This weekend it was the end of season finale that is Glenn Longland’s legendary Downton 2-Day Classic and Sotonia fielded seven riders – enough for two teams in the full event. Taking the line were Phil Wilks, Jonathan Hall, Ben Scott-Munden, James Peckham, Chris Moody, Richard Burch and Gawain Young.
Phil Wilks told us how the race unfolded:
Day 1 – hill climb prologue and road race
“Jonathan, James and myself did similar times in the hill climb but mine was quick enough to to land me in the scratch group – eek! Ben (our newly promoted 2nd Cat rider) did a more ‘measured’ time in the prologue and was put in the third group which also contained a couple of women. Jon, James and Chris were in the second group. The first 20 minutes of my race consisted of trying to hang on the back of about 10 guys doing the fastest through-and-off I’ve ever experienced at over 30mph. After that it calmed down a bit, and the organisation disappeared. I had been hoping to hang on for the first lap, thinking I’d get dropped on Bowers Hill but I managed to stay with them all the way despite a few other guys getting dropped. We were probably about 30 secs off catching the next group. I met the others at the finish and learned that Ben had sprinted to second, Jon third and James fifth place!
Road Race result
1 EDWARD HATFIELD (UK BIKING/COPYRITE)
2 BEN SCOTT-MUNDEN (SOTONIA CC)
3 JONATHAN HALL (SOTONIA CC)
4 CHARLIE LEECH (SOTON UNI)
5 JAMES PECKHAM (SOTONIA CC)
6 COLIN DIXON (PORTSDOWN HILL CC)
7 SAM WADSLEY (POOLE WH)
8 DARREN ORCHARD (MUD,SWEAT GEARS)
9 OLI EMMANS (ANTELOPE RT)
10 PETER CARTER (UNATT)
Day 2 time trial
For day two, The TT course was changed to a flat 21 mile out-and-back to Ringwood. James smashed the TT with a 47:48. I did 49:00, Jon was 49:06 and Gawain 49:10. Jon and I had a similar experience of falling to pieces after about 15 miles with day one’s efforts clearly taking their toll. Chris did a very respectable 54:16 on his road bike. Ben punctured which I’m sure will only add to his affection for time trials. Even James’ time wasn’t enough for a top 10 in the overall competition, but the Sotonia ‘A’ team got 9th and a nice envelope of cash. A fantastic weekend’s riding from everyone.”
Thanks to Glenn Longland and everyone who raced, watched and marshaled. Special mentions go to Phil for his great prologue performance which had him racing with the big boys in the scratch group and Ben for his second place in the road race.
Thanks to Eamonn Deane for use of the photo.