cressbrook my SRM was reading 1500 watts and that’s a figure none of team sky can match.” We look forward to hearing more from our intrepid test teamer as the season progresses.

Were you out on saturday ? Why not leave a comment and tell us what you thought of the ride ?

What a difference 24 hrs make on Saturday it was scorching but Sunday morning on the east coast was a very different story with a cold easterly wind blowing across the course but Marc Mallender and Steve Ellis were wrapped up and ready to go.  The first few laps were fast and very cold with finger ends about to drop off but after that things started to warm up. In the Artic spell a group of 8 riders had slipped the field to gain a 1m 30s gap, in many riders minds it was over but not for the Rutland two who began attacking every lap between them. At the bell the gap had come down to 50s and a group of 8 splinted away from the main group after hard riding by Marc on the long drag to the finish, the group worked well and pulled back the leading group in half a lap to contest the finish on the long headwind hill. Steve grabbed 10th with Marc finishing 12th.

As of next Tuesday night (6th April) the chain gang will again be threading it’s majestic route through the peak district at warp factor 53×12.

We will be meeting as last year up at the Norfolk Arms at 6pm for prompt set off soon after 6pm (we may be able to relax the start time slightly as the nights get lighter).

Last year on occasion the group got a little large to be effective so if we get a big turn out again this year we are planning on splitting up into smaller groups down at Hathersage and having a bit of handicapped style pursuit down to Castleton and back. We may also lenghten out the route a little if there are any takers…

Anyway I for one can’t wait so engage that big ring and see you up at the Norfolk Arms !!!

Last weekend things turned to the road racing scene with the first in the series of Saturday afternoon road races around Carburton Lakes. The day was fine but very windy when the riders set off for the 35 mile race with the scatch group having a 10 min handicapp to make up, things were quick with Marc Mallender, Simon Keeton, James Baillie(Sheffield Sports) and Sean Smith( Halifax Whrs) being the main riders driving the scatch group along. On the last of 5 laps James Baillie attacked up the climb out of Cuckney and was joined by Simon Keeton. Marc Mallender jumped across to the pair alone and pushed hard over the top of the climb to force the split. The last rider to make the split was Sean Smith. The four pushed on, caught and ripped through the first group leaving only them four to contest the final sprint. Sean Smith got the jump from Marc who lead out but faded a little in the sprint to finish 4th Simon grabbed second with James a creditable 3rd for a 16 year old.

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After last weeks victory for the Rutland in the Sheffrec 2 up it was down to solo business this with the VTTA 18k at Ranby and our riders did not fail to impress although the win was taken by Ian Dalton we did fill the rest of the podium with Marc Mallender 2nd in 23.54 and Darren Otter third in 24.29 and just outside the top 10  came Simon Keeton and Alan West.

Darren Otter and Marc Mallender took an impressive win in the Sheffrec CC’s 2 up time trail on the Hadfield Woodhouse course on Saturday in a time of 55.05 having the odds against them with a late start penalty they still beat scracth riders John Surtees and Gary Beezer on a cold day to take victory by over 30 secs.