Ellie leads Springtime Pursuit series

Ellie Gilham, Jenny Hudson, Laura Clode and new signing Maddy Moore travelled to Devon for the second race in the Springtime Pursuit series.
This week saw the group split into handicaps, where some random decisions were made by the organiser seeing Jenny put in with the scratch group even though she's a 4th cat!
Ellie and Jenny worked hard in the scratch group to make up the deficit and they managed to catch both groups that started ahead of them on the road.  Coming into the final climb to the finish Ellie was pipped to the post and had to settle for 2nd this week behind Natalie Grinczer, who claimed 2nd place at race 1.  Jenny finished a very respectable 5th for her 2nd every race and sees her move up to a 3rd category rider in the process.  Well done Jenny!
Laura had yet more bad luck this week, getting caught up in a crash and having to get a wheel change, saw her having to chase to get back on and her race was over.
Ellie goes into final round joint leader in the series.  She must beat Natalie Grinczer in the final round to clinch the title, and her team-mates will be out in force to help her.

Result

1 Natalie Grinczer University of Birmingham 27 miles in 1 hr 27 mins 27 secs
2 Ellie Gillham VC St Raphael
3 Ella Hopkins Breast Cancer Care Academy Team @ 4 secs
4 Manon Lloyd Abergavenny RC @ 7 secs
5 Jennifer Hudson VC Straphael
6 Lyndsey Glazier Team Hope Factory Racing
7 Carrie Hill Mid-Devon CC
8 Claire Elworthy Exeter Wheelers CC

Ellie wins Springtime Pursuit Race 1

Ellie first across the line - (c) Richard Owens 2013

Today 4 of the girls travelled to Devon for the first of the 3 race series of Springtime Pursuits, Ellie Gilham, Anna Fischer, Jenny Hudson, Laura Clode.  The race was intended to be a Handicap but with a small bunch of E/1/2 as the scratch group it was decided to scrap the handicap and start all the riders together.

Ellie, Anna and Jenny after the race

Here is Anna's take on it:

"The race started with a crash just in front of me after just 30 seconds! Luckily I could stay upright and I was reminded to stay near the front which I managed all day. The course was quite flat and no one was in attacking mode, so it was quite obvious it would all come down to the finish hill to decide the winner. Ellie and Jenny felt pretty good, so I decided to lead them out from the bottom of the hill. When we hit the front only one other rider could stay with us. The bunch was way back. When I slowed a little, Ellie came past going for the final metres and Jenny and the other girl followed. Ellie held on for an awesome win and Jenny made 3rd in her first ever race. I managed 4th despite proper slowing down as the gap to the rest of the riders was big! It was an awesome performance from everyone and I really enjoyed being back racing, staying upright and see the team get the win."

A great result for the team and again showed what team-work can achieve.  It was a shame that Laura punctured during the race as she had been riding very strong and contributed to the teams success.

Results:

1	Miss Ellie Gilham	VC St Raphael	Finished	2nd	01:25:17:000	10
2	Miss Natalie Grinczer	Birmingham University Cycling ...	Finished	4th		8
3	Miss Jennifer Hudson	VC St Raphael	Finished	4th		7
4	Miss Anna Fischer	VC St Raphael	Finished	2nd		6
5	Miss Claire Elworthy	Exeter Wheelers	Finished	4th		5
6	Miss Bryony Board	Glendene CC	Finished	3rd		4
7	Miss Georgina Snowdon-Brett	University of Bristol Cycling ...	Finished	4th		3
8	Miss Catriona Ross	PSUK Cycle Race Team	Finished	4th		2
9	Miss Stephanie Post	Cardiff Ajax CC	Finished	4th		1
10	Mrs Jennifer Edwards	Rhos On Sea Cycling Club	Finished	4th		1

The bunch all together -  (c) Richard Owens 2013