Lucy Glover was victorious in the women’s Dudley Grand Prix to become the first junior to win a round of the National Circuit Series in 2023, continuing an impressive debut for his Shibden Hope Apex Tech team.

In the men’s race, Jim Brown (Cross Team Legendre) demonstrated his speed with a sprint win ahead of Ilkley Grand Prix winner Matt Fox (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli).

Featured photo: SWpix.com. 2023 Dudley Grand Prix, Women’s National Circuit Series 

The Women’s Dudley Grand Prix

Report

First-year junior Lucy Glover (Shibden Hope Tech Apex) sprinted to the biggest victory of her career at the Dudley Grand Prix tonight, powering to victory from a group of ten that broke away early.

The heavy rain which had fallen for much of the day had abated by the start of the race, the figure of eight circuit a technical challenge for the riders with some corners proving sketchy in the support races.

The race was hard from the gun, Sian Botteley (Hutchinson-Brother UK) and former national circuit race champion Jo Tindley (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee) made the first to attack, stringing out the field on the first lap before Emily Proud (Le Col Race Team) continued the onslaught, the leading group just 13 strong by the end of the third lap.

As the race settled down original aggressor Botteley was jettisoned from the leading group. The ten remaining riders out front working well to consolidate their lead over a swelling chasing group led by Xan Crees (Spectra-Cannondale) and Proud’s teammate Caitlin Dimbleby.

Proud and Tindley were supremely active at the front of the race, taking it in turns to use the drag up to the finish line to stretch the advantage of the leading group, stringing it out at the same time.

As the commissaire produced the 9 laps to go board, signalling a little over twenty minutes racing remaining, Tindley unleashed a big attack over the finishing line, the first rider to force herself clear from the leading group, their advantage growing by the lap over the chasing pack, now up to 20 seconds.

As the riders crossed the line with 7 laps remaining, Tindley’s attack had been neutralised, the pace slower as the four remaining Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee gathered towards the head of affairs.

Only a lap later Tindley would attempt a carbon copy of her earlier move, Sammie Stuart (DAS-Handling) alert to the danger and jumping straight onto her wheel. The move would come to nothing, the group flying up the climb the next time around, the elastic close to snapping.

The leading group of ten were all together with 3 laps to go, the last group on the road just avoiding being lapped and pulled out by the cut-off; their presence another tactical element to this increasingly cagey race.

Taking the bell it was Proud and Tindley leading the still intact group, the lapping of the final group safety negotiated. Would Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee go on the attack or bank on a sprint finish?

As the group approached the line for the final time as one it was youngster Lucy Glover (Shibden Hope Tech Apex) who powered home for victory, her presence in the group barely noticeable until it mattered. Emily Proud came home second for the second round in a row demonstrating her strength while Lucy Lee (DAS-Handsling) rounded out the podium.

Corinne Side (Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee) finished 4th, enough to retain her lead in the National Circuit Series. She is now 18 points clear of her teammate Tindley, with Isabel Darvill (Spectra Cannondale) in 3rd, a further 9 points back from Tindley. in the team standings Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee enjoy a 79 point lead over DAS-Handsling.

The next round is the McLaren Automotive Women’s Grand Prix in Sheffield next Wednesday (19 July).

