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Dixon strikes gold for VS Cycles
The 60 mile race over 5.75 laps of hilly terrain around Denby Dale, Upper Cumberworth, Birds Edge, Ingbirchworth and Penistone was completed in a little over 3 hours and conditions meant the race was really only for the strongest men. Paul along with several other instigated the break early on lap 2 on the climb to Upper Cumberworth and when the riders came around again on lap 3, he along with 4 others had made a significant break from the rest of the bunch. This group continued to work well, with most of the riders working to keep away from the chasing bunch, and with 2 laps to go it was clear these 5 were fighting for the medals. Paul said “I was feeling strong, but the quality of the field meant that I had to concentrate really hard to make sure I got the finish right as I had company with 4 other riders in the break all day. I just got in a good position for the final 500 metres and sprinted hard for the line, it was a great feeling to win here today because I have been so close on many occasions in the past ” Paul, who works for U V Modular Ambulances in Brighouse, had a win earlier in the season on 9th of April in a 36 mile race for 2/3/4 category riders held at Darley Moor. Second place went to Robert Parkin of Heanor Clarion CC and third was Clive Lockwood of Derby Mercury CC. The results for the Masters/Junior/Women race
At the same time as the Masters/Juniors and Women’s race, VS pair Matthew Armitage and John Doherty were competing in the main event for the Elites/1/2 category riders over 7.75 laps and 84 miles. James Sampson (Stilton RT) was the main instigator of the early fast pace, stringing the bunch out up Carr Hill Road towards the end of the first lap. On the second lap Sampson had a small 5 second lead on the main field as they climbed up through the village of Upper Cumberworth. However the race came back together as they descended towards the outskirts of Penistone with Agisko-Dart-Cycling.TV team riders Graham Briggs and Kevin Dawson chasing down the early moves. As the race approached the halfway point heavy rain began to fall and soon the riders were also swallowed up in low cloud a long Birds Edge at the top of the circuit making it even more difficult to see just a few metres. A race winning move was started as Sampson again moved to the front of the field, together with Kevin Dawson, Jamie Burgan (Rutland CC) and Matthew Armitage (VS Cycles) also joined this small break and working together they quickly gained a 30 second lead on the bunch. Richard Hepworth (3 Molinas Murcia Turistica) and Dawson's teammate Graham Briggs made a valiant effort to bridge the gap, with Briggs eventually slipping back to the relative comfort of the main field, whilst Hepworth continued his lone chase for a further lap. At the end of lap 6 Matthew Armitage slipped back from the 3 leaders as the continued to pull out a considerable lead of 2.5 minutes over the main field. Stuck in no mans land Matthew continued alone until he was joined by Richard Hepworth and Tom Murray (both former VS cycles riders) who had a small lead over the remains of the chasing bunch At the bell for the final lap Dawson had a 10 second lead on his two earlier companions, Burgen and Sampson, who both looked finished as they rode past the lap board in the pouring rain.Dawson eventually pulled out a 45 second lead over these 2 riders as they resigned to fight it out for the minor placings. After 84 miles of aggressive hard riding, in atrocious conditions, Kevin Dawson rode to the finishing line, accepted the applause from the drenched crowd, and without a backward glance continued riding to the warm showers at Penistone Grammar School. The sprint for second place went to Jamie Burgan, with a well-deserved 3rd place going to James Sampson, who was definitely the most aggressive rider of the day. Matthew Armitage, Tom Murray and Richard Hepworth battled it out for 4th place just a few seconds ahead of the bunch were John Doherty (VS Cycles) had rode a solid race all day finally claiming 9th place and some more valuable points. Club secretary Michael Lever and owner of VS Cycles Chris Vokes were on marshalling duty at Upper Cumberworth and this gave the pair the opportunity to hand up food and drinks bottles to the team riders during the race, a vital job especially in the atrocious conditions. RESULT Elites/1/2
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| VS Cycles, 3 Bradford Road, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom, HD6 1RW Telephone 01484 715 230 |
On a wet, cold and truly miserable day, Paul Dixon, 39, of VS Cycles racing team claimed the top honours in the Yorkshire region road race championships on the demanding Denby Dale circuit.
