Ray Martin Memorial 150 Distance League 5:5

The 2nd of May saw the fifth and final event in the Ray martin 150 series.  After the ridiculously windy race the week before ( I’m no fan of the wind) I was quite looking forward to an easy race trying out my new American classic carbon 85's that I had only finished gluing tubs onto that day.  It was a relatively dry and still night when I arrived. However my plan was scupper when I was reminded that despite missing one event Harry was lying 2nd in the series. We worked out that we probably wouldn’t be able to close the gap on the series leader (Nick Baker) but we could make sure Harry held on to 2nd and fight for the slim chance of overall victory.  All in all this was going to make it an lively event for the Hansford riders!

 Anyway the normal pre race warm-up and rituals began. for me this included watching the end of the 3rd/4th race as we had Brook racing. Hearing the bell for the last lap I ran over to the rail to watch, they came round the final bend 6 abreast jockeying for position. brook was in the front half for the sprint a few riders back. In the blink of an eye the riders in front of him touched wheels and went down leaving Brook nowhere to go but down!  the 3 riders slid the last 20m of the race  to finish up the other side of the line.  Brook came off the lightest of the 3 only getting minor cuts while the other 2 received full body road rash and required stitches.. However they still got placed and brook hobbled away with 7th.

So with that it was our turn, we had Mike, Harry, Phil (who had raced 100 others to take 9th at goodwood the night before)  and me from our team. the basic plan was to keep attacking the front runners and keep the race together. at that exactly what happened. constant attacks all evening including a notable one from Toby Neave (Primera-Specialized)  where all dragged back in. all the moves had a Hansford rider in, but nothing was going to stick. so this is how it stayed until the final few minutes of the race.  knowing the end was year I fancied a chance of my arm and as it happened so did Henry Newbury (GWR Team).  we chipped clear of the bunch and built a small lead but where dragged back in after a lap or 2.

Soon as Henry and I  were pulled back Nick Baker attacked. mindful of Harry I jumped onto Nicks wheel. He’s strong chap and was pulling like the devil  for the first lap or so. he gave me the flick of the elbow (a signal to come and do my turn on the front) but I wasn’t going to come through, he flicked again and when there was no response he looked back to realise it was a Hansford rider. Fair play to him, knowing I was just going to sit on his wheel he got on with it.  a 2 rider breakaways rarely succeeds, especially when one isn’t doing turns!  The breath of life into this move was inexplicably none of the other teams where chancing yet. when the 5laps to go board came out and we still had over half a lap on the bunch I knew we were probably going to make it. I started to run-through what I might do,  I figured he would be quite tired and if I gave it a hard dig in the last 400m it might finish him off.  how wrong i was, i kicked hard climbing the track trying to break the elastic but he dug in and held on to my wheel. the shoe was on the other foot and he powered round me to take the win.  but fair play to him he’s a power house and I’m no sprinter. in retrospect I should have probably tried to kick again as soon as he made my wheel but I have the feeling he would have still had me.

Adding to the excitement of all this we had Winchester shop mechanic Steve Oliver down to take pictures as he’s a keen armature photographer.  Checkout some of his classy snaps and my new wheels below! 

 














RESULTS
E/1/2
1. Nicholas Baker Zappi’s Cycling Club
2. Oliver Hitchings Peter Hansford Racing
3. Jay Eastwood Primera-Specialized
4. James Jones Beeline Bicycles RT
5. Phill Reynolds Peter Hansford Racing
6. Jordan Wade VC St Raphael
7. Steven James Hargroves Cycles-Specialized-Trant-Next-Elliott’s
8. Sebastian Ottley VC St Raphael
9. Jon Cannings I-Ride.co.uk
10. Harry Bulstrode Peter Hansford Racing
11. James Cooper Sotonia CC
12. Adrian Jenkins I-Team Cyclists’ Club
13. Will Stephenson Primera-Specialized
14. Henry Latimer Dream Cycling
15. Mark Barfield MJS Racing
16. Stuart Thompson Andover Whls
17. Michael Scott Peter Hansford Racing
18. Clinton Casteller
19. Matthew Conner Supernovacycles
20. Dave Dalton Fareham Wheelers Cycling Club
21. Matthew Bone I-Team Cyclists’ Club
22. Alexander Murison Performance Cycles-CMI U23
23. Mark Warrington Southdown Velo
24. Andrew Carter Portsmouth North End CC
25. Henry Newbury GWR Team/Swindon Cycles/High5/Kalas/Giant
26. Simon Brooks VC St Raphael
27. Richard Walker Portsmouth North End CC
28. Toby Neave Primera-Specialized
29. Shaun Smart Southdown Velo