The 'Two Counties - Norman Southall Memorial Road Race'
18th April 2010
A full
filed of 80 riders left Worfield village hall near
Bridgnorth in glorious spring sunshine for 53 hilly
miles of racing. It was action from the word go with a
break of seven gaining 45 seconds before a reaction from
the promoting clubs riders Wolverhampton Wheelers
brought this down to single figures. Near the end of the
first lap Steve Edwards and Olly Kyte lead the bunch up
'Bromley Bank' and it was all square again. However,
hostilities soon resumed with several attacks resulting
in small groups gaining a small advantage. Andrew Hunt
of the Ystwyth C. C. was very active throughout the race
and was deservedly awarded the 'most aggressive rider'
award for his efforts.
Hunt made
it into the winning break that formed on the last lap
when six riders pulled clear by a maximum of 45 seconds.
The chase by the main field was disrupted by an
unfortunate crash in the closing miles that saw more
than a dozen riders hit the road. Fortunately there were
no serious injuries as the race face the final climb of
Bromley Bank with less than one mile to go.
It was
Solihull's Conor O'Brien who proved the strongest edging
out previous winner Mark Hammond of the Stourbridge
Velo. Craig Breeze of Stafford road Club claimed the
remaining podium spot from Andrew Hunt in fourth, Don
Storey and Matt Bonehill. Kevin Potter of Plan B Racing
Team lead the charge for the line by the main field some
25 seconds further back.
The race
was a credit to the memory of Norman Southall who, like
many who helped put today's race on, gave so much of his
short life to cycling.
Result:
1st Conor O'Brien - Solihull C. C. 1hr 58m 40 sec.
2nd Mark Hammond - Stourbridge Velo. S.T.
3rd Craig Breeze - Stafford R.C. S.T.
4th Andrew Hunt - Ystwyth C. C.
5th Don Storey - Sheffrec C.C.
6th Matt Bonehill - Stafford R.C. @ 6 seconds
7th Kevin Potter - Plan B Racing Team @ 25 seconds
8th Vince Page - Team Echelon Spuik
9th Scott Law - Evesham & District C.C.
10th Richard Nelson - Paramount R.T.
