2nd for Mark Trevis

Congratulations to Mark Trevis who not only finished second at Ewhurst, but in the process gained his second category licence. Mark writes "It was at Wallilswood, with 6 laps of the normal course followed by a climb to the 'summit' of Leith Hill at the end!

On the last lap one guy made a break for it and timed it perfectly as a horse box forced the rest of us to slow completely. By the start of the hill I think he had about 2 mins. So it was down to the bunch 'sprint' for 2nd. I had never been on the circuit before, nor had I done Leith Hill. However, everyone seemed to be quaking at the thought of it...so I was quietly looking forward to it! And then I heard it is a 1.5mile climb.

So as we turned off the main road and started the climb I was in about 8th position and we seemed to be just rolling along. Having had a nightmare last week at Cutmill after getting boxed in on the final climb, I decided to make my move. Shouting 'inside' and driving along the gutter I got to the front and rode at my pace up the hill spinning a fast cadence. I strung out the bunch and could hear the heavy breathing behind me...so at the first ramp up (it gets jolly steep there!) I shifted up a gear, got out of the saddle and increased the pace. Still hear breathing behind me. Next ramp, I did the same. No more breathing behind me. I never actually looked back, but I think I got a good gap.

Then it hit me, I didn't have a clue how much further to go!! I met another steep ramp around a corner. I thought the line had to be around the corner so got up and stomped the pedals only to find nothing....Finally the next bend revealed a chequered flag and Keith Butler. I could hear gears shifting behind me so I frantically shifted up a gear and sprinted for the line (in fact I think I slumped into the saddle before the line!) and took 2nd (the lone escapee took 1st)."

Bad luck for Toby

In the E12 race on the same day Toby had made it into the winning break and looked set to move up to 2nd or 3rd in the South-East series. Unfortunately he punctured with four miles to go and could only stand forlornly by the side of the road as the bunch went past.

Bulletin board problems

I'm afraid I havd had to change the bulletin board so that you have to register to post or use the guest account. We had this problem before when we were being spammed. It had started again and I was ignoring it until the messages started to get too graphic. It's like electronic gaffiti. You can either register which is painless or use the login of "guest" and the password 999.

Two more series wins

I am delighted to report that Southdown Velo has taken its number of series wins for the year to three. Following on from Toby Neave's win in the Dunsfold Park - Atum 22 series, Chris Burningham has clinched the Angmering Youth series and Toby won the Ray Martin Autumn League at Portsmouth track.

Chris, pictured below, has had a very successful year and as well as finishing first overall at Angmering he finished second overall in the season long Surrey League Youth championships. Well done Chris!

Joseph Marchantfinished 6th overall at Angmering (10th in the Surrey League), Alex Stirling 23rd (34th Surrey League) and Benjamin "Abdujaparov" Stirling 35th (64th Surrey League). George Phillips finished 53rd in the Surrey league.

Full points positions for the Angmering Youth and Surrey Youth overall.

Chris in action

Our third series win came courtesy of Toby Neave and some strong team work from Mark Trevis and Shaun Smart.

Toby faced stiff competition from the team mates of rival Simon Brooks from VC St Raphael. In a nerve wracking few laps Toby managed to to clinch the series with 4th place. Mark Trevis finished 14th with former VC Noviomagus rider Willy Hill 22nd.

SIS support

On the back of our tremendous success this year, Pete McGuiness has manged to secure support from Science in Sport. The well known energy drink and food manufacturers. Pete will be able to confirm the details, but I believe racing members will get free bottles and 50% off RRP. Contact Pete at the shop for more details. Come to think of it doesn't the delicious Vicky Pendleton ride for them?

Racing round up

Chris Burningham was pipped on the line in the youth race by Alex Murison at the last Portsmouth track race.

Benjamin Stirling was first under eight, beating his age group rival Lance (note the name) Hutchison.

Tom Spreckley finished 5th and Mark Tevis 7th on the testing Cutmill course in the 3rd cat race. An impressive ride by both as they had to bridge across from the bunch to the break.

Usual service

Apologies that service has been a bit slow recently, but I have been concentrating on organising JP's Sussex Border Race. I am still short of marshalls so anyone out there that is free or can think of someone, please let me know ...

