Corrin Leeming (Cycling Club Isle of Man) and Olivia French (Stolen Goat RT) were the victors at the Aughton Road Races, winners of the final round of the 2024 Proper Northern Road Race Series.
In stark contrast to the torrential rain which affected last year’s race, blue skies, warm spring air, and sunshine greeted the 42 starters. As they rolled out of the Race HQ at Arkholme Village Hall, Proper Northern Road Race Series leader Josh Housley (HUUB BCC Race Team) was visible towards the front of the peloton, perhaps eager to control affairs, while his nearest Proper Northern Road Race Series rival Damien Clayton (Le Col RT) – just two points behind in the standings – lingered at the back of the pack.
The race stayed together for the first of eleven laps of the testing ten kilometre circuit. With eight laps together, however, a group of three had slipped clear. Housley was among the trio, clearly deciding attack was the best form of defence, accompanied by Joe Shillabeer (Shibden-A.Fawcett Racing) and Jake Edwards (Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club).
A lap later, the break had been bolstered with the arrival of Steven Mayers (Le Col RT) and Cai Curtis-Roberts (360Cycling). The newly enlarged lead group had around 15 seconds advantage over a small group of riders trying to bridge across, including Housley’s rival Clayton, with the peloton in close attendance.
Mayers was unexpectedly forced out of contention, however, the commissaires disqualifying him from the race after judging his number pockets to be too opaque.
The remaining four combined well but could never pull out a gap of much more than around 20 seconds over the riders in ever-dwindling peloton.
With four laps to go, a chase group of 12 riders had formed. Clayton, Thomas Armstrong (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) and last week’s Bec CC Road Race winner were among the most notable of these counterattackers. And this daring dozen had caught the four leaders a lap later. With what was left of the peloton minutes behind, the winner was going to come from this last sixteen.
Clayton and Armstrong went on the offensive, and with two to go had a twenty second advantage – was this the decisive move?
No. As they reached the bell, Clayton and Armstrong had been caught by eight others. Importantly, however, Housley had been dropped, leaving Clayton in prime position to take the series win.
On the final lap, the decisive move finally came. Corrin Leeming (CC Isle of Man) and Maxwell Hereward (360Cycling) went clear and stayed clear, Leeming winning a fierce sprint to take the biggest win of his career. The win will be a big confidence boost for the 21-year-ahead of the Rás next week.
Scot Ross Birrell (Private Member) won the sprint for third from the small chasing group. Clayton finished fifth, earning him enough points to clinch the series victory, while Hereward’s 360Cycling sealed the team win.
“My plan had been just to try stay patient, and keep as much in the legs as possible for the last lap,” Leeming told The British Continental. “I attacked on one of the shorter uphill kickers, as I felt it perhaps wasn’t such an obvious place to go as the longer ones.” The plan clearly worked.
“I’m really happy with the win as it had been a hard race that never really eased off at all. I have done a few Proper Northern rounds over the last couple of years, and there all really well organised events on great courses, so it was really nice to win one.”
Women’s race
The fine weather continued for the afternoon’s women’s race, with 8 laps of the circuit on the menu. Series leader Tammy Miller (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK), winner of the previous round at the Oakenclough Road Race, began the day as the favourite, but with near-rivals on the start sheet, only a solid placing was required to assure her of the series win.
With the temperatures rising, this was the definition of an attritional race.
Halfway through, there was still no breakaway, but with riders slipping off the bunch one by one, there were just 17 of the 24 starters left at the head of the race. With two laps remaining, it was down to 14 riders – and still no break.
In the lead group were Miller, positioned toward the front, four riders from Team Boompods including Elizabeth Hermolle, three from the Alba Development Road Team, Natalie Stevenson (Glasgow Ivy CC), Sarah Byrne (Tactic UK WRT), Olivia French (Stolen Goat RT), Sasha Dyke (London Academy), Grace Reynolds (Brother UK – Team OnForm) and Katherine Handy (Valley Striders CC).
With a lap and a half lap, French took advantage of a lull in the pace to attack, surging clear as the others hesitated. As the lap progressed, the group thinned still further. Just ten chasers were left as they took the bell, still some seconds behind French.
The 23-year-old Stolen Goat rider held off the chasers to take her ever first National B road race win. Her victory was all the more remarkable given that it was her maiden Nat B road race of the season.
Elizabeth Hermolle of Team Boompods won the the sprint for second place, ahead of London Academy’s Sasha Dyke. Tammy Miller sealed the individual series with fourth place, while Team Boompods secured victory in the series team standings.
“I think I was lucky the team with numbers were marking each other out of it,” French modestly told The British Continental after the race. “My game plan was for it not to be bunch sprint and I had some speed going over a rise when the bunch sat up so decided to go with a lap and a half to go.
“I really hope someone would come with me but I looked back and I had quite a big gap so just kept riding and didn’t really think I would hold on. I’m really happy to my first win!”
