Fine win for Andy

Pete Gannon Road Race - 23/04/2006 - Kippax, Yorkshire

After showing signs of form in recent races, Andy Hayton scored an impressive win in the Pete Gannon memorial road race on Sunday whilst back in the bunch, Richard and Gareth controlled the race to give Andy the best opportunity for victory. Not content with just the win, Andy had to beat Gareth in all the sprints at the village signs on the ride home from Castleford.

Richards Race Diary....

'Coming into this weekend's race, The Pete Gannon memorial, my confidence had been given a boost by last weeks second place. 11 laps of the Ledston circuit, with a climb through the finish was going to be a tough race.

We were looking to try to get one of us in the break, and after a few minor moves early on, Andy formed a breakaway group of 10 riders. The gap stood at around 30 seconds for a couple of laps, but Gareth and I managed
to cause enough disruption at the front to deter a working chase.

The gap had grown to over 2 minutes by half race distance, and our job was pretty much done. However we continued to police the moves, with the inevitable attacks going over the top of the climb.

Gareth got in a move with about 5 to go, so I could rest a while in the bunch. I stayed in the bunch for a couple of laps, only moving to the front as the bunch split on the climb each time.

A couple of riders clipped off the front with 3 to go, and we managed to get across to Gareths group. We worked a while, but the chase was strung out behind, and it came back together again.

This time down through the village, Gareth suffered a puncture. We plowed on, and another group went away. I was still spent from getting up to Gareth's group earlier, and missed the move.

With just two laps left now, and the original bunch of riders still way out front, I was expecting Andy to get the win as he's been showing some good form. I wasn't disappointed, and as I came over the line in the bunch, I learned that Andy had indeed won the race.

I was happy with my bunch placing in this 2/3/4 race especially with the team gaining the win'.

Gareths Race Diary....

'After wrecking my bike in France last week, I only finished building my new bike at 7pm on the Saturday night and had only ridden on it for 20 mins. After warming up for just a few minutes I punctured my front wheel and quickly changed it before the race got under way - this was a sign of things to come.

I had a good feeling about this race as I knew Rich was going well and Andy was looking really strong in France. How right I was as we pinged off the front in a few moves before Andy instigated the winning move on the second lap. Andys group of 10 held a slim lead for a few laps as Rich and myself blocked moves and chased them down with such good effect that the bunch just gave up whilst the break continued to work and that was it- the race was over at half distance - much to the disapproval from our fellow riders in the bunch who were aiming some choice words at Rich and myself.

I continued to stay at the front and chased down Marc Mallendar and found myself away with him and decided to do some work and we stayed away for 3 laps before being joined by some riders who had clipped off the front of the bunch. With 2 laps left I punctured the back wheel so it was game over for me. I wasnt bothered, I was really confident in Andys current form so I ran the 2 miles back to the finish in time to see Andy take a comfortable win from Carl Dyson.

Although I had the misfortune of puncturing, I was really pleased Andy got the win as he had been looking strong for the last 10 days and Rich looked really comfortable at the front of the bunch for the entire race.

The day was not over for me as I rode home with Andy and Dave Hatton. Andy still was finished as he took the sprints for all the village signs back to Keadby Bridge'.

Andys Race Diary....

'I was hoping to show an improvement in form following a tough training weekend with Gareth last weekend. Feeling quite strong I launched several attacks from the outset, one of which alongside Carl Dyson and a Batley CC rider looked promising and stayed away for a lap until being slowed by an inconsiderate motorist.

Shortly after, myself and Nigel Haigh (Wakefield CC) began to drive the front of the bunch hard, which eventually resulted in a split in the peloton with 10 riders going clear.

It took a couple of laps for all of the riders to pull their weight in the group but eventually the gap back to the bunch – which was being controlled by Gareth and Richard – grew to around 3 minutes.

Feeling quietly confident and riding comfortably, I put in a little tester at the bell to see who would follow – no one did, so I knew then that a result was a possibility.

Several attempts were made to get clear on the final lap, with the group playing cat and mouse, though all attempts were pulled back before the final ascent/sprint to the finish.

I positioned myself around 4 riders from the front as the sprint wound up. In the end it was a tight finish between myself and Carl Dyson.

My first win in Cherry Valley Colours – and hopefully the first of many!'

race report on British Cycling web site click here

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