Results

Rank	#	Name	Team	Time
1	79	Lucy Glover	Shibden Hope Tech Apex	51:25
2	71	Emily Proud	Le Col Race Team	st
3	17	Lucy Lee	DAS – Handsling Bikes	st
4	45	Corinne Side	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee	st
5	42	Robyn Clay	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee	st
6	47	Jo Tindley	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee	st
7	22	Sammie Stuart	DAS – Handsling Bikes	st
8	58	Isabel Darvill	Team Spectra Cannondale	st
9	46	Bexy Dew	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee	st
10	61	Libby Smithson	AWOL OShea	+16
11	41	Anya Tamplin	Loughborough Lightning	+46
12	25	Samantha Fawcett	Hutchinson – Brother UK	st
13	43	Lucy Ellmore	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee	+1:47
14	29	Charlotte Berry	Hutchinson – Brother UK	st
15	70	Caitlin Dimbleby	Le Col Race Team	st
16	53	Jayati Hine	Team Boompods	st
17	57	Xan Crees	Team Spectra Cannondale	st
18	6	Amelia Tyler	Alba Development Road Team	st
19	80	Erin Avill	Storey Racing	st
20	44	Amy Gornall	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee	st
21	51	Annamarie Lipp	Saint Piran WRT	st
22	65	Elizabeth Sanders	FTP – Fulfil The Potential – Racing	st
23	64	Maddie Heywood	FTP – Fulfil The Potential – Racing	st
24	40	Alice Lethbridge	Loughborough Lightning	+1:52
25	23	Sophie Thackray	DAS – Handsling Bikes	+1:59
26	56	Lauren Robinson	Team Boompods	+1 Lap
27	16	Emma Jeffers	DAS – Handsling Bikes	+1 Lap
28	7	Evie White	Alba Development Road Team	+1 Lap
29	11	Harriet Graham	Brother UK – Orientation Marketing	+1 Lap
30	55	Gemma Mitchell	Team Boompods	+1 Lap
31	48	Hannah Bayes	Saint Piran WRT	+1 Lap
32	66	Rebecca Hair	LAKA Pedal Mafia RT	+1 Lap
33	32	Laura Davies	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	+1 Lap
34	60	Ailsa McLagan	0503	+1 Lap
35	69	Natasha Reddy	LDN-Academy	+1 Lap
36	83	Anastasia Bowler	Wahoo – Le Col	+1 Lap
37	34	Rebekah Nash	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	+1 Lap
38	33	Beth Harley-Jepson	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	+1 Lap
39	50	Gabriella Homer	Saint Piran WRT	+1 Lap
40	86	Georgina Oakley		+4 Laps
41	14	Electra Morris	Brother UK – Orientation Marketing	+4 Laps
42	81	Nicola Soden	Tactic UK WRT	+4 Laps
43	82	Mari Porton	Tofauti Everyone Active	+4 Laps
44	13	Georgia Lancaster	Brother UK – Orientation Marketing	+4 Laps
45	24	Sian Botteley	Hutchinson – Brother UK	+4 Laps
46	8	Ellen Bennett	Brother UK – Orientation Marketing	+4 Laps
47	36	Philippa Draper	Loughborough Lightning	+4 Laps
48	3	Arianne Holland	Alba Development Road Team	+4 Laps
49	9	Lily Brindle	Brother UK – Orientation Marketing	+5 Laps
50	12	Hope Inglis	Brother UK – Orientation Marketing	+5 Laps
51	75	Lindsay Toy	JRC INTERFLON Race Team	+5 Laps
52	74	Evelyn Field	JRC INTERFLON Race Team	+5 Laps
53	49	Sophie Holmes	Saint Piran WRT	+5 Laps
54	2	Sophie Enever	Alba Development Road Team	+5 Laps
55	62	Amelia Southall	AWOL Worx Galliard	+5 Laps
56	39	Emily Kay	Loughborough Lightning	+5 Laps
57	5	Victoria Smith	Alba Development Road Team	+6 Laps
	4	Beth Maciver	Alba Development Road Team	DNF
	15	Maisy Vasic	Brother UK – Orientation Marketing	DNF
	26	Ione Johnson	Hutchinson – Brother UK	DNF
	28	Tamsin Miller	Hutchinson – Brother UK	DNF
	38	Francesca Hall	DAS – Handsling Bikes	DNF
	52	Rebecca Richards	Saint Piran WRT	DNF
	54	Sian Marsh	Team Boompods	DNF
	59	Laura Senior	Team Spectra Cannondale	DNF
	76	Cecilia Hime	Paradigm Cycles	DNF
	1	Daisy Barnes	Alba Development Road Team	DNS
	10	Grace Reynolds	Brother UK – Orientation Marketing	DNS
	18	Grace Lister	DAS – Handsling Bikes	DNS
	19	Emma Matthews	DAS – Handsling Bikes	DNS
	20	Beth Morrow	DAS – Handsling Bikes	DNS
	21	Katie Scott	DAS – Handsling Bikes	DNS
	27	Tiffany Keep	Hutchinson – Brother UK	DNS
	30	Lydia Watts	Hutchinson – Brother UK	DNS
	31	Sannah Zaman	Hutchinson – Brother UK	DNS
	35	Abbie Taylor	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	DNS
	37	Madeleine Gammons	Loughborough Lightning	DNS
	63	Rebecca Lineker	Contiki Velo Bavarian RT	DNS
	67	Isabella Johnson	LAKA Pedal Mafia RT	DNS
	68	Charlotte Head	LDN-Academy	DNS
	72	Eluned King	Lifeplus – Wahoo	DNS
	73	Shona Mosley	Lincoln Wheelers CC	DNS
	77	Charlotte Deykin	Peterborough Cycle Hub	DNS
	78	Amira Mellor	Ribble Collective	DNS
	84	Maya Branfoot	Wahoo – Le Col	DNS
	85	Kate Macleod	Wahoo – Le Col	DNS