Corrin Leeming (Cycling Club Isle of Man) and Olivia French (Stolen Goat RT) were the victors at the Aughton Road Races, winners of the final round of the 2024 Proper Northern Road Race Series.
Featured image: Ellen Isherwood
Report
Open race
In stark contrast to the torrential rain which affected last year’s race, blue skies, warm spring air, and sunshine greeted the 42 starters. As they rolled out of the Race HQ at Arkholme Village Hall, Proper Northern Road Race Series leader Josh Housley (HUUB BCC Race Team) was visible towards the front of the peloton, perhaps eager to control affairs, while his nearest Proper Northern Road Race Series rival Damien Clayton (Le Col RT) – just two points behind in the standings – lingered at the back of the pack.
The race stayed together for the first of eleven laps of the testing ten kilometre circuit. With eight laps together, however, a group of three had slipped clear. Housley was among the trio, clearly deciding attack was the best form of defence, accompanied by Joe Shillabeer (Shibden-A.Fawcett Racing) and Jake Edwards (Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club).
A lap later, the break had been bolstered with the arrival of Steven Mayers (Le Col RT) and Cai Curtis-Roberts (360Cycling). The newly enlarged lead group had around 15 seconds advantage over a small group of riders trying to bridge across, including Housley’s rival Clayton, with the peloton in close attendance.
Mayers was unexpectedly forced out of contention, however, the commissaires disqualifying him from the race after judging his number pockets to be too opaque.
The remaining four combined well but could never pull out a gap of much more than around 20 seconds over the riders in ever-dwindling peloton.
With four laps to go, a chase group of 12 riders had formed. Clayton, Thomas Armstrong (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) and last week’s Bec CC Road Race winner were among the most notable of these counterattackers. And this daring dozen had caught the four leaders a lap later. With what was left of the peloton minutes behind, the winner was going to come from this last sixteen.
Clayton and Armstrong went on the offensive, and with two to go had a twenty second advantage – was this the decisive move?
No. As they reached the bell, Clayton and Armstrong had been caught by eight others. Importantly, however, Housley had been dropped, leaving Clayton in prime position to take the series win.
On the final lap, the decisive move finally came. Corrin Leeming (CC Isle of Man) and Maxwell Hereward (360Cycling) went clear and stayed clear, Leeming winning a fierce sprint to take the biggest win of his career. The win will be a big confidence boost for the 21-year-ahead of the Rás next week.
Scot Ross Birrell (Private Member) won the sprint for third from the small chasing group. Clayton finished fifth, earning him enough points to clinch the series victory, while Hereward’s 360Cycling sealed the team win.
“My plan had been just to try stay patient, and keep as much in the legs as possible for the last lap,” Leeming told The British Continental. “I attacked on one of the shorter uphill kickers, as I felt it perhaps wasn’t such an obvious place to go as the longer ones.” The plan clearly worked.
“I’m really happy with the win as it had been a hard race that never really eased off at all. I have done a few Proper Northern rounds over the last couple of years, and there all really well organised events on great courses, so it was really nice to win one.”
Women’s race
The fine weather continued for the afternoon’s women’s race, with 8 laps of the circuit on the menu. Series leader Tammy Miller (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK), winner of the previous round at the Oakenclough Road Race, began the day as the favourite, but with near-rivals on the start sheet, only a solid placing was required to assure her of the series win.
With the temperatures rising, this was the definition of an attritional race.
Halfway through, there was still no breakaway, but with riders slipping off the bunch one by one, there were just 17 of the 24 starters left at the head of the race. With two laps remaining, it was down to 14 riders – and still no break.
In the lead group were Miller, positioned toward the front, four riders from Team Boompods including Elizabeth Hermolle, three from the Alba Development Road Team, Natalie Stevenson (Glasgow Ivy CC), Sarah Byrne (Tactic UK WRT), Olivia French (Stolen Goat RT), Sasha Dyke (London Academy), Grace Reynolds (Brother UK – Team OnForm) and Katherine Handy (Valley Striders CC).
With a lap and a half lap, French took advantage of a lull in the pace to attack, surging clear as the others hesitated. As the lap progressed, the group thinned still further. Just ten chasers were left as they took the bell, still some seconds behind French.
The 23-year-old Stolen Goat rider held off the chasers to take her ever first National B road race win. Her victory was all the more remarkable given that it was her maiden Nat B road race of the season.
Elizabeth Hermolle of Team Boompods won the the sprint for second place, ahead of London Academy’s Sasha Dyke. Tammy Miller sealed the individual series with fourth place, while Team Boompods secured victory in the series team standings.
“I think I was lucky the team with numbers were marking each other out of it,” French modestly told The British Continental after the race. “My game plan was for it not to be bunch sprint and I had some speed going over a rise when the bunch sat up so decided to go with a lap and a half to go.
“I really hope someone would come with me but I looked back and I had quite a big gap so just kept riding and didn’t really think I would hold on. I’m really happy to my first win!”
Results
Open race
Women’s race
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