Amy Roberts (Women’s Team Series)Â & Aaron McCaffrey the winners at the Oakley Road Race in Buckinghamshire
Jon Miles writes … Amy Roberts- For Viored narrowly pipped Lucy Garner-Motorpoint in a thrilling finish to the Women’s Team Race Series held in the village of Oakley, Bucks after a two lap escape of the mainly flat course.
In pouring rain, Amy Roberts celebrates a wonderful victory. Photo: Mark Hopkings (click for more)
Organised by Scott Holmes this race forms part of a unique event as this is the day of the Oakley Village Fete when the whole village turns out to watch some high class racing; generally know as a sprinters race due to the flat nature of the event – always so well marshalled – this year a breakaway won. Held in changing weather including a tropical downpour 2 kilometres from the finish, the race was enlivened by several attacks but the vigilant bunch with Motorpoint at the helm having placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd last year these breaks were always brought back but on the final spring prime with 2 laps to go Lucy garner sprinted for the prime – and kept going.
The sprint with Harriet Owen getting to the line ahead of teammate Hannah Barnes. Photo Mark Hopkins.
Amy Roberts eventually went after her and the nature of the race was changed; these two rapidly gained time on a bunch controlled by Motorpoint – Amy was on her own with no team backing – until with 2 kilometres that thunderstorm lashed down but by this time Roberts had won a good race but still Motorpoint let their extensive track training come to the for as they filled the next 3 places. How they love this race at Oakley!
Report from Michael Leonard for the Surrey League Women’s Team at Oakley (National Women’s Team Series)
After the excellent result from the team at Stratford, the Surrey League Womens Team had high expectations of a good outcome in the latest National Team Series round at Oakley. Unfortunately preparations were blighted by illness to one of the team, Tanya, who came down with a heavy cold and had to pull out. So starting with 5 out of the original 6 riders, the team were soon down to 4 as Catherine was caught up in a nasty crash on lap 1 and had to retire from the race.
The remaining girls soon set about their business by covering and initiating any breakaway threats from the main pack. However, there seemed to be a lot of tactical riding and in the latter stage of the race and due to some lack of concentration the team wasn’t represented in the move of the day. After a few attempts to pull back the break the main pack settled to prepare itself for the inevitable sprint finish, upon which the heavens opened up with some super heavy rain.
This probably contributed to another crash in the closing stages coupled with a car somehow managing to involve itself in the final dash for the line resulting in most of the team getting blocked out and nervous to take any chances. Even so the girls still came in with some respectable finishing positions. In summary, the team was left with mixed emotions, some frustration in missing the break, but also some satisfaction in the knowledge that they rode for the most part a good competitive and aggressive race.
Team
1.    Motorpoint                  435 points
2.   Cardiff Ajax               172 points
3.   For Viored                   150 points
4.   Surrey League             135 points
5.   Abergavenny                131 points
6.   West Midlands             113 points
7.   Squadra Donne             111 points
8.   Impsport team A           101 points
9.   Inverse RT                   98 points
10. Twickenham CC             62 points
11.  Team Zappi                  57 points
12.  PSUK                          35 points
Oakley RR Womens Team series
1      Amy    Roberts    ForViored   02:17:59
2      Lucy    Garner   Motorpoint   st
3      Harriet   Owen   Motorpoint   at 1.58
4      Hannah    Barnes   Motorpoint   st
5      Hannah   Walker   Motorpoint   st
6      Lauren    Creamer   Abergavenny cc   st
7      Molly    Weaver   West Midlands/Solihull CC   st
8      Elinor   Barker   Cardiff Ajax   st
9      Hannah   Shenton   Motorpoint   st
10      Iona   Sewell   Squadra Donne   st
11      Amelia   Cambridge   Impsport Team A   st
12      Hanneke   Van Der Werfe   Cardiff Ajax   st
13      Emma   Cradock   Surrey League   st
14      Kirsty    Bishop   Police Sport UK CRT   st
15      Laura   Massey   Inverse RT   st
16      Ruby   Miller   Horizon Fitness   st
17      Claire    Lever   Team Zappi   st
18      Charlie   Ratcilffe   Cardiff Ajax   st
19      Claire   Lennard   Surrey League   st
20      Delia   Beddis   Inverse RT   st
21      Corrine   Hall   Twickenham CC   st
22      Fern    Cotterill   Abergavenny cc   st
23      Stephanie    May   Twickenham CC   st
24      Sarah    Maidment   Squadra Donne   st
25      Emiily   Bagnall   Surrey League   st
26      Tracy   Dresch   Squadra Donne   st
27      Kate    George   Impsport Team A   st
28      Rachel   Przybyiski   Surrey League   st
29      Julia   Brown   West Midlands Team   st
30      Claire   Allen   Impsport Team A   st
31      Siabhian   McNamara   Inverse RT   st
32      Georgina   Gilbert   Cardiff Ajax   st
33      Jackie   Garner   Abergavenny cc   st
34      Rebecca   Keogh   West Midlands/Solihull CC   st
35      Rachel   Ward   Team Zappi   st
Men’s Race (click here for photos)
1      Aaron   McCaffrey   Virgin Active   02:09:31
2      James    Cambridge   I-Ride.co.uk   st
3      James    Wilson   Banjocycles.com   st
4      Roger    Prior   Team Zappi   st
5      Tim   Carter   Virgin Active   at 2secs
6      Richard    Cleaver   VC Montpellier   st
7      Roger    Browne   Beeline Bicycles RT   st
8      Danny   Axford   Artic Premier RT   at 14secs
9      Ian   Alexander   Cheltenham & County CC   st
10      Matthew   Ullmer   Team Qoroz   at 21secs
11      Matthew   Miles   InGear Quickvit/ Trainsharp   at 1.33
12      Lubomir   Belaki   Welwyn Wheelers   st
13      Kieran   Dineen   Amersham RCC   st
14      Jon   Lewis   Charlotteville CC   st
15      Ed    Clemens   VC10   st
16      Donal   Linehan   Newbury RC   st
17      David    Barnaville   Felt-Colbornes   st
18      Joe   Norledge   Velo29   st
19      Andrew   Browne   VeloClub Peloton   st
20      Paul   Bird   Virgin Active   st
21      Graham   Hills   InGear Quickvit/ Trainsharp   st
22      Justin    Belcher   Banbury Star   st
23      Neil    Wass   Anders TMG Horizon RT   st
24      Cameron   Foster   Team Zappi   st
25      Greg   Payne   Rockingham Forest Wheelers   st
26      Nick   Beale   Beeline Bikes RT   st
27      William   Macke   Aw cycles.co.uk   st
28      Campbell   Noon   Virgin Active   st
29      Pete   Smith   Team Jewson   st
30      Mike   Diggins   VC Peloton   st
31      Mike   Inder   Thames Velo   st
32      Rob   Yeatman   Team Jewson   st
33      Ian   Goold   Virgin Active   st
34      Gunther   Zecchmann   TeamZ   st
35      Berni   Charlick   CC Basingstoke   st
36      Robert    Stimpson   Python RT   st
37      Phil   Starr   Python RT   st
38      Harry    Strudley   Aw cycles.co.uk   st
39      Ian   Holmes   Virgin Active   st
40      Ben    Broughton   Team Zappi   st
41      Luke   Souter   Bantbury Star   st