The Men’s Dudley Grand Prix

Report

Jim Brown (Cross Team Legendre) demonstrated his class by sprinting to victory at the inaugural Dudley Grand Prix, the former AT85 rider getting the best of a group of 18 to the line after being at the head of affairs throughout the race.

At the start of the men’s race it was under-23 pairing of Jenson Young (Rokit-SRCT) and Callum Laborde (Wheebase-Cabtech-Castelli) who showed themselves on the first lap, creating a small gap to the rest of field.

Young was steadfast on the front of the bunch the next time around with the peloton stretched out behind him under the intense pressure, the Wheelbase CabTech Castelli squad who have been so impressive recently, collectively bunched behind him.

By the fourth time through the finishing drag the bunch had split with a large number of riders on the right side of it; series leader Ben Chilton (Ribble Collective) trying his hand at a move similar to the one which took him to victory in Guildford. Although his attack was brought back relatively quickly the peloton was damaged beyond repair, the leading group containing only 24 riders by the start of the seventh lap.

The race continued to be run at a frantic pace, Alec Briggs (Tekkerz CC) on the wrong side of a further split as Australian Matt Fox (Wheelbase-Cabtech-Castelli) put the hammer down prior to William Truelove (Rokit-SRCT) going clear off the front of the race temporarily, the front group of 18 all together the next time through the line.

As the sun began to set over the circuit it was George Kimber (Embark-Spirit-BSS) who was responsible for the latest split, riders frantically chasing back onto the wheels as five men held a slight advantage. Mystery surrounded series leader Ben Chilton who came across the line not on contention, shaking his head, the cyclocross specialist not stopping at the pits.

A group of ten had established itself at the front of the race halfway through proceedings containing Jim Brown, the former AT85 rider now plying his trade for the French CX Team Legendre, and three Wheelbase-Cabtech-Castelli riders as they looked to continue their excellent season. Cai Davies, third in the series, had Kalas Motip Race Team teammate Cameron McClaren in support of his bid for victory, with Truelove and David Hird from ROKiT-SRCT joined Toby Barnes (Dolan Ellesse Race Team) and Will Roberts (Saint Piran), the sole representatives of their teams at the head of affairs. Behind them, a group of eight were working well together to limit the gap looking to chase back on.

Toby Barnes was the first to break the temporary status quo with an attack through the finish line, the West Midlands native being caught before the nine laps to go board was produced signalling twenty minutes of action remaining. 
With 6 laps remaining the chasing group of eight were back on level terms, Barnes leading a large group of 18 through the line on single file as every increase in pace threatened to break the elastic. Chilton was continuing to work hard behind, with Jenson Young as he looked to limit his losses.

The lap pace snuck below two minutes in the closing stages, the large leading group agreeing a temporary truce with the speed being kept high. Lewis Tinsley (Beeston CC) was producing the ride of his life to hang in such esteemed company, the group still riding as one.

Will Roberts put in a huge attack through the bell, gaining a few bike lengths on the rest of the group quickly, the 17 other riders all still together awaiting the finishing drag for one last time.

Jim Brown demonstrated his class in winning the sprint to take victory after Roberts had been caught, heading off the challenge from Matt Fox, who extends his excellent run, and Roberts, who rounded out the podium after finding a second wind.

It was a big night for the series overall with Fox gaining a huge number of points on rival Ben Chilton with three rounds to go, Chilton holding a slender advantage of just three points over the Australian.

