This season the club has joined the Oxfordshire Road Race League (ORRL) and the first event took place at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon Airfield, closed circuit at the weekend. There are races for both men’s and women’s categories and the series comprise 8 events, with our own road races on 21st May, being the second in the series.
Weather conditions for this first event were initially gloomy, with severe fog delaying the start for an hour. However, blue skies eventually appeared and a low wind and dry conditions made for ideal racing.
The women’s race, for Cat 2/3/4 riders was for a race duration of an hour, which equated to around 25 miles. The field comprised of 28 riders, with Hayley Holland and juniors, Poppy Kisley and Peggy Simpkins representing BSCC.
Poppy in the bunch (photo Sarah Kisley)
All three ladies set off in the middle of the bunch, separating out during the race. A great effort by Hayley saw her chase down the breakaways, bringing them back to the peloton. Several attacks by Cowley Condors took place, but all three Stars remained mid-bunch. The race was then paused due to a big crash in the men’s race, which was running at the same time. On resumption, there was a last-minute attack on the last lap with the peloton spreading out. Hayley sprinted for the line coming 9th with Peggy right behind in 10th and Poppy rolling over the line 23rd. A great start, with the BSCC team claiming third place.
The men’s Cat 3/4 race had a large field of 55 riders, with a race duration of 1 hour 20 minutes, a distance of about 30 miles. Racing for Banbury Stars men’s team was Richard Santhouse, Josh Lovell and Stuart Quick.
Spot the Stars (photo Sarah Kisley)
In the race there some initial attacks from both Richard and Josh within a couple of the early breakaways, but all were soon caught by the fast-paced peloton – this would be the same throughout the race. With just over 2 laps to go there was a nasty incident on the hairpin, forcing a Cowley Condors rider to crash, breaking his collar bone in the process. The race was red flagged, all riders were forced to stop until the injured rider had been seen to. After some delay, the race was restarted with 3 full laps to go. One rider, George Fox, was able to breakaway as solo rider and was never caught at the flag. The race finished as a bunch sprint. Stuart Quick finished in a respectable 32nd, while Josh and Richard rolled over in 44th and 46th respectively.
So, a mixed start to the club’s ORRL baptism, but our own race on 21st May is the next ORRL event, so hopefully home support will give our riders some great encouragement.
If you’d like to be part of the club’s ORRL team then please contact our race secretaries, Richard and Josh, for more details.