Adam Howell (Muc-Off – SRCT – Storck) claimed his second National B road race win of the season with a well-timed attack on the final climb of Kennel Hill, sealing victory in the fourth edition of the Kennel Hill Classic.
In the afternoon, Lucy Lee (DAS-Hutchinson) emerged victorious from a messy, enthralling, and hard-fought edition of the women’s race.
Featured image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
Report
Open race
Formerly known as the RCR FatCreations Road Race, the Kennel Hill Classic has quickly established itself as a spring fixture on the domestic calendar. First run in 2022, the race is the brainchild of Portsdown Classic organiser Seb Ottley, who sought to revive one of British cycling’s forgotten landmarks: the 1982 World Championships circuit at Goodwood.
That year, Mandy Jones soloed to a famous rainbow jersey, becoming just the third British woman to win a world title. But the circuit, tucked between Chichester and the South Downs, had long since faded from the domestic racing scene. That changed with Ottley’s revival. Now in its fourth edition – and newly rebranded – the Kennel Hill Classic has become a hard-fought early-season target.
This year’s race nearly didn’t happen. A slow trickle of early entries put its future in doubt until a late surge in sign-ups – and a crucial financial contribution from Primo Race Team – secured its place on the calendar.
Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
Racing got off to an aggressive start. A six-rider break established itself early on, featuring: James Somerfield (Schils – Doltcini Racing Team), Jordan Giles (DAS-Richardsons), Luke Barfoot (Primera-TeamJobs), Ollie Hucks (TAAP Kalas), Joe Hill (Strada Wheels RT – Lucentsys) and Josh Housley (Primera-TeamJobs).
By the second time up Kennel Hill, the group held a gap of 1’10”. The steep gradient proved selective, however, with only Giles, Hucks, and Housley remaining out front as the race moved into its middle phase.
Behind, a large counterattack of 19 riders formed, led by Tom Heal (Raptor Factory Racing) and Adam Howell, with the peloton a further 30 seconds back. This group caaught the leaders, leaving a reduced leading bunch by the penultimate lap.
A few riders attempted to force a selection the penultimate time up Kennel Hill, but the elastic never quite snapped. That left the reduced group of 22 riders heading into the final ascent together.
Adam Howell wins. Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
It was there that Howell made his move. Timing his effort to perfection, the Muc-Off – SRCT – Storck rider attacked hard on the steepest part of the climb and quickly opened a gap. No one could follow. He held his advantage over the top and across the final run-in to take a clear win – his second National B victory of the year following stage 1 of the Peaks 2 Day earlier this month.
Oliver Curd (Primo RT) sprinted in for second, a strong result for a team that had played a key role in keeping the race alive this year. Callum Laborde (Aylsham Road Club) rounded out the podium, just ahead of Rowan Baker (Raptor Factory Racing), who had to settle for fourth this time.
Women’s race
The race began with a scare. Just moments before the flag dropped, a crash brought the bunch to a sudden halt. Organisers allowed riders to regroup and assess any damage. Mercifully, no one was seriously hurt, and all 34 starters were able to get going again. The disruption did little to calm the racing. As soon as the neutral flag was pulled in, the pace lifted, and by the first ascent of the Kennel Hill climb – a savage, twisting ramp with pitches of up to 10% – the damage was already being done. Only 25 riders remained in contention as they crested the hill for the first time.
Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
By the end of the second lap, a clear lead group of 15 had established itself, filled with familiar names and several teams with strength in numbers. Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team had five riders in the move, including Alex Morrice, Lucy Harris, Bexy Dew, Grace Reynolds and Lucy Gadd. They were joined by Molly Patch, riding as a private member, Katy Hill of VC Morteau, Elizabeth Hermolle and Lucy Lee of DAS-Hutchinson, Loughborough Lightning’s Elena Day, London Academy duo Savannah Morgan and Iona Mitchell, Montezuma’s Madeline Cooper, O’Shea Development Team rider Phoebe Roche, and Tesfay Trhas Teklehaimanot of the UCI’s World Cycling Centre team.
What followed was a race of steady attrition. On a circuit with barely a metre of flat road and no chance to hide, the elastic began to snap. By the end of the third lap, only 11 riders remained in the lead group. Still there were Hermolle, Lee, Morgan, Day, Patch, Hill, Cooper, and four of Smurfit Westrock’s original five – Harris, Gadd, Morrice and Dew – riding smart and staying in contention. The chasing groups behind were scattered, strung out and splintered, the peloton having long since ceased to exist as a coherent bunch.
The fourth lap brought more fireworks. Five riders – Hill, Hermolle, Morgan, Dew, and Patch – crested the hill with a small advantage over the rest. Behind them, a second group including Lee, Harris and Gadd chased hard, just 15 seconds back, with others from the former lead group not far behind. The race looked to be heading for a five-rider showdown – but Kennel Hill had other ideas.
Lee wins. Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
The final lap saw a reshuffling of the order. Gaps closed. Riders clawed their way back. By the time the leaders reached the foot of the final climb, the front group had swelled once again, with DAS-Hutchinson’s Lucy Lee among those back in contention. The effort didn’t dull her finish.
On the final drag up to the line, Lee launched a powerful sprint, surging clear of teammate Hermolle in the final metres to seal victory. Hermolle, who had animated the race throughout, crossed the line second. Morgan, so often on the front foot, took third, just ahead of Elena Day, who had ridden a gritty and consistent race.
