A full field of 80 riders left the picturesque Shropshire town of Bridgnorth on a cool spring morning.

The race was neutralised out of the town including the climb of the famous 'Hermitage' Hill which, was welcome news for some!

 

The racing was soon on in earnest over the first of 3 laps to complete the 85km route taking in 3 significant climbs each lap: Hilton Bank, Stableford and finally the steeper Bromley Bank. At the end of the fist lap Andy Robinson of Concorde-Bridgetown Cycles and Phil Barlow - Private member lead up Bromley bank causing several riders to lose contact at the rear of the field.

The second lap saw several attempts to break up the field with groups of up to six riders forging a small lead. The last and most purposeful was a threesome of Graham Birch - Brereton Wheelers, Jeff Vernon Birkenhead North End and Andy Young of Derby Mercury. The bunch and particularly riders from the promoting club, Wolverhampton Wheelers C.C. recognised this as a serious move and worked hard to nullify their advantage before the start of the second lap. Jason Perry - Jif lead up the penultimate climb of bromley bank with one circuit left.

 

In a fine display of power riding Jeff Vernon of Birkenhead North End (a winner the previous week) forced a 47 second lead as he headed for home with 8 miles to go. The bunch cased but only sporadically many expecting Vernon to be reeled in on Bromley bank.

 

It was not to be and Vernon had 20 seconds in hand by the line allowing him to celebrate a well deserved victory in fine stile. The bunch was lead in by the fast finishing Simon Ward of the Epic-Viner R.T. himself a winner at Yoxall two weeks earlier.

 

The race was ran off without accident or incident finishing in beautiful spring sunshine and a credit to the organiser Ian Potts and the Wolverhampton Wheelers.

Result:

 

1st Jeff Vernon - Birkenhead North End 2 hrs 9min 22 sec.

2nd Simon Ward - Epic-Viner R.T. @ 20 sec.

3rd Ian Packer - V.C. Montpellier Same Time.

4th Andrew Prince - Lyme Racing Club

5th James Thompson - Sheffield R. C.

6th Lewis Cowley - Plan B Racing

7th Jack Hill - Leigh Premier

8th Craig Ansell - Wolverhampton Wheelers C. C.

9th Paul Chubb - Epic-Viner R.T.

10th Matt Eastwood - York Cycleworks.11th Jeremy Addis Royal Dean Forest C C
12th Andrew Young - Derby Mercury
13th Richard Cook - V C Montpellier
14th Phil Weaver - Epic Viner
15th Neil Munro - Zenith C C
16th Chris Roxburgh - Total Fitness
17th Chris Cox - The Bicycle Club
18th David Crowley - Port Talbot Wheelers
19th Aidan Dodd - Newport C C
20th Stephen Bradbrock - Alf Jones Cycles

 

 

BC Report and Photos