There is a double bill at the Witham on the Hill circuit this weekend as with the Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix and the Witham Hall Grand Prix. This is our preview of the two National B events.
Organised by Bourne Wheelers CC, the Witham Hall Grand Prix was first run in 2016. The race has a notable list of past winners, three of whom went on to ride in the Women’s WorldTour (Jess Roberts, Pfeiffer Georgi and Anna Shackley), while two (April Tacey and Lucy Gadd) are both current UCI Continental team riders. Last year’s race was won by Lucy Neatham.
Prior to 2019, the race exclusively featured junior competitors. In 2022, it expanded to include under-23 riders, following the establishment of the British Cycling’s Junior & U23 Women’s National Road Series. Unfortunately, this year’s schedule conflicts with a junior Nations Cup event, resulting in more than 20 British juniors competing in France instead. Consequently, organiser Mark Botteley has designated this year’s race as a National B road race.
Lucy Neatham wins the 2023 Witham Hall GP. Image: Huw Williams
The Timmy James Memorial was established to commemorate Tim James, who passed away from a rare cancer on May 14, 2021. A member of Bourne Wheelers CC, Tim inspired his club to organise this race in his memory. In addition to celebrating Tim’s life, the event aims to raise significant funds for Young Lives Vs Cancer, a charity that provided invaluable support to Tim and his family during his final months.
James McKay won last year’s race, held on the same course, while Toby Barnes was the victor the year before. In 2021, a first memorial race was staged by SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling, whom Tim had joined ahead of the 2020 season, after COVID restrictions had prevented Bourne Wheelers CC from putting on an event themselves. Sam Watson, now at Groupama-FDJ, won that edition.
Route
The races are both run on the same 18.6 km Witham on the Hill circuit which straddles the Lincolnshire-Rutland border. At 185 m of elevation per lap, the circuit is best described as ‘rolling’ and is devoid of any major climbs. Riders enter the circuit at Witham on the Hill after a short neutral section, with the finish line placed on Barber’s Hill on the other side of the course.
From the finish line, the circuit continues on the B1176, dropping down to Ryhall village. At the village, the course turns left onto the A6121, where it runs through Essendine village and Carlby village before another to turn left at the Witham crossroads towards Witham on the Hill. The road through Witham is narrow, with the potential obstacle of parked vehicles. The circuit then heads to Little Bytham, taking in an unclassified road. At Little Bytham, the circuit takes a final left back onto the B1176.
After passing through Careby, there is a short 0.5 km climb to the Barber’s Hill finish line. It’s not steep, averaging 4.2%, but should be enough to help separate the leading riders as they dash for the line.
The Witham Hall GP takes in 5.5 laps (96 km) in total, while the Timmy James Memorial GP involves 8.5 laps (150 km).
Timings
9.30
Witham Hall GP race start
12.10
Witham Hall GP race finish (approx.)
13.30
Timmy James Memorial GP race start
17.00
Timmy James Memorial GP race finish (approx.)
Weather
Conditions look much better than they have done in recent weeks, with the nearby Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic succumbing to the weather last weekend. The forecast is dry with temperatures due to hit a balmy 16 degrees in the afternoon, with moderate winds of 11mph from the south adding the potential for splits on the exposed roads on the back of the course.
Riders to watch
Witham Hall Grand Prix
59 women are on the provisional startlist of the Witham Hall Grand Prix, defending champion Lucy Neatham (London Academy) wearing the number one dossard.
She will face stiff competition from DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK, who bring a powerful five rider line-up, with Bourne’s Sian Botteley able to provide local knowledge to the likes of Francesca Hall and Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne. Hall won last weekend at the Harrogate Nova Spring Road Race, while former rower Hodgkins-Byrne tasted victory at the Dave Peck memorial last month.
Isabel Darvill‘s (Doltcini O’Shea) only outing on UK soil this season was 4th in the nearby CiCLE Classic back in March, and having raced in Belgium and the Netherlands since, she should return in good form on a course with similar characteristics.
A young Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting team is led by Corrine Side, the 23-year-old fast finisher winner was the of the overall winner National Circuit Series and took victory in the Curlew Cup last year on similar terrain.
Second year junior Lucy Glover was third last year and the sprinter should find the course to her liking again, while Lotty Dawson was third behind Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne at the Dave Peck Memorial, and forms part of a young Brother UK – On Form team with no less than fourteen riders on the start list.
Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix
James McKay and Alexandar Richardson‘s battle last year was one of the most memorable moments of the domestic season, McKay cementing him status as one of the best riders in the country by taking victory. A year on the pair return as teammates, joined by Tyler Hannay in an enviable Saint Piran squad. 20-year-old Manxman Hannay began his season with a win in the Clayton Spring Classic and was the victor of the tough Capernwray Road Race at the end of March.
McKay wins the 2023 Timmy James Memorial GP. Image: Olivia Coukham
Richardson has been in imperious form of late, winning the PNE Road Race last weekend from a 30km solo break a fortnight after opening his 2024 account at the London Dynamo Spring Road Race. With the fast finishing McKay now on the same team, it would be no surprise to see a rider in black take yet another National B win on Sunday afternoon.
Jack Hartley (Cycling Sheffield) has shone so far in his first year with Dave Coulson’s squad, and the sprinter will look to upset the odds like he did with victory at the 62nd Eddie Soens back in February, when he outmanoeuvred Matt Bostock for the win.
Damien Clayton has been in brilliant form this season in the colours of the Le Col Race Team, notching up victories in three National B Road Races as well as taking an impressive 5th at the East Cleveland Classic. He will be supported by team mate Monte Guerrini, the elite licence holder notching up victories in regional races in recent weeks.
Clay Davies (Ride Revolution Coaching) was third here last year behind McKay and Richardson, matching the pair for almost the entire race. He was second behind James Ambrose-Parish (TAAP-Kalas) at the Andrews Trophy last Sunday, the Irishman demonstrating his strength by winning the long uphill sprint from a group of eight riders.
Ambrose-Parish wins the Andrews Trophy. Image: Chris Smith
Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) is a former winner, while track star William Perrett (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) will be looking to hone his form before he heads to the Rás Tailteann later in the month. Josh Housley (HUUB-BCC RT) has shown good form this season, with three National B top ten finishes, including third in the Oakenclough Road Race after an eye catching, attacking display at the East Cleveland Classic.
Simon Cope’s Chinese UCI Continental Bodywrap team have been in the UK in preparation for the Rás Tailteann, and there have been signs the squad are getting used to the hectic nature of racing here; Wang Kuicheng‘s taking third place in the PNE Road Race last weekend a breakthrough for them. He heads a team of five riders here, including Tour of Qinghai Lake stage winner Li Boan.
There is a double bill at the Witham on the Hill circuit this weekend as with the Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix and the Witham Hall Grand Prix. This is our preview of the two National B events.
Featured image: Olivia Coukham
What is it?
Organised by Bourne Wheelers CC, the Witham Hall Grand Prix was first run in 2016. The race has a notable list of past winners, three of whom went on to ride in the Women’s WorldTour (Jess Roberts, Pfeiffer Georgi and Anna Shackley), while two (April Tacey and Lucy Gadd) are both current UCI Continental team riders. Last year’s race was won by Lucy Neatham.
Prior to 2019, the race exclusively featured junior competitors. In 2022, it expanded to include under-23 riders, following the establishment of the British Cycling’s Junior & U23 Women’s National Road Series. Unfortunately, this year’s schedule conflicts with a junior Nations Cup event, resulting in more than 20 British juniors competing in France instead. Consequently, organiser Mark Botteley has designated this year’s race as a National B road race.
The Timmy James Memorial was established to commemorate Tim James, who passed away from a rare cancer on May 14, 2021. A member of Bourne Wheelers CC, Tim inspired his club to organise this race in his memory. In addition to celebrating Tim’s life, the event aims to raise significant funds for Young Lives Vs Cancer, a charity that provided invaluable support to Tim and his family during his final months.
James McKay won last year’s race, held on the same course, while Toby Barnes was the victor the year before. In 2021, a first memorial race was staged by SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling, whom Tim had joined ahead of the 2020 season, after COVID restrictions had prevented Bourne Wheelers CC from putting on an event themselves. Sam Watson, now at Groupama-FDJ, won that edition.
Route
The races are both run on the same 18.6 km Witham on the Hill circuit which straddles the Lincolnshire-Rutland border. At 185 m of elevation per lap, the circuit is best described as ‘rolling’ and is devoid of any major climbs. Riders enter the circuit at Witham on the Hill after a short neutral section, with the finish line placed on Barber’s Hill on the other side of the course.