Adam Howell (Muc-Off – SRCT – Storck) claimed his second National B road race win of the season with a well-timed attack on the final climb of Kennel Hill, sealing victory in the fourth edition of the Kennel Hill Classic.
In the afternoon, Lucy Lee (DAS-Hutchinson) emerged victorious from a messy, enthralling, and hard-fought edition of the women’s race.
Featured image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
Report
Open race
Formerly known as the RCR FatCreations Road Race, the Kennel Hill Classic has quickly established itself as a spring fixture on the domestic calendar. First run in 2022, the race is the brainchild of Portsdown Classic organiser Seb Ottley, who sought to revive one of British cycling’s forgotten landmarks: the 1982 World Championships circuit at Goodwood.
That year, Mandy Jones soloed to a famous rainbow jersey, becoming just the third British woman to win a world title. But the circuit, tucked between Chichester and the South Downs, had long since faded from the domestic racing scene. That changed with Ottley’s revival. Now in its fourth edition – and newly rebranded – the Kennel Hill Classic has become a hard-fought early-season target.
This year’s race nearly didn’t happen. A slow trickle of early entries put its future in doubt until a late surge in sign-ups – and a crucial financial contribution from Primo Race Team – secured its place on the calendar.
Racing got off to an aggressive start. A six-rider break established itself early on, featuring: James Somerfield (Schils – Doltcini Racing Team), Jordan Giles (DAS-Richardsons), Luke Barfoot (Primera-TeamJobs), Ollie Hucks (TAAP Kalas), Joe Hill (Strada Wheels RT – Lucentsys) and Josh Housley (Primera-TeamJobs).
By the second time up Kennel Hill, the group held a gap of 1’10”. The steep gradient proved selective, however, with only Giles, Hucks, and Housley remaining out front as the race moved into its middle phase.
Behind, a large counterattack of 19 riders formed, led by Tom Heal (Raptor Factory Racing) and Adam Howell, with the peloton a further 30 seconds back. This group caaught the leaders, leaving a reduced leading bunch by the penultimate lap.
A few riders attempted to force a selection the penultimate time up Kennel Hill, but the elastic never quite snapped. That left the reduced group of 22 riders heading into the final ascent together.
It was there that Howell made his move. Timing his effort to perfection, the Muc-Off – SRCT – Storck rider attacked hard on the steepest part of the climb and quickly opened a gap. No one could follow. He held his advantage over the top and across the final run-in to take a clear win – his second National B victory of the year following stage 1 of the Peaks 2 Day earlier this month.
Oliver Curd (Primo RT) sprinted in for second, a strong result for a team that had played a key role in keeping the race alive this year. Callum Laborde (Aylsham Road Club) rounded out the podium, just ahead of Rowan Baker (Raptor Factory Racing), who had to settle for fourth this time.
Women’s race
The race began with a scare. Just moments before the flag dropped, a crash brought the bunch to a sudden halt. Organisers allowed riders to regroup and assess any damage. Mercifully, no one was seriously hurt, and all 34 starters were able to get going again. The disruption did little to calm the racing. As soon as the neutral flag was pulled in, the pace lifted, and by the first ascent of the Kennel Hill climb – a savage, twisting ramp with pitches of up to 10% – the damage was already being done. Only 25 riders remained in contention as they crested the hill for the first time.
By the end of the second lap, a clear lead group of 15 had established itself, filled with familiar names and several teams with strength in numbers. Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team had five riders in the move, including Alex Morrice, Lucy Harris, Bexy Dew, Grace Reynolds and Lucy Gadd. They were joined by Molly Patch, riding as a private member, Katy Hill of VC Morteau, Elizabeth Hermolle and Lucy Lee of DAS-Hutchinson, Loughborough Lightning’s Elena Day, London Academy duo Savannah Morgan and Iona Mitchell, Montezuma’s Madeline Cooper, O’Shea Development Team rider Phoebe Roche, and Tesfay Trhas Teklehaimanot of the UCI’s World Cycling Centre team.
What followed was a race of steady attrition. On a circuit with barely a metre of flat road and no chance to hide, the elastic began to snap. By the end of the third lap, only 11 riders remained in the lead group. Still there were Hermolle, Lee, Morgan, Day, Patch, Hill, Cooper, and four of Smurfit Westrock’s original five – Harris, Gadd, Morrice and Dew – riding smart and staying in contention. The chasing groups behind were scattered, strung out and splintered, the peloton having long since ceased to exist as a coherent bunch.
The fourth lap brought more fireworks. Five riders – Hill, Hermolle, Morgan, Dew, and Patch – crested the hill with a small advantage over the rest. Behind them, a second group including Lee, Harris and Gadd chased hard, just 15 seconds back, with others from the former lead group not far behind. The race looked to be heading for a five-rider showdown – but Kennel Hill had other ideas.
The final lap saw a reshuffling of the order. Gaps closed. Riders clawed their way back. By the time the leaders reached the foot of the final climb, the front group had swelled once again, with DAS-Hutchinson’s Lucy Lee among those back in contention. The effort didn’t dull her finish.
On the final drag up to the line, Lee launched a powerful sprint, surging clear of teammate Hermolle in the final metres to seal victory. Hermolle, who had animated the race throughout, crossed the line second. Morgan, so often on the front foot, took third, just ahead of Elena Day, who had ridden a gritty and consistent race.
Results
Provisional results – updated 11.15, 31 March.
Open race
Women’s race
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