Cool, dry, breezy and the usual exciting finish in Portsmouth this evening! FWCC had Vaughan ‘where’s my Bibshorts’ Marris and Caitlin P. The field numbered ten or so including two girls. It was the usual dogfight at the front with Sam (i-team) repeatedly trying to get away only to be brought back by Caitlin and/or Vaughan. These three made up the lead group. Vaughan, FWCCs latest recruit to the U12s is getting stronger with every race and indeed was pulling on the front several times. The leaders distanced the rest of the field by some way and on two occasions even passed the other two older girls, racing in the U14/U16 youth category, who were riding around as a pair. The 2 to go board was shown and it was heads down and up the pace. Caitlin managed to hang on to Sam right round the last lap and they came off the last bend together, Sam just getting over the line c.2 bike lengths clear. Vaughan followed to get another 3rd overall and second boy. Caitlin got 2nd overall and first girl. So a good night for us and excellent to see two FWCC jerseys in the sprint finish.

14/05/2012

Andover Wheelers Platform Lift Co.

Thruxton Summer Warm-Up Circuits#2

The second and last of these Monday nighters saw a much smaller Youth field than the first……Maybe they’re all revising for GCSEs or doing their homework?.....or maybe it was the towering cumulo-nimbus clouds and the gale that was blowing down the hill to the chicane……

FWCC had Joe Donohue going in the U16s and Caitlin P in the U12s. The distances were 4 and 3 laps respectively. Joe looked the strongest throughout and rode away from his main competitor from Andover Whs with a lap to go. He then solo-ed in for the win for whole last lap, lapping the U12s field of two (!) in the process. Caitlin lost out in the sprint by a bike length to a resurgent Alex Hall from Andover Whs. At several points these two hardy souls could be seen to be going at virtual walking pace into the wind as it was that strong. Well done to all riders and thanks again to Andover Whs and the commissaires.

NB Joe D obviously felt that winning the four lap youth race was just his warm-up, and then immediately took to the start line in the 3rd/4th Cat race! What are you feeding him, Ian?

07/05/2012

Andover Wheelers Platform Lift Co. Summer Warm-Up Circuits

FWCC had two youths racing at Thruxton this evening. The evening arrived and although there was plenty of cloud around, it was warmish (c.15 degrees), and completely dry for the whole race. Caitlin in the U12s and Brendan in the U16s. Race distances were set at 3 and 7 laps respectively….

The U16s went off first and Brendan could soon be seen prominently at the front of the bunch in the first couple of times through the chicane. The U12 field then went off, numbering 7, with Caitlin as the only girl. There were some strong riders present from, including amongst others, St. Raphael and Herne Hill……..Sam Clark (i-team) drifted off the front early in the race but was soon brought back by the capable bunch (over half the field were 2nd Yr U12s.) The lead group of five got the bell and the next time they appeared way out the back of the track of was a ‘Mountbatten’ 1-2 with Sam and Caitlin off the front about 50m clear of the others!! Supporters were hopeful that they could stay away but the nature of the finish line at Thruxton means you can’t see that, and the final chicane. So with two very expectant Dads then waiting near the line the only question was who would appear first………… Caitlin then appeared, on her own, giving it everything!.......Supermiss had dropped Sam in the chicane and duly drove hard to get the Overall victory - 1st U12 rider (and first Girl of course, there being only one!!) Sam got a super solo second. The spectators duly applauding a fine female win!

NB. In the post race chat it transpired that John D (Team Brendan) had given some timely and well placed encouragement to Caitlin in the final chicane to go-for-it all the way to the line. Whatever he shouted did the trick and a very pleased Caitlin returned to the pits….(This is a great result given Caitlin is only a 1st Yr U12 remember)

Brendan meanwhile rode strongly all race and got a 5th overall. An excellent result made even better by the fact that all in front of him were 2nd Yr U16s. The race was won by a storming ride by Tom Saunders another Mountbatten-based rider (i-team). Well done to all who rode and thanks also to Andover Wheelers and the Commissaires team who put on a smashing evening race.

03/05/2012

The weather put off many would be riders on a dismal evening in our 15 mile TT on the P823 course... Race report and results here..

