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

 



Anna Fischer joins women's team

We are thrilled to announce the addition of Anna Fischer to the team.  Anna has had a very successful cycling career to date having spent 2 years as a professional racing for Abus-Nutrixxion based in Germany.  Her highlights include a professional win in the Fleche Wanzoise in 2011, National Hill Climb Champion 2009, Essex Giro 2011 and countless other wins.

Anna raced with Marianne Britten and Jackie Garner at Max Gear in 2008-2009, a team which had much success on the domestic scene, so the trio are to be re-united for 2013.

Anna will again target the road racing circuit this season after having been out of the racing circuit for much of last season through illness.  She is a welcome addition to our strengthening team for 2013.

New signings for 2013

With the 2012 season coming to a close and our sights firmly set on the next road and track season, we have had the inevitable rider movements that always happens at this time of year.
Leaving us will be Jo Tindley, who has made a great impression this season and helping seal many team successes, off to join Matrix-Prendas.  Also leaving will be Bex Heath as her aspiring medical career takes her to Australia.  Hannah Layland is taking a break from the sport so will not be racing for the team next season.
Joining the team will be two young track and crit specialists in Hannah Manley and Jackie Garner.  Hannah joins us from For Viored, she is based in Bath for her first year at uni. Jackie returns to the racing scene having been out with illness.  We also welcome established road and cyclo-cross rider Nikola Butler, previously raced for Inverse.  Our last signing is a new talent in Jenny Hudson who is based at Bristol Uni in her 3rd year, next season will be her first and should prove to be a successful one.
These riders join our already established road and track teams within which we have a World Masters medallist in Adel Tyson-Bloor and returning Elite rider Marianne Britten to captain the team.

Original riders:
Marianne Britten
Adel Tyson-Bloor
Ellie Gilham
Eleanor Jones
Nicci Meadows
Caroline Harding
Vanessa Whitfield
Rusine Heald
Laura Clode

New signings:
Jenny Hudson
Hannah Manley
Jackie Garner
Nikola Butker

Team Training Weekend - 17/18th November 2012

The first of the winter training weekends got under way last weekend at Bristol, hosted by team captain Marianne Britten.

 

 



After recent bad weather the weekend was blessed with sunshine, especially on the sunday.  Covering 6 hours of hills over the two days was great in lovely weather.

Adel wins World Masters Bronze in Pursuit

Adel rode the World Masters Pursuit yesterday and narrowly misssed out on qualifying for the gold-silver ride off.  She beat her opponent in the Bronze medal ride off to claim the medal.  A gutsy ride for her first time at World level.

Adel Bronze in Pursuit

Team Pursuit gold and Team Sprint silver and bronze at Welsh open track champs

Well done to the girls racing at Newport this weekend, gold in the team pursuit and silver and bronze in the team sprints. 

Team Pursuit gold
 

The team pursuit consisted of Adel Tyson-Bloor, Caroline Harding and Eleanor Jones.  Their next event in the National Track champs at Manchester at the end of september.

Team sprint podium

The silver team sprint team consisted of Adel Tyson-Bloor and Jo Tindley.  They beat Eleanor Jones and Laura Clode into bronze by a mere 1000th of a second.  Their next outing again comes at the track nationals in Manchester next weekend, the teams will remain the same.  Good luck to all the girls!