From the finish line, the circuit continues on the B1176, dropping down to Ryhall village. At the village, the course turns left onto the A6121, where it runs through Essendine village and Carlby village before another to turn left at the Witham crossroads towards Witham on the Hill. The road through Witham is narrow, with the potential obstacle of parked vehicles. The circuit then heads to Little Bytham, taking in an unclassified road. At Little Bytham, the circuit takes a final left back onto the B1176.
After passing through Careby, there is a short 0.5 km climb to the Barber’s Hill finish line. It’s not steep, averaging 4.2%, but should be enough to help separate the leading riders as they dash for the line.
The Witham Hall GP takes in 5.5 laps (96 km) in total, while the Timmy James Memorial GP involves 8.5 laps (150 km).
Timings
Weather
Conditions look much better than they have done in recent weeks, with the nearby Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic succumbing to the weather last weekend. The forecast is dry with temperatures due to hit a balmy 16 degrees in the afternoon, with moderate winds of 11mph from the south adding the potential for splits on the exposed roads on the back of the course.
Riders to watch
Witham Hall Grand Prix
59 women are on the provisional startlist of the Witham Hall Grand Prix, defending champion Lucy Neatham (London Academy) wearing the number one dossard.
She will face stiff competition from DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK, who bring a powerful five rider line-up, with Bourne’s Sian Botteley able to provide local knowledge to the likes of Francesca Hall and Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne. Hall won last weekend at the Harrogate Nova Spring Road Race, while former rower Hodgkins-Byrne tasted victory at the Dave Peck memorial last month.
Isabel Darvill‘s (Doltcini O’Shea) only outing on UK soil this season was 4th in the nearby CiCLE Classic back in March, and having raced in Belgium and the Netherlands since, she should return in good form on a course with similar characteristics.
A young Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting team is led by Corrine Side, the 23-year-old fast finisher winner was the of the overall winner National Circuit Series and took victory in the Curlew Cup last year on similar terrain.
Second year junior Lucy Glover was third last year and the sprinter should find the course to her liking again, while Lotty Dawson was third behind Charlotte Hodgkins-Byrne at the Dave Peck Memorial, and forms part of a young Brother UK – On Form team with no less than fourteen riders on the start list.
Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix
James McKay and Alexandar Richardson‘s battle last year was one of the most memorable moments of the domestic season, McKay cementing him status as one of the best riders in the country by taking victory. A year on the pair return as teammates, joined by Tyler Hannay in an enviable Saint Piran squad. 20-year-old Manxman Hannay began his season with a win in the Clayton Spring Classic and was the victor of the tough Capernwray Road Race at the end of March.
Richardson has been in imperious form of late, winning the PNE Road Race last weekend from a 30km solo break a fortnight after opening his 2024 account at the London Dynamo Spring Road Race. With the fast finishing McKay now on the same team, it would be no surprise to see a rider in black take yet another National B win on Sunday afternoon.
Jack Hartley (Cycling Sheffield) has shone so far in his first year with Dave Coulson’s squad, and the sprinter will look to upset the odds like he did with victory at the 62nd Eddie Soens back in February, when he outmanoeuvred Matt Bostock for the win.
Damien Clayton has been in brilliant form this season in the colours of the Le Col Race Team, notching up victories in three National B Road Races as well as taking an impressive 5th at the East Cleveland Classic. He will be supported by team mate Monte Guerrini, the elite licence holder notching up victories in regional races in recent weeks.
Clay Davies (Ride Revolution Coaching) was third here last year behind McKay and Richardson, matching the pair for almost the entire race. He was second behind James Ambrose-Parish (TAAP-Kalas) at the Andrews Trophy last Sunday, the Irishman demonstrating his strength by winning the long uphill sprint from a group of eight riders.
Toby Barnes (Spectra Racing) is a former winner, while track star William Perrett (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) will be looking to hone his form before he heads to the Rás Tailteann later in the month. Josh Housley (HUUB-BCC RT) has shown good form this season, with three National B top ten finishes, including third in the Oakenclough Road Race after an eye catching, attacking display at the East Cleveland Classic.
Simon Cope’s Chinese UCI Continental Bodywrap team have been in the UK in preparation for the Rás Tailteann, and there have been signs the squad are getting used to the hectic nature of racing here; Wang Kuicheng‘s taking third place in the PNE Road Race last weekend a breakthrough for them. He heads a team of five riders here, including Tour of Qinghai Lake stage winner Li Boan.
Provisional startlists
Witham Hall Grand Prix
Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix
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