Arctic-Condor Rob Finch Memorial Race

The Region 9 Spring series sponsored by Condor Cycles

Arctic-Condor Rob Finch Memorial Race

RaceRace PosNameClubCatCat PosSeries Points
ABCD1matt holmesArctic Aircon RTB120
2Dave TateDestination Bike RTC120
3Marco CoppolaColourtech RTC216
4Matt SteelPronto Bikes RTC314
5Simon PotterTeam Aerocycles A120
6Graham GalvinEast London VeloD120
7Jamie BishopNewhall CCC412
8David FarrowEagle Road ClubD216
9Paul SpiceleyGlendene CCC510
10Andrew BuurmanRapha CCD314
11Marek Siwickiaddiscombe ccC68
12Valentino FontanaGemini BcB216
13Paul ButlerPB Cycle CoachingC76
14Kevin AttreedGlendene CCA216
15Rob BriceTrainsharpA314
16Joe HortonEast Grinstead Cycling Club B314
17Jonathan DonaldLondon DynamoD412
18Nick SymesVCL D510
19Andrew MacPhersonKingsnorth InternationalB412
20Steve FosterTeam AerocyclesD68
21Alexander PurcellMaglia Rosso A412
22Steve NoelParadigm CyclesD76
23Tim SimpkinsNewhall CCB510
24Michael CasteleteKettering CCD84
DNFDan FentimanEagle Road ClubDDNF
Simon ConstableBasildon CCBDNF
EFGH1Antonius WubbenBMCRE120
2sean kilroyELSRE216
3Chris BealesViCiOUS VELOE314
4Andy BatheNewmarket C&TCE412
5Costa PieridesFinchley RTF120
6Nigel LangridgeCrawley Wheelers Race TeamE510
7Julian Niles-CunningtonLong Steady DaysF216
8Stephen PiperSchils Doltcini RTF314
9Helen Taylor-CarterBeds Roads CCF412
10Colin ChambersCrawley Wheelers Race TeamE68
11Steven Wade-JonesBath CCG120
12Damien FoyEagle Road ClubE76
13Duncan ThomasTeam AerocyclesE84
14Julian BoulterEagle Road ClubE93
15John PhillipsSotonia CCG216
16mark conroyDulwich Paragon CCE102
17Ruth StapletonNewhall CCF510
18Stuart HowardPB Cycle CoachingE11
19Laura O’SheaSwindon WheelersF68
20J Paul BirdVelo Schils Interbike RTF76
21Dave Tompkinsciclos unoH120
22Liz HallidaySussex nomads ccG314
23Dave WoodsCC LutonH216

Latest Condor Cycles Series Rankings

If you spot any errors in placing, or if you are wrongly identified, please e-mail results@bmcr.org.uk. Much of the data (spelling, capitalisation, club) is a reflection of the data on RiderHQ. You can correct your data on RiderHQ by logging into your RiderHQ account and amending it.

EFGH RACE – by Julian Niles Cunnington
This was a poignant day for the Arctic team as Rob passed just last Autumn, and hearts are still broken.
This, Arctics first foray into BMCR race promotion, was warmly anticipated, and over 50 riders (about 25 for each race) decided that racing around Hog Hill in a breezy 2°C was a good idea, and a fitting tribute to Bob. After the obligatory pre race directives, there was a minute’s applause for both Bob and the recently departed Knocker Shields.
At our ages, and with friends and colleagues leaving us like this, it makes every race special, every race a sign of continuing good health and instills in all of us confidence for at least the near future.
There were some new faces for the E+ at Hog Hill, some very good ones too, and all had obviously heard about the winning machine named Chris Beales (Bealesybub to me, my nemesis and summer series co-organiser) as he was immediately surrounded like a champion boxer entering Madison Square Garden on fight night. 
Now, a little context here. I usually compile my reports from a position close to the action, or off the front. This time, having not completely shaken off whatever lurgy my workmates had bestowed on me, and having not trained for over 8 days, I took my place at the rear of the race, and wondered how long I could last.
I very rarely DNS, and as this was the 2nd race in my spring series, I felt it my duty to at least attend, and maybe keep quiet for once. If I thought the back of the race was going to be the cushy number, how wrong I was. The early skirmishes, mostly due to CB trying to get away just made the tail enders blow up and form grupettos, meaning I had to work hard to bridge to the steadily shrinking bunch.
Bridging wasn’t supposed to be on the menu today.
It wasnt just CB kicking off at the front, I could just see my team mate and long time racing buddy Antonous Wubben-Moy kicking off and winning both primes in the process. This brought joy to my beating heart, as just 16 months ago, Antonius had a list of broken bones and injuries longer than my want-list to Santa aged 5.
Cyclist vs truck, and the truck very nearly won. To say his recovery has been miraculous is just fact. Miraculous, and many many months of hard work. Welcome back Sir.
So, the primes were done and dusted, after both of which, the added pace was stretching me to the limit, and I could hear myself doing my constipated bear noises, Damian Foy also heard these, to my shame.
If you ever hear these noises, attack, I’m already done for.
There were further attacks and skirmishes ahead, remember, I can see the race unfold from the back! But nothing stuck, and I began wondering if I could make it all the way to my comfort zone, the 4 times up the Hoggenberg, my sanctuary. Unlikely, but I kept going. CB hadn’t been able to break away, Sean Kilroy, Andy Bathe and Antonius I think were instrumental in policing at the head of the race (if I have missed a protagonist out, let me know)
So it was still all together at the first time up the hill, I could sense panic all around with multiple downshifts, so that was good. I kept in a big gear, and drifted through the pack up the steepest (11%) part of the climb looking at all these faces for the first time all race, and latching on to the leaders at the top. It was like being allowed into the captains cockpit in a Boeing 747, seeing the quality riders who had been driving this race for the first time.
2 more of the same and I was feeling ok, probably really crap, but my legs were enjoying the incline.
Unfortunately for me, the bell seemed to fill everyone with bravado and I realized how off the pace I actually was. The flat circuit, not my friend, had almost the entire bunch pass me like I was on a premature warm down lap. 
I could just see Antonius going for a very long one, and the bunch coming alive.
My legs reminded me that this was their time whatever the rest of me feels like, and I joined the back of the bunch at the bottom of the hill, kept it in 52×16, and hammered it up the steep bit to eventually get 7th overall. 
Antonius won, CB an out of character 3rd, but this new blood will have him training even harder to retain his mantel as King of the Hill.
You’ve been warned.
Thank you to Arctic Aircon for the races and the excellent all round promotion.
Thank you to all who turned up on such a cold day, and thank you to Hog Hill for being there. 🚴🏻‍♂️🏆🏁🏔️🏔️🏔️❤️
Next race, next Sunday, same place, 23rd March, Andrew Buurman’s Rapha CC St Patrick’s Day Massacre.