Fox’s team Wheelbase CabTech Castelli still controls the team standings, 53 points ahead of nearest challengers ROKiT – SRCT.

Results

Rank	#	Name	Team	Time
1	51	Jim Brown	Cross Team Legendre	51:41
2	45	Matthew Fox	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	st
3	19	Williams Roberts	Saint Piran	st
4	14	William Truelove	ROKiT – SRCT	st
5	12	David Hird	ROKiT – SRCT	st
6	44	Callum Laborde	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	st
7	54	George Kimber	Embark Spirit BSS	st
8	20	Leon Mazzone	Saint Piran	st
9	29	Alec Briggs	TEKKERZ CC	st
10	1	Cai Davies	Kalas Motip Race Team	st
11	43	Aaron King	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	st
12	3	Cameron McLaren	Kalas Motip Race Team	st
13	52	Toby Barnes	Dolan Ellesse Race Team	st
14	13	Josh Price	ROKiT – SRCT	st
15	36	Ben Bright	Wales Racing Academy	+8
16	42	Ed Morgan	Wales Racing Academy	+28
17	50	Lewis Tinsley	Beeston Cycling Club	st
18	62	Ben Chilton	Ribble Collective	+59
19	16	Jenson Young	ROKiT – SRCT	st
20	39	William Harding	Wales Racing Academy	st
21	11	Matthew Ellis	ROKiT – SRCT	+4 Laps
22	26	Daniel Barnes	Team Spectra Cannondale	+4 Laps
23	47	Joshua Jones	ALL IN Racing	+4 Laps
24	30	Joe Holt	TEKKERZ CC	+4 Laps
25	63	Angus Hawkins	Ride Revolution Coaching	+4 Laps
26	28	Frederik Scheske	Team Spectra Cannondale	+4 Laps
27	66	James Brown	Sn Vitae Bim Bam Coaching RT	+4 Laps
28	4	Vaughn Pretorius	Kalas Motip Race Team	+4 Laps
29	23	Nathan Hardy	Team PB Performance	+4 Laps
30	22	Liam Flannery	Team PB Performance	+4 Laps
31	21	Tom Charles	Team PB Performance	+4 Laps
32	60	Tom Cullen	Otley CC	+4 Laps
33	17	Rhys Britton	Saint Piran	+4 Laps
34	18	Lucas Jowett	Saint Piran	+4 Laps
35	70	Ashley Marshall	Vocation Cycling	+4 Laps
36	34	Sam Shepherd	trainSharp Elite	+4 Laps
37	59	Felix Whetter	Mid Devon CC	+4 Laps
38	48	David Bolland	Army Cycling Union	+4 Laps
39	71	Benjamin Hellebo	Wheelsuckers	+4 Laps
40	7	Joshua Horsfield	Ribble rechrg Race Team	+4 Laps
41	61	Thomas Price	Reflex Racing	+4 Laps
42	69	Sam Holwill	trainSharp Development Team	+4 Laps
43	5	David Roper	Kalas Motip Race Team	+5 Laps
44	56	Sean Dawson	INFLITE	+5 Laps
45	73	Isaac Lawrence	0503	+5 Laps
46	10	Joseph Beckinsale	ROKiT – SRCT	+5 Laps
47	24	Max Sillifant	Team PB Performance	+7 Laps
	15	Tom Williams	ROKiT – SRCT	DNF
	25	Kieran Riley	Team PB Performance	DNF
	27	Travis Bramley	Team Spectra Cannondale	DNF
	46	Tim Shoreman	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	DNF
	72	Cavan Walker	Wold Top The Edge Pactimo	DNF
	74	William Abbott		DNF
	2	Harry Green	Kalas Motip Race Team	DNS
	6	Matt Witts	Kalas Motip Race Team	DNS
	8	Hugo Lutz Atkinson	Ribble rechrg Race Team	DNS
	9	Max Lutz Atkinson	Ribble rechrg Race Team	DNS
	31	Olivier Mangham	TEKKERZ CC	DNS
	32	James Bevan	trainSharp Elite	DNS
	33	Ollie Peckover	trainSharp Elite	DNS
	35	Matt Webster	trainSharp Elite	DNS
	37	Huw Buck Jones	Wales Racing Academy	DNS
	38	Spencer Davies	Wales Racing Academy	DNS
	40	Griff Lewis	Wales Racing Academy	DNS
	41	Fred Meredith	Wales Racing Academy	DNS
	49	Sean Dodsworth	Army Cycling Union	DNS
	53	Sam Kettlewell	Embark Spirit BSS	DNS
	55	Patrick Fotheringham	Halesowen A & CC	DNS
	57	Thomas Doig	INFLITE	DNS
	58	Rowan Baker	London Dynamo	DNS
	64	Bob McGlue	Ride Revolution Coaching	DNS
	67	Harvey Stroh	TAAP Endura	DNS
	68	Max Bufton	Tofauti Everyone Active	DNS
	65	Jake Jackson	Rose Race Team	DSQ