02/05/2012

Ray Martin #5

A great night for FWCC Youth riders in Portsmouth! A dark and overcast evening provided the meteorological backdrop this evening as the riders took to the start line at the Mountbatten centre. First off was Matthew Day in the U10s. He rode strongly for the whole race and although pushed hard throughout by a charging Poppy Pattinson from Oakwood Racers, was able to sprint for the win. Well done Matt, more wins than your Dad’s got this season!

Then it was the turn of the U12s. The field numbered 9 this week and FWCC had Caitlin, and the fast improving Vaughan, fighting for the remaining points. The race settled into what has become the regular pattern….lead group forms during the first lap consisting of Bethany, Caitlin, Sam and Vaughan. These four stayed away for half the race and then due to overly cagey tactics were rejoined by 4 others. The pace then rose again with the attacks from first Sam and then Bethany. The Commissaires were clamping down hard on U16 assistance this week and when support from a Palmer Park U16 girl arrived again it was quickly warned off….The leading group of 4 was re-established and in due course the ‘2 to go’ board was shown and pace quickened. Caitlin got 3rd overall, just lost out to Bethany in the sprint for first girl, with Sam Clark taking the overall. (SuperMiss then ‘fessed up that she’d been doing triathlon training at school that afternoon – strewth!) Vaughan got another excellent 4th overall and 2nd boy. We await publication of the official results but Caitlin should have done enough to secure 1st U12 girl for the Ray Martin Series 2012. She looked rather pleased with herself as she was soon tucking into some MBC chips! A great introduction to series racing too for Vaughan. The picture shows Vaughan, Sam Clark (series winner), and Caitlin on their warm-down lap……..

In the U16’s we had Joe Donohue (tuning up for the Isle-of-Man Youth Tour!) and Brendan Drewett. This is a fiercely competitive category and Joe secured and excellent 3rd place. Although not often featuring in the top three, Brendan is an ever-present feature of these races and regularly and confidently rides with the lead group. Tonight he got a good 6th place. As one observer has been heard to say (at the Bournemouth Cycling Centre actually…) “That boy has a very elegant & fluid riding style, reminiscent of a young Coppi” !

Btw: our thoughts go to FWCC’s Ant Grabham who will be experiencing a very painful couple of days and nights due to the massive road rash he sustained in the 3rd and 4th cat race crash at the sprint for the line…..rest easy mate. Wasn’t his fault but skidded flat out for 3-4 metres…….ouch!

Finally, two further snippets: There was only one World Champion & World Record Holder racing at the track tonight! (nice one Dani) and Caitlin only gave one interview to Meridian South TV!!!!!

25/04/2012

Ray Martin #4 U12s Race report

Ray Martin #3 - Race Report U12s:

The current spell of foul weather again featured prominently in this Wednesday’s evening races at the Mountbatten Centre. FWCC were represented by Caitlin Peters and Vaughan Marris in this small but very competitive field of 6 riders. It was raining heavily all afternoon and the track was completely soaking as the riders lined up on the rail. In fact the rain was strong enough at the start to cause Caitlin to ride with her arms covered – almost unheard of! Again, U12s/14s & 16s were on the track at the same time. The race was a cagey affair with both Caitlin and Sam (i-team) keeping their powder dry due to the presence of a new rider from Poole Wheelers…….There were some speculative increases in pace which distanced some of the weaker riders but then the leaders kept sitting up…..much to the frustration of the trackside Director Sportifs! This enabled the group to assemble as one again – must have happened half a dozen times. A big well done needs to go to Vaughan this week who was looking stronger and he stayed with the lead group the whole time….The ‘2 to go’ board was shown and the pace quickened. With one to go it was still Gruppo Compacto for the leaders…..Sam opened up with his usual do or die Sprint from the 200m line and gradually pulled away. In the run in Caitlin got third overall (and first girl of course, there being only one tonight!). Vaughan got a great 4th overall which means third boy and hence should get 1 BC ranking point – his first one. You always remember your first one Vaughan – 1 more than your Dad’s gonna get this year too.

The racers cooled down and when leaving the track looked absolutely bedraggled and sopping wet. Caitlin commented through a scowl “I’ve been eating bits of grit all race…” So, three down two to go in the RM series. We await publication of the official results but the series U12s standings should show Sam and Caitlin virtually on the same points.