Vic Sutton Memorial LVRC Sun 14^th September

 

Eighty veterans across seven age groups, three separate races started the Vic Sutton road race in memory of the local rider who finished 37th in the '59 Tour de France, on a beautiful summer day in the middle of September. Over an undulating course around Little Weighton in East Yorkshire, the same course on which Vic collapsed and died four years ago whilst racing in a local event. There were three separate racing groups.

Wall to wall sunshine throughout the race and 32 riders set off in the first set, A and B riders race over 6 laps. At the end of three laps four riders had a lead of just over half a minute. They were Steve Marrows, Brian Field, Mike Milen and John Galway. John knows the circuit well from the road race league and they hung on to for just over a lap, Galway had gone back to the fold but Milen, Marrows and Field still had 10 seconds at the end of lap 4.

Paul Stubbs (MI Racing) proved the strongest in the uphill sprint with most of the remaining bunch stretched out behind. Our own (Hull Thursday) Derek Palmer had his first taste of vet's racing. He knew what to expect but I think he did too much in yesterday's race to do any good - he punctured in both legs on the first lap.

The second race, thirty one starting, was a closely matched affair, was won by Mick Holmes (Batley CC) closely contested by Chris Bishop (Knaresborough RT) with the bunch led by Phil Etches (Witham Whs) gaining a further fifteen seconds from Phil Etches and the rest of the field.

The third event was benefit event for Jack Watson who was head and shoulders above the rest of the field. He broke away after a couple of miles and continued to distance himself from the bunch finishing 3 minutes ahead of the bunch and the only rider to catch the two over 70s riders Syd Wilson and Clive Williamson who were allowed 5 minutes start. I think they tricked me into allowing them this much start but I can only applaud them for working so well together and keeping the hounds at bay. Or perhaps the hounds weren't really trying and just waiting for the finish. I did plead with them to make an effort to catch them up, or was it to catch Jack Watson up, but this fell on deaf ears.

They were caught off ten minutes by the A/B section on the climb up to the finish. Strongest of this bunch was Athel Lawton but he was outwitted by Jack Wright in the drag to the line. Some say he cheated by following on the wheels of some of the A/B section but that he could have won squarely in a sprint. I put this down to the fact that when you get older you tend to grouse a lot more. You wait, you'll be the same in a few years' time.

Many many thank to the thirty people who helped this race - I hope you all were able to finish the afternoon off on your bikes - it was such a good day to miss. We had a free draw for two bottles of wine out of the helpers and these were won by Barry Trotter and Norma Robson. Barry drove Dr Pam Hunter around as our volunteer roving medic, and Norma served the teas back at the ranch. If I'm thanking people I must thank Sheila (my better half) who did almost all of the work in running this event - I've been out of action for a fortnight with a bad back. What a good contingency plan she is.

Three £10 Primes on lap one were donated by Andrew Penny of Cycle World, Hessle, and were won by Dean Fulstow from the A/Bs (Dean broke away but his legs gave up when no-one joined him), Dave Holmes from the C/D and Jack Watson (already out on his own for the rest of the race) from E/Fs.

A second set of £10 primes out of the extra entries were won by John Hadfield (A/Bs), Phil Etches (C/Ds) and Jack Watson (E/Fs).

Shirley Sutton provided a plaque for winners in each of the sections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group A (40-44)

1	Paul Stubbs	MI Racing
2	Steve Marrows	Lindsey Roads
4	Brian Field	Otley CC

Group B (45-49)

3	Garry Hill	Dinnnington RC
4	Bryan Davison	Middridge CRT
5	John Hadfield	Rutland CC

Group C (50-54)

2	Chris Bishop	Knaresborough RT
6	Nigel Clifford	Team VC Nottingham
8	Ian Spensley	Middridge CRT

Group D (55 - 59)

1	Mick Holmes	Batley CC
3	Phil Etches	Witham Wheelers
4	John Downing	Dinnington RC

Group E (60 - 65)

4	Jack Wright	Middridge CRT
5	Athel Lawton	Stockton Wheelers
8	John Ginley	Condor RC

Group F (65 - 69)

1	Jack Watson	MI Racing
6	Bryan Bliss	Ferryhill Wheelers
7	George Bennett	Ferryhill Wheelers

Group G (Over 70)

2	Syd Wilson	JF Wilson
3	Clive Williamson	Condor RC

Full Results

Pos.	Rider	Club / Team	Group
1	Paul Stubbs	MI Racing	A	46 miles in 1:48:24
2	Steve Marrows	Lindsey Roads	A
3	Garry Hill	Dinnnington RC	B
4	Bryan Davison	Middridge CRT	B
5	John Hadfield	Rutland CC	B
6	Dave Scargill	Birdwell Wheelers	B
7	Brian Field	Otley CC	A
8	Mike Milen	Kamus Racing	A
9	Barry Kipling	Science in Sport	B
10	John Galway	Keswick MTB	B
11	John Murray	Middridge CRT	B
12	Steve Macklin	Hull Thursday	B
13	John Marshall	Ferryhill Wheelers	B
14	Kevin Holmes	Selby CC	A
15	Gary Brown	York Cycleworks	B
16	Dean Fulstow	Hull Thursday	A
17	Terry Kott	Knaresborough RT	B
1	Mick Holmes	Batley CC	D	38 Miles in 1:40:16
2	Chris Bishop	Knaresborough RT	C	st
3	Phil Etches	Witham Wheelers	D	@ 1:40
4	John Downing	Dinnington RC	D	@ 1.55
5	John Ford	Batley CC	D	st
6	Nigel Clifford	Team VC Nottingham	C	st
7	John Clarke	Pete Read Racing	D	st
8	Ian Spensley	Middridge CRT	C	st
9	Ron Bennett	Wakefield CC	D
10	John Powell	Peterborough CC	D
11	Brian Northing	Team Stephen Roche	D
12	Dave Holmes	Dinnington RC	D
13	Bill Hodgson	Selby CC	D
14	Rob Stones	Hull Thursday RC	D
15	Paul Gill	Leeds RC	C
16	Alistair Cameron	Leeds Mercury	C
17	Dave Watson	Hull Thursday RC	D
1	Jack Watson	MI Racing	E	30 miles in1:22:28
2	Syd Wilson	JF Wilson	G	@ 2.50
3	Clive Williamson	Condor RC	G	st
4	Jack Wright	Middridge CRT	E
5	Athel Lawton	Stockton Wheelers	E
6	Bryan Bliss	Ferryhill Wheelers	F
7	George Bennett	Ferryhill Wheelers	F
8	Jim Morrison	Scaborough Paragon	E
9	John Ginley	Condor RC	E
10	George Harding	Haverhill Wheelers	F
11	Mike Gomersall	Cottingham Coureurs	E
12	Steve Burton	Calder Clarion	E
13	John Aldred	Birdwell Wheelers	E
14	Bryn Davies	Richmond & Darlington CC	F