National Circuit Series standings

Women’s

Individual

Rank	Name	Team	Points
1	Corinne Side	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee	168
2	Jo Tindley	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee	152
3	Isabel Darvill	Team Spectra Cannondale	143
4	Robyn Clay	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee	135
5	Bexy Dew	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee	123
6	Emily Proud	Le Col Race Team	117
7	Lucy Lee	DAS – Handsling Bikes	106
8	Monica Greenwood	DAS – Handsling Bikes	102
9	Sammie Stuart	DAS – Handsling Bikes	102
10	Millie Couzens	Fenix-Deceuninck	94
11	Lucy Glover	Shibden Hope Tech Apex	92
12	Samantha Fawcett	Hutchinson – Brother UK	81
13	Jayati Hine	Team Boompods	79
14	Francesca Hall	Loughborough Lightning	78
15	Amy Gornall	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee	78
16	Flora Perkins	Fenix-Deceuninck Development Team	75
17	Emma Jeffers	DAS – Handsling Bikes	73
18	Maddie Heywood	FTP – Fulfil The Potential – Racing	61
19	Harriet Graham	Brother UK – Orientation Marketing	59
20	Lucy Ellmore	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee	56

Team

Rank	Team	Points
1	Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 00 Degrees Coffee	482
2	DAS – Handsling Bikes	403
3	Hutchinson – Brother UK	222
4	Team Boompods	201
5	Alba Development Road Team	146
6	Loughborough Lightning	143
7	Shibden Hope Tech Apex	130
8	Team Spectra Cannondale	117
9	Brother UK – Orientation Marketing	81
10	Jadan Vive le Velo Glasdon	57
11	AWOL OShea	50
12	LDN-Academy	35
13	Saint Piran WRT	32
14	Tofauti Everyone Active	28
15	Wahoo – Le Col	7

Men

Individual

Rank	Name	Team	Points
1	Ben Chilton	Ribble Collective	149
2	Matthew Fox	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	146
3	Jim Brown	Cross Team Legendre	132
4	Cai Davies	Kalas Motip Race Team	128
5	David Hird	ROKiT – SRCT	111
6	Callum Laborde	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	107
7	Alec Briggs	TEKKERZ CC	103
8	Tom Couzens	Ribble Collective	89
9	George Kimber	Embark Spirit BSS	87
10	Tim Shoreman	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	84
11	William Truelove	ROKiT – SRCT	74
12	Ed Morgan	Wales Racing Academy	73
13	Joseph Smith		72
14	Ollie Peckover	trainSharp Elite	72
15	Leon Mazzone	Saint Piran	72
16	Huw Buck Jones	Wales Racing Academy	69
17	Josh Price	ROKiT – SRCT	68
18	Daniel Barnes	Team Spectra Cannondale	65
19	Cameron McLaren	Kalas Motip Race Team	55
20	William Harding	Wales Racing Academy	53

Team

Rank	Team	Points
1	Wheelbase CabTech Castelli	351
2	ROKiT – SRCT	298
3	Saint Piran	263
4	Wales Racing Academy	246
5	Kalas Motip Race Team	209
6	Team PB Performance	131
7	trainSharp Elite	113
8	TEKKERZ CC	101
9	Trinity Racing	78
10	Cycling Sheffield	76
11	Richardsons Trek DAS	64
12	Team Spectra Cannondale	34
13	Moonglu Race Team	18
14	Embark Spirit BSS	12
15	Ribble rechrg Race Team	5