William Haynes (Reading CC) breaks free to win the James Atherton Road Race promoted by the Southampton University Racing Team
![]() |
Report: James Atherton RR
Sunday 20th March | Graham RobinsÂ
With just over two laps to go eventual winner William Haynes (Reading CC) broke free from a small group of riders building a lead of 45secs which he maintained almost to the finish line where upon his lead was reduced to 10secs by a hard charging Paul Double (VC Venta) and George Wise (VC Equip-Flix).
This was the third running of this race promoted by the Southampton University RT on the challenging Owslebury course just North of Southampton. The riders had to tackle 7½ laps with a total race distance of 60miles. Despite the dry conditions a cold Northerly wind made it for a very cold race for both those on bikes and the marshals alike.
After a short run through the village the race turned right onto the course proper and the flag was drawn in and we were underway. As soon as the race got underway Will Ranoe (HR Owen Maserati RT) made the first attack of the day and managed to build a lead of 20secs with most of the first lap completed. He was soon joined by three others as they climbed up and away from Owslebury for the first time. Once the three chasers Adam Thompson (Eden Veranda RT), Rob Sharland (Paceline RT) and the eventual winner Haynes had caught Ranoe they began to build a lead all working well together.
This attack did not last for too long as the active peloton brought them back. As soon as there was a regroup another attack went away with several riders getting a gap including James Donovan (Portsmouth North End CC), Tom Sefton (RP Vision RT),Brook Elgie (RockNRoad), Matthew Downie (Eden Veranda RT) and Paul Double. Also trying to bridge across and finally making it was William Haynes whilst the peloton was now over a minute down.
At the three quarter distance of the race the leading group has swelled to nine riders and the peloton was just hanging in at a minute down but they seemed to be losing distance. Two of the leaders found the pace to hard and they slipped away back to the bunch while Haynes started to pull clear the other way. Haynes gap over the peloton was nearly two minutes with a lap to go but he had a group of three riders Double, Wise and Buckley just 30secs back now.
The last half lap saw Haynes in a comfortable lead and he managed to hold this until the last few hundred meters as the three chaser began to sprint it out for the other two podium positions. Once Haynes cleared the finish line up next was Paul Double just keeping Wise at bay and Buckley was a very creditable fourth.
Result
1st William Haynes reading CC 2hrs 32mins 07secs
2nd Paul Double VC Venta @10secs
3rd George Wise VC Equip-Flix @14secs
4th Matthew Buckley Andover Wheelers
5th Rob Sharland Paceline RT
6th Pat Wright Paceline RT
7th Matthew Downie Eden Veranda RT
8th Will Ranoe HR Owen Maserati RT
9th Ken Buckley Eden Veranda RT
10th Harry Veale Cycleworks.co.uk
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: Kent CA 10m Time Trial
- TT Result: Southern Counties CU 25m TT
- HC Result: Elevate RT Hill Climb
- Result: Welsh Road Race Championships 2024
- Result: Will Houghton Circuit Race (Hillingdon)
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- TT Result: Barnesbury CC 25m TT
- TT Result: Rutland CC 10m Time Trial
- TT Result: VC Glasgow South 22m TT
- BMCR Result: E/F/G/H/W Stallard Finale (Darley Moor)
- Crit Result: Melton Olympic CC Summer Crit 4
- Youth Result: The ‘Back to School’ Youth Races
- HC Result: Dursley Road Club Hill Climb
- TT Report: VTTA 100 Mile Championship
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- RR Result: Nick Clayton Memorial RR
- RR Result: Jef Schils Memorial Road Race (Nat B)
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- Crit Result: YBC & No Nonsense Circuit races
- RTTC 10 Mile Time Trial Championship (Women)
- RTTC 10 mile Time Trial Championships (Youth/Junior)
- RTTC 10 Mile Time Trial Championship
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- REPORT: Victor Berlemont Trophy Race
- RR Result: Junior Tour of Wales
- BMCR RESULT: Dulwich Paragon Road Race
- BMCR Result: Dinosaurs at the Palace
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Crit Result: Mountbatten Summer Circuit Series #10
- Crit Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series #25
- RR Result: Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race
- Youth Results: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League 19
- Youth Result: 360 Cycling North West Youth Tour (Girls)
- Youth Result: 360 Cycling North West Youth Tour (Boys)
- Crit Result: 360 Cycling Open Circuit Race
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TT Result: Sussex CA 25m TT
- TT Result: Coalville Wheelers 19.8m TT
- Crit Result: Cliff Pratt Deca Community Crits 9
- Youth Result: Scottish National Youth Circuit Series 4
Other News on VeloUK
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TOM PIDCOCK CONFIRMED FOR LLOYDS BANK TOUR OF BRITAIN MEN
- Startlist: 42nd Junior Tour of Wales
- Startlist: 360 North West Youth Tour
- Tour of Britain: Evenepoel/Alaphilippe To Race National Tour
- GB Juniors for Track Worlds in China
- THIS WEEKEND: CYCLOCROSS (Leicestershire)
- Startlist: Men’s National B (Worcestershire)
- Startlists: Fenwicks Tour of Mendip 2024
- Startlists: 19th Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix Road Races
- Men’s Tour of Britain News: Teams for 2024 Race
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Revealed (Stages 5 & 6)
- NEWS: Women’s UCI Drops Team to Close
- Startlist: Youth and Junior Track Championships 2024
- Startlist: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Women/JuniorsYouth)
- Startlists: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Men)
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024
- Ribble Redefines Road with launch of Allroad
- BMCR: National Road Bike Time Trial Championship
- SUNDAY: Bath Road Club Junior National Series Road Race
- TLI CYCLING FEATURE: SUPER4SERIES
- NATIONAL CIRCUIT SERIES UPDATE 2024
- News: Josh Tarling Extends Contract at Ineos
- Tour of Britain for Men 2024
- News: Connor Swift Extends Contract with Ineos
- Updated GB Olympic Team News
- Sunday: 2024 Youth Circuit Race Championships (Cyclopark)
- ROBBED BY THE HIGHWAYS AGENCY – National Highways
- Startlist: BMCR National Road Championships E/F/G/H
- OLYMPIC NEWS – Team GB Announces First Riders for Olympics
- News: Alex Richardson Retires
- New Releases from Shutt Velo Rapide
- STARTLIST: Men’s British Road Race Championships