Result: Phil Ward Memorial Road Race

Chris Pook wins the 2/3/4 Phil Ward Memorial Road Race nr Telford on Sunday ahead of Matthew Higgins of RST/Cycle Division Racing Team

Result: Phil Ward Memorial Road Race
(hosted by Paramount CRT)

Phil Ward Memorial Road Race on the 6th May 2018 hosted by Paramount CRT. Riders were blessed with fine weather for the opening round of the West Midlands Road Race League held in memory of Phil Ward who passed away in 2016. Phil was a noted former pro from the 1960s, who formed Paramount CRT in the 1980s to give his son, Tim and fellow promising local youngster, Mike Jones, a platform from which to race. With a full field and plenty of strong riders, it was set for an aggressive race over 7 laps of the Leighton circuit that includes a climb through Eaton Constantine to the start/finish line each lap.

The first half of the race saw plenty of moves try (and ultimately fail) to establish a good gap. Too many fresh legs still and the wrong combination of riders in the break away. Mid way through the race, Chris Pook (Rhino Velo Race Team) along with Jacob Sparrow (Ludlow Brewery), Matthew Higgins (RST Cycle Division) and Chris Childs (Clee Cycles) started to force the pace over the top of the climb.

As the course turned 90 degree left onto the main (straight road) the hammer went down and 10 riders (driven by the four above) established a tenuous gap. Danny Smith (RST) sensed the danger and managed to bridge across just as the move started to really establish itself. With that there were 11 strong riders, from a mix of teams (Dan Brough from Pro Vision and Scott Probert from Morvelo Basso were also in the move), up the road and over the next few laps the gap grew out to a minute.

Heading to the climb to the finish for the final time, the 11 break away riders were still together, but about half were sitting on. With two RST Cycle Division riders in the break, including fast finisher Matthew Higgins, Danny Smith decided to go long and attacked towards the base of the 1.5km climb. Chris Pook from Rhino Velo covered it and as it came back Jamie Fletcher from Ellan Vannin CC went over the top, but given the steady rise to the line had opened up a little early.

Chris Pook closed the gap and with 200m to go opened up his sprint. Higgins almost got on parity and finished in 2nd with Chris Childs continuing his fine recent form with 3rd place. Jacob Sparrow, who had worked steadily in the break all day, took 4th with John Lucock from West Midlands Police CC in 5th.

1 Chris Pook Rhino Velo Race Team
2 Matthew Higgins RST/Cycle Division Racing Team
3 Chris Childs Clee Cycles
4 Jacob Sparrow Ludlow Brewery Race Team
5 John Lucock West Midlands Police CC
6 Jack Thompson Performance Cycles
7 Danny Smith RST/Cycle Division Racing Team
8 Jamie Fletcher Ellan Vannin CC/Appleby
9 Daniel Brough Pro Vision Race Team
10 Grant Bigham Velo Runner
11 Scott Probert Morvelo Basso RT
12 Michael Ashurst Onimpex Bio Racer RT
13 David Griffiths Clee Cycles
14 Eliot Ward Crimson Performance Race Team
15 Steven Fidler 3C Payment sports
16 Matthew Davies Rhino Velo Race Team
17 Huw Owen
18 Robert Seeley Team PB Performance
19 Christopher Green East Lancashire RC
20 Toby Barnes Lichfield City CC
21 Daniel Watts Royal Air Force CA
22 Tom Turner Ely Race Club
23 Kieran Frend
24 Ben Greenwood Macclesfield Wheelers
25 Ryan Pike Onimpex Bio Racer RT
26 Jack Williams Clwb Beicio Egni
27 Jordan Hill Leek Cyclists Club
28 Steve Young NRT racing
29 Tarn Fynn Crimson Performance Race Team
30 Ben Mewes Moonglu CC
31 Tom Whalley High Peak Cycles RT
32 Ben Lloyd Pro Vision Race Team
33 Jimmy Smith Specialized Racing
34 Will Perrin Gannet CC
35 Josh Williams Clee Cycles
36 Alexander Coates Pro Vision Race Team
37 Josh Yates Velo Runner
38 Christopher Humphries St Helens CRC
39 Thomas Kirk Morvelo Basso RT
40 Samuel Blackbourn Paramount CRT
41 Simon Bromley Paramount CRT
42 James Jenkins Successcycling.co.uk
43 Rob Childs Stourbridge Velo
44 Kristian Zentek Team Chronomaster
45 Mark Allen Congleton CC
46 Cai Edwards Clwb Beicio Egni
47 Tom Bracegirdle Morvelo Basso RT
48 George Moore RST/Cycle Division Racing Team
49 Henry Lloydlangston Halesowen A & CC
50 James Gibney West Midlands Police CC
51 Gareth Sanger Wrexham Roads Club
52 David Reece TBW Bottecchia Wigmore RT
53 Przemyslaw Kozak Royal Leamington Spa CC (RLSCC…
54 Patrick Fotheringham Halesowen A & CC
55 Stephen Cavey Southdowns Bikes – Casco PET
56 Bruce Johnston Leicestershire Road Club
57 James Kirk Ely Race Club
58 Dean Jones Ely Race Club
59 Thomas Seeley Team PB Performance
60 Joe Peatson Ely Race Club
61 Christopher Waters Bill Nickson Cycles RT
62 Harry Browning NRT racing
63 Elroy Laud