Event 2 of the BNECC Go-ride race programme was held at Pensby High School on the 19th May, 2012. Click the below links for further information about the morning’s events:

Race Report

Results

Overall Standings

The North West Regional Road Race Championships were held at  Out-Rawcliffe, north of Preston on Saturday 19th May. 50 riders took part in the 3/4 cat race. BNECC’s Jeff Vernon won the sprint finish. Below is the race report from the British Cycling website:

“A strong field of approximately 50 riders took the start for the Category 3 and 4 race, starting 10 minutes behind the diminutive group of juniors. With the wind dying down across the flat course the bunch held together without significant upset. With such a large group the pace was high and some of the more inexperienced riders were dropped but it also made it difficult to make a break.

With 3 laps gone the stronger riders began to flex their muscles and a small group clipped off the front, however it was quickly brought back, and the bunch was together as they took the bell. However, the pace quickly ratcheted as the favourites started to think about the win and the main bunch began to split up. A sizeable group contested a bunch sprint with Jeff Vernon (Birkenhead North End) taking the win from Bill Gray (Kuota) and Chris Quin (Macclesfield Wheelers).”

 Following the successful reintroduction of racing in Birkenhead Park last season, the programme has been expanded to include the British Paracycling Championships, a Ladies Only circuit race, a handicap race and Go-Ride Racing for 6 to 16 yr olds, all on Sunday 22nd July. The racing begins at 9.30 am for the youngsters on the Lower Parkuntil about 11.15am, 10am for the ladies on the Upper Park until 11.15am, 12noon for the handicap race on both Parks until 1.30pm, and 2pm for the Paracycling who will also use both Parks until about 3.15pm .

The Ladies & Juniors  race is open to 3rd & 4th Category riders. Sign on will be open from 9am and the course is open at that time for warm up. The handicap event is open to E/1/2/3/4 categories, sign on from 11am and warm up on the Upper Park after 11.15am. The Paracycling event sign on is from 12am, the course should be open for warm up from 1.40pm.

Birkenhead Park was refurbished recently to the tune of £8M including a superb road surface to theCarriage Drive. Designed by Joseph Paxton & opened in 1847 it was used as the model for Central Park New York.

Entries can be made online via the British Cycling web site.

The 2nd in the series of BNECC Go-ride races will be held on the 19/05/12 at Pensby High School. Click here for further details.

Birkenhead North End’s Scott Smith gained 3rd place in the 40-44 age category in this week’s Cheshire TLI held on the Withington circuit.

40-44 results:

1. Ged Heap, GP Platers
2. Andy Prince, Stafford RC
3. Scott Smith, Birkenhead North End

The TLI Cheshire road series round 2 held on the 1/5/12 saw another successful night for BNECC. Keith Jones won the under 40s race and Scott Smith was 2nd in the 40-44 age category. Results as follows:

Under 40’s
1. Keith Jones, Birkenhead North End
2. Paul Bethell, Team Elite
3. Chris Wilde, Wheelguru

40-44
1. Steve Burke, Macclesfield Whs
2. Scott Smith, Birkenhead North End
3. Ged Heap, GP Platers

Despite appalling conditions on Sunday (strong winds, heavy rain and sleet and close to zero temperatures), 53 riders started the Brenig road race out of a full field of 80. The 62 mile race (2/3/4 cats) encompassed a climb up the Sportmans, descending towards Denbigh, through to Ruthin and then 3 laps of the Llandyrnog road circuit. Only 14 riders finished. BNECC’s Mike Garner finished the race in 5th place.

Results and a full race report can be viewed here: http://www.velouk.net/2012/04/30/result-brenig-road-race/

The next club 7.1 TT is the 2nd May (Wednesday). Start time is 7pm. Meeting place is Brimstage road close to Heswell Hills station. Club and non-club members welcome. Please contact Mark Donnelly (donno4980@hotmail.com)  for further details. Course details as follows:

Start on A5137 Brimstage road by the grid just shy of lamp post 23 close to Heswall Hills station, proceed to Glegg arms, left on A540 to traffic lights at junction with A5136, left through filter along A5136 through Thornton Hough to island at junction with B5151, left to Drayton motors island. Encircle island and retrace along B5151 to finish at end of lay-by short of Benty Heath lane.

Tuesday (24/04/12) saw the start of the Cheshire TLI series. The first of the series being held around Lower Withington in a 25 mile race (5 laps). The only BNECC member racing was Mike Garner with Scott Smith and Keith Jones marshalling. Throughout the race there were many attacks but nothing succeeding. Mike Garner tried a last attack with just over 1km to go and held the bunch off to the line to win the under 40s race.

Under 40’s results:
1. Michael Garner, Birkenhead North End snr
2. Paul Bethell, Team Elite snr
3. Dan Whelan, Onimpex RT under 23

BNECC’s Andrew Saunders came 3rd in the West Cheshire 10 mile time trial held at Pulford on Sunday (22/4/12) with a time of 21.50. Justin McIlveen won the event with a time of 20.57. Three other BNECC members also rode the event, Mark Donnelly (23.31), Dave Berry (24.46) and George Aldridge (24.51).