Lewis Balyckyi Memorial Criterium Race 21st April

 One of the main objectives of the day was to raise as much money as possible for the Lewis Balyckyi trust fund. A fund set up in memory of a local rider that lost his life in a tragic road traffic incident near Preston in Lancashire in January 2011. 

The weather remained kind with long periods of sunshine but there was a strong and rather cold northerly wind blowing throughout the day. After the lunchtime interval, preparations were made for the 3/4 category Regional C+ circuit race over 1 hour and 5 laps. The race began at 14.30 with 47 pre-entries and 9 entries on the day taking the total field to 56.

All of Southport CC's junior riders took part in this event with myself, Clayton Howard & Mark Mcgavock. Right from the start of the race, there was attack after attack with quite a few riders, including myself trying their luck to establish a break away during the early stages of the race. Most of the attacks were chased down and easily caught. As the circuit was only 1 kilometre in length with 2 hairpin corners, I had decided before the start of the race to stay near the front of the bunch in order to stay away from any crashes. Despite not having the advantage of much drafting, I am glad to say it worked. There was 2 crashes, one involving a crank arm touching the tarmac around the hairpin corner and the other involving an inevitable touch of wheels. The decisive move of the race came at the mid-point when 6 riders broke clear. I was disappointed not to have bridged the gap, but that is racing. Of these six were two Youth A riders with dispensation: Matt Gibson who won the Under 16 event in the morning and talent team rider Sean McGovern. The pace was consistently high, reaching up to 33.4mph. With the peloton working on the front to bring back numerous break aways, everyone decided to let a break go and the pace calmed down a little bit.

 Coming around the last hairpin corner, the sprint started to open up. With everyone in their biggest gear we all hammered it to the finish line! In the final sprint, Karl Weatherall of Hinckley Cycle Racing Club got the better of the break and crossed the line a few bike lengths ahead of Ian Earnshaw of Liverpool Mercury and Youth A rider Matt Gibson of Warrington RC.

 I finished 14th out of 56 riders, with Mark finishing 20th, followed closely by Clayton in 24th position. My Garmin showed that I had covered 24.28 miles in 59 minutes 5 seconds at an average speed of 24.7mph.

 

Lewis Balyckyi Memorial Criterium Race - Garmin File