There was a strong field for this late season Mountbatten race, starting at nightfall on the floodlit oval which is the familiar scene of the ‘Wednesday World Champs’.Tim Elverson from Pedal Heaven, Toby Neave from Primera and Rowan Horner of VC St. Raphael were backed up by handy teams and looking purposeful as the race picked up into the gathering night. Peter Hansford Cycles were represented by Brook Elgie, Mike Scott, Oli Hitchings, Andy Bryson, Harry Bulstrode and Phill Reynolds.
The early moves were covered without difficulty. Nothing was going to stay away without riders from the top teams involved, and about 10 minutes in saw the first real break, with Phill quick
ly gaining a third of a lap with 5 others. This looked like the move of the night, and to tip the balance in the break in favour of Peter Hansford, Harry Bulstrode managed to use a failed bridge by a chasing group to make it across alone. This group of 7 then worked consistently to gain a lap by just after the halfway point.
Further attacks were effectively controlled by the team, to set up a sprint finish, led out by Andy Bryson. Phill took a great victory, with Harry also placing highly. Most of the action, however, was just behind. Mike Scott had been forced onto the grass in the closing stages as the speed racked up towards 60km/h. Fighting for control, the bike glanced off the metal stanchion at the finish, throwing Mike through a stack of hurdles onto the tarmac in the central reservation of the track. By the time we reached him, Mike was sat up, brushing himself down. He was bleeding from cuts on his hand and legs, but didn’t seem to have broken anything, and his main worry was his bicycle. He was taken off to Portsmouth A&E for stitching and I’m sure he will be back in action in no time.
Further attacks were effectively controlled by the team, to set up a sprint finish, led out by Andy Bryson. Phill took a great victory, with Harry also placing highly. Most of the action, however, was just behind. Mike Scott had been forced onto the grass in the closing stages as the speed racked up towards 60km/h. Fighting for control, the bike glanced off the metal stanchion at the finish, throwing Mike through a stack of hurdles onto the tarmac in the central reservation of the track. By the time we reached him, Mike was sat up, brushing himself down. He was bleeding from cuts on his hand and legs, but didn’t seem to have broken anything, and his main worry was his bicycle. He was taken off to Portsmouth A&E for stitching and I’m sure he will be back in action in no time.
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