Van Petegem retires

I couldn't pass over the opportunity to pay homage to my favourite rider who retired yesterday. Stangely swarthy for a Belgian, and hairy to boot, PVP oozed class ... and he liked to drink.

Grand Prix E3

My all time favourite picture

More racing results

Lavant Lightning, Toby Neave, finished 6th in Sunday's penultimate round of the South-east series. Toby writes ... "I finished 6th today, after jumping across to the winning 9 man break with 30 miles to go. I shoud've won but messed up the last 3km by chasing down too many attacks and then dieing on the finish climb.

I'm now 6th overall in the series, just 21 points from 3rd (winning is impossible, 2nd would be a real challenge). The only problem is that the final round finishes up Leith hill......."

Mini Lavant Lightning (Chris Burningham) rode the BC National Youth Circuit series at Thruxton. Quite a step up for Chris who faced competitors from around the country. His dad described some of them as looking like fully grown men. Chris finished a creditable 24th and gained some valuable experience.

Our eldest competitor, Eugene Bardwell, finished 28th in the 4th cats race.

Well done to Mark Trevis who placed 9th in the recent race at Rusper for 3rd cats. Shaun Smart was 17th.

Montezuma's Chocolates backs race

I am very grateful to Simon Pattinson of Montezuma's Chocolates who have agreed to support JP's Sussex Border Race 2007. As well as sponsoring the King of the Mountains Competition, they are supplying a free gift to each starter and providing a chocolate hamper to the best placed local rider. What more incentive do Toby and Mark T need?

Excitement at Portsmouth

Excitement and Portsmouth aren't two words that go together often, apart from closing time in Southsea when all the sailors (don't call them skates) are getting booted out onto the streets.

Wednesday at Portsmouth track, however, proved to be an exciting night. The Lavant "Lightning", Toby Neave, had already taken the first race the previous week in the three race Ray Martin Autumn Finale series. The series is based upon the number of laps gained by riders and then on points. Toby had Shaun Smart, Mark Trevis and Mark Warrington to support him.

An extremely fast race ensued and as the evening progressed it became clear that his rivals were keener on him not winning than they were on winning themselves. Time and again he was forced to chase attacks, with Mark T and Shaun helping when they could. In the end Simon Brooks gained a lap with Toby finishing 7th, Mark T 17th and Shaun Smart 18th. Mark Warrington found the pace a bit too fast, but enjoyed himself none the less.

In the youth races Chris Burningham was 2nd in the under 16s and Benjamin Stirling 3rd in the under 12s.

Angmering results

Chris Burningham and Joseph Marchant raced at Angmering on Tuesday. Results as follows:
Race 2 - 10 lap scratch
Chris B 2nd
Joseph 9th

Race 3 - 8 lap scratch
Joseph 3rd

Race 4 - 2 lap TT
Chris B 1st
Joseph 12th

Race 6 - 12 lap scratch
Chris B 2nd

Race 7 - Junior devil take the hindmost
Joseph 4th

Race 8 - Senior devil take the hindmost Chris B 2nd

Dunsfold series results

The full Dunsfold series results are now on the Surrey League website.

Southdown Velo placings were:

1st Toby Neave 162 points
8th Tim Costello 60 points
=41st Shaun Smart 14 points
=129th Mark Warrington 1 point

Club TT championship

We held the club time trial championship on Sunday. Shaun Smart was the winner and thus the club champion. Full results were:

1st Shaun Smart 35:36

=2nd Mike Marchant and Mark Trevis 36:01

4th Tim Costello 36:11

5th David Wastle 42:54

Prizes were awarded to the first three and last place when we retired to Rowlands Castle Cafe for coffee and cake. Congratulations Shaun.

New members

David Wastle from Godalming, a friend of Pete McGuiness has joined Southdown Velo and rode on Sunday. Paul O'Donovan from Aldwick also rode and will be joining us from Bognor Regis CC. Mark Dinwiddy from Bognor Regis is also joining. Welcome to them all.

Surrey League handicap championship

Toby Neave finished 9th in the Surrey League "World" Handicap Championship on Sunday. Toby's progress, and that of the scratch group, appears to have been hampered by a number of incidents. An interesting debate is taking place on London Cycle Sport about the race.

Tyre order

Shaun Smart is compiling a Continental tyre order. Contact Shaun on shaunsmart.one#btopenworld.com. Replace the # with an @.

Toby in action