Road Race Results - 2014

Easterley Falling Leaves Road Race 3/4th Cats

Sunday 7th September - Rickling Green Circuit - 50 miles

The traditional good weather for our Falling Leaves road race continued, albeit with a slightly chilly start. Road works on our usual Littlebury Green circuit meant Julia has to organise a last minute change of course to the Rickling Green circuit taking us thorough the picturesque villages of Newport, Wicken Bonhunt, Clavering and Rickling Green. A break of two riders - John Peters (CC Luton) and junior Robert Ormond (Stowmarket & District CC) - managed to get nearly a minute's gap and were away for nearly 3 laps before being pulled back. It was then a case of a bunch sprint which was taken by Benjamin Knowles (London Pheonix).

LVRC Dunton Series - Event 6 - LVRC A/B/C/D Cats

Thursday 17th July - Dunton - 1 hour plus 3 laps

Andy Bates and Mark Daly - both ColourTech got a away on the second lap and stayed away for the whole race. Their were various attempts at breaks in the bunch behind but it wasn't until the 2 laps to go that a group of 11 (including Andy Ballentyne) got a small gap and sprinted out te minor placings. Andy was 7th in the spring and therefore 9th overall.

LVRC Dunton Series - Event 4 - LVRC A/B/C/D Cats

Thursday 19th June - Dunton - 1 hour plus 3 laps

A first lap break by Andy, Steve Murrell, Jason Fitchew and Martyn Ryan came to nothing and the bunch more or less stayed together for the rest of the race until a group of 3 riders got clear near the end, containing Mark Daly, MIck Bath and Reg Smith. They weren't far ahead on the last lap and Andy tried to jump the bunch from the top of the last banking but was swamped coming up the home straight and finished in the bunch.

LVRC Dunton Series - Event 3 - LVRC A/B/C/D Cats

Thursday 5th June - Dunton - 1 hour plus 3 laps

Andy Ballentyne made a break with Steve Murrell on the second lap that lasted for a couple of laps until they got caught just before the prime lap. A group of four had a small gap but Andy jumped away from the bunch on the last banking and went straight past this group to win the prime. With about 40 mins gone, 2 riders got a small gap and Andy and Steve Murrell started chasing. They caught the leading pair and then another four riders bridged the gap including Mick Bath and Dave Farrow. This break looked good but a big effort from the bunch pulled them back. It then all ended in a fast bunch sprint (as their was a stiff breeze blowing up the finish) which was taken by Bob Downs with Andy was 6th and 2nd 'B' cat (?).

VC Braintree - LVRC A/B Cats - Toachim/Mstina Series event

Sunday 4th May - Viper Circuit - 56 miles

After a fairly chilly start conditions were excellent for racing with bright sunshine and little wind which all made for a fast 25mph average speed. This meant however that most breaks were fairly short lived. Andy Ballentyne had a go with Andy Pollentine (Dulwich) and another rider with 3 to go through Ingatestone but were pulled back. On the last lap, Graham Galvin (East London Velo), Ian Short (APi), Jake Folkerd-Hobbs (Maldon and District CC) and another rider got a small gap going through Blackmore. The bunch were chasing them down on the run up to Ingatestone and when they'd almost been caught, Andy jumped across the gap. Graham and Andy decided to carry on and with Jake getting across by the Viper they managed to get a small gap going full bore down the Viper hill. With the bunch not far behind there was no time to waste and the three kept going to the finish in Highwoods where Graham sprinted home for the win ahead of Andy in second and then Jake. Andy was however 1st B Cat.

Ciclos Uno Spring Series - Race 3 - LVRC A/B/C/D Cats

Sunday 6th April - Hog Hill - 1 hour plus 5 laps

Rain was the feature of this week's race which caused a spate of punctures. At the first prime, Malcolm Davies, Anthony Wallis and Bob Downs contested the sprint and then carried on getting a gap on the bunch. Andy Ballentyne tried to get across but couldn't quite manage it and came back to the bunch after chasing for a couple of laps. The leading three continued to stretch their lead. Behind the bunch was starting to thin out due to punctures and the fast pace and at about half distance, Andy, Martin Meades, Mick Bath, Andy Bates and one other rider got a gap on the bunch. Martin punctured but got a wheel change as did Mick with 6 to go after jumping away with Andy Bates. Mick also got a wheel change and re-joined Andy Bates. Andy and Martin couldn't close the gap and Martin out-sprinted Andy for 6th (with Andy claiming 2nd 'B' Cat), whiles ahead Malcolm Davies had jumped away for the win.

Ciclos Uno Spring Series - Race 3 - LVRC A/B/C/D Cats

Sunday 30th March - Hog Hill - 1 hour plus 5 laps

Another warm and pleasant day for racing prompted a good turn out for the third race in the series. A fast start soon had the bunch strung out and at the first prime, Anthony Wallis (Ciclos Uno) and Wayne Crombie (East London Velo) contested the sprint and then carried on, getting a gap that just increased. Behind the bunch stayed together for a long time until Bob Downs (Rapha Condor), Roger Maidment (E.L.V.), John McVey (Chapeau P.B.C.) and Andrew Bates (Colourtech RT) got away. The leading pair caught the bunch but with Anthony puncturing after he hopped onto the grass trying to get through on the inside. A wheel changed allowed him to continue however. With 4 laps to go, the foursome in the second break also caught the bunch and were mixed in at the end with Andy Ballentyne coming 11th in the bunch sprint and 3rd B cat.

San Fairy Ann training races - LVRC A/B Cats

Saturday 8th March - Gravesend Cyclopark - 1 hour incl. 5 laps

It felt like an early spring for the second of the San Fairy Ann training races with bright sunshine although a cross wind didn't make it easy. The A/B bunch was gradually whittled down until only about a dozen remained and came down to a sprint at the end in which Andy Ballentyne was 6th overall and 4th 'B' cat.

San Fairy Ann training races - LVRC A/B Cats

Saturday 1st March - Gravesend Cyclopark - 1 hour incl. 5 laps

The first race of the season for Andy Ballentyne and his first event at the Cyclopark in Gravesend. The conditions were bright and sunny and dry which makes a change after the seemingly never ending spell of rain, however it was on the cool side and a persistent breeze didn't make it easy. There were a couple of breaks that looked dangerous but were pulled back until Mark Smith (Crawley Whls) got away near the end and stayed away for the win. Andy meanwhile finished in the bunch.