On an evening of fine weather, but with a stiff breeze, ICC promoted three races on the Brownlee Circuit at Lawnswood. The first race was for female 4th cats and was won solo by Michaela Laxton of Valley Striders CC. Three riders fought out a sprint for the minor placings with the rest of the field spread round the circuit. Taking the sprint for 2nd was Catherine Sweeney, Queensbury Queens of the Mountain and 3rd went to Sarah Markless of Hopey Bicycle Repairs. Ilkley’s Camilla Boyton narrowly missed the podium with 4th place.
The next race was for 3/4 category men and it was dominated by a powerfully working racelong breakaway. Prologue RT’s Tom Wood took the win from Australian visitor Matthew Kasher and with Team PMRR’s Michan McKeown-Walker in third place. A big bunch sprint ensued for the minor placings and it was not without incident as a number of riders clashed on the final corner, putting paid to the hopes of a few competitors. The worse injured was Hopey Bicycle Repairs rider Matthew Cleave who suffered multiple cuts and abrasions. Ilkley CC’s top performer was Neil Rollins, age 55, who showed he can still mix it with the youngsters in 14th place. Neil was followed in by, 20th - Steve Gott, 22nd - Michael Strange and 31st - Paddy Carter.
The final race was a female E/1/2/3/4 category event and again a breakaway resulted in a fine solo win, this time for Cycle Team On-Form’s Corinne Side. Louise Scupham of Liv Awol powerfully took a clear sprint for 2nd place from Millie Skinner from Southdown Velo. In the scramble across the finish line there was a crash and regular rider at Ilkley events, Rebecca Dawes , Team RFDA, looked to be badly injured. Thankfully, after observation at hospital, she was released and was up and about the next day , sending a message of thanks to all those medical and otherwise who had tended her at the trackside.
Ilkley had one rider in the Yorkshire 10m time trial Championships at Howden, East Yorks. Tom Asher was 19th with a 22min57secs ride.
lkley Cycling Clubs seventeen year old Barney Street competed in the National Special Olympics Cycling Competition on the 4th August at the Tameside Cycling Circuit. Barney who trains with club won a silver medal (2nd) in the 10k circuit race and a bronze medal (3rd) in 10K time trial. Barney is now through to the next round of the qualifiers to represent Great Britain in Berlin in four years’ time. We shall be watching Barney with pride.
Pics: the podium for the first female race and Camilla Boyton on her way to 4th place.
