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JOHN HAMER ROAD RACE ----- REPORT -----24^th  JUNE 07

ISLE OF MAN ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS

29 Riders from a variety of categories rolled away neutralised from Marown School at 9 o’clock and 9.03 respectively to Ballacraine in very inclement weather.

The A  Race consisting of 14 cyclists headed towards The Hope and St John’s on the way to Patrick with the B Race starting  three minutes later. From Patrick the race went south taking in Glen Maye and Dalby before tackling the climb up onto South Barrule. It was on the sharp climb out from the Ballacallin Hotel that the A race started to show signs of splitting up, with Peter Gage (MRC) and Aaron Livsey (EVCC) taking the initiative. The B group fared somewhat better, staying together until well after The Ballacallin although Steve Hull (MVW) did try and get away on the climb out of Glen Maye. Back at the sharp end Gage and Livsey’s I minute break was beginning to falter as Elliot Baxter was dragging the rest of the group back to the leaders. By the time the group reached Eairy Cushlen Baxter had replaced Gage at the head of the race and by South Barrule the lead was growing due to the pressure that both these mountain bike men were exerting. The rest of the A race was now split into small groups consisting of Colum O’Shea, Warren and Scott Flynn, Peter Gage and Tom Black, Chris Whorrall, Tim Carpenter and Tim Kennaugh, Trevor Kirkwood and Gavin Quayle, and bringing up the rear were Neil Bellhouse and Tony Varley. Meanwhile back in the supporting race and also onto the shoulder road it was somewhat of a surprise to see the juveniles Chris Nicholson and Adam Johnson (both MVW) heading their race with all the other riders strung out in their wake.

The fast (wet) section going past the South Barrule Plantation on the way to the main Foxdale road was negotiated by all the competitors with the exception of Steve (Bubs) Williams who decided to do a bit off road cycle cross and found himself in the plantation. I am pleased to say that Steve was none the worse for his escapade but was unable to continue due to having no brakes left on the bike.

The races were now progressing down the Ballamodha Straight and the Phildraw road with all riders maintaining station. Then came the sharp left handed corner out of Ballasalla and onto the short steep climb of the Black Hill and both Livsey and Baxter extended their lead to 90 seconds on Black, Whorrall, O’Shea, Gage, Kennaugh and the Flynn brothers, with the rest of the A race somewhat struggling at this stage.

At this same stage the B race was still mostly together with the exception of Marty Warren, and the 2 lady competitors Natalie Arrowsmith and Jaqui Fletcher. And so through St Marks X roads past Bridge Nursery and on to the finishing straight at Stuggadhoo, the A race had 5 laps of the Stuggadhoo course to complete, the B race, just the bell and a mere 6 miles to go. After 33 miles and 1hr and 32 minutes of racing the B race honours went to Adam Johnson who out sprinted Chris Nicholson (2^nd) and Steve Hull (3rd). The B race also encompassed the Ladies Championship race as there were no Ladies in the A race and Natalie Arrowsmith claimed the title by beating Jaqui Fletcher.

Meanwhile back in the A race both the leaders, with 4 laps to go were steadily increasing their lead over the chasing 7 riders. With 2 laps to go the only other incident in the race took place when Peter Gage had a punctured in his rear tyre and lost time getting a new wheel from neutral service. At the bell the race was up for the chasing group as the leaders had a 5-minute lead, and at the finish it was ex professional Elliott Baxter who became the IOM Road Race Champion by narrowly out sprinting Aaron Livsey. In third place and the Junior Champion was Tom Black, 7 minutes behind. In 4^th place Christopher Whorrall became the Juvenile champion a further 2 minutes back and at 12 minutes behind the winner the game and lonely Peter Gage came home to become the Veterans Champion.

Jim Cottier, Race Organiser, Manx Road Club.

Special thanks to everyone who helped out and made this Championship Race a great success.

And to Steve Williams at Elite Cars for supplying the Safety Officers car