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| Date | Race Report |
|---|---|
| 03-09-2008 | Edgar makes it Three in a Row! Finchley Racing's Colombian rider Edgar Medellin continued his fine end-of-season form, making it three in a row at the Hillingdon Circuit on last Wednesday. Part of a breakaway group which also included Costas Periedes and Andy Cullinane, Edgar made a lone effort with 4 laps of the circuit to go, but was caught on the last lap due to the efforts of the strong "Quest" team. Undaunted, he went for a long one in the Sprint for the line, comfortably winning ahead of Colin Roshier of the Quest. This weekend, Edgar will compete in the Veteran's Championships in West Yorkshire, so let's see if he can make it Four in a Row! |
| 27-08-2008 | Edgar does it Again! Another triumph for Finchley Racers Colombian , Edgar Medellin, with a lone win for the second consecutive race at the Hillingdon circuit last Wednesday. The 40 mile race was fast and eventful, and the decisive move came with 7 laps to go, when Finchley's John McMillan made a solo attack. He was soon joined by Edgar and three other riders, but the main bunch was chasing the breakaway down when Edgar made an attack with 3 laps to go. Although he was caught by the breakaway group, which was then caught by the bunch, Edgar made a brilliantly timed effort on the last lap, catching the main field napping, and soloed to victory. Actual Press Report |
| 27-07-2008 | Finchley Racing Team finally arrive at Pisa airport Italy after a 7 month wait and a 2.30am start from Stanstead airport. 7 riders and 2 partners are collected and driven to Pascia in the heart of Tuscany. The temp is hot. We arrive at the hotel and the first thing we do is make up our bikes, ready for a ride. We have lunch in an old flower market which has a restaurant in it. 4pm we head off into the hills. After 3km of riding the road veers up for 12km to a small town called Vallone where our host lives. The climb starts off steep but ease's near the top, just as well as I was suffering. We go on a little further and meet up with the locals for a quick exchange of hand signals and book the local restaurant for the night. The next day we race. Saturday and we pack our bikes and head west to the race. All entries are on the line and all you need is a BC licence. We arrive in a place called Pratta in the middle of no-were. Its 9 euros to enter and you race in your age group range. The Italians are amused by our foreign names and try pronounce then unsuccessfully. We change in the fields where are cars are parked. A quick ride up the road and we head off to the start line. Over 200 riders split into 2 groups. The team colours are fascinating form bright orange and gold lettering to zebra strips. Loads of teams and team cars everywhere. Its 95f and the first of 22km x 4laps awaits us. The circuit is flat and fast with a 3km gentle climb to the finish. The first lap is run at 27.4mph. The roads are closed and police are everywhere, so are the riders. A well disciplined bunch without any riding problems but there's a lot shouting in the bunch. The next 2 laps sees riders clipping of the front and getting pulled back with speeds of nearly 40mph on the flats. I couldn't take any more and pulled out on the last lap. 2 others form the team had also pulled out Nick and Avi. Up the finishing climb came the first group of riders with Werner in the 2nd group about 15th place, sprinting for a placing in his age group. The next group 15 minutes behind, was split in to 3 groups with Edgar in the 2nd group finishing 6 in his age group just in front and then the bunch with Costa and Steve. What a great experience. We drank all the water we could get our hands on and had our photos taken. Will we be back next year............................with a stronger team I think so. Now we know how the system works and how fit we need to be, more sauna training, will come back for a win. We go training the next day and then pack to come home. Arrive at my door at 3am and up for work the next day at 9am, not a good start........................... I could have got some of this wrong forgive me but to the best of my knowledge this is how I saw it. |
| 13-07-2008 | It was left to Finchley Racing Team's "Golden Oldie" - John McMillan to score this weekend. John took off at 6 miles to go to win the Deal CC Veterans Criterium (Short Race) held on the former site of the Betteshanger Colliery in deepest Kent, relegating a classy field of Veterans by holding a lead of 12 seconds on a sunny , windswept day. John now moves into 2nd place in the season-long "Tricot Jersy" series, only one point behind the leader. Meanwhile in Essex, the "Divine" Vince and other from the team were taking on the might of the Essex Elites, with Vince leading the guys in with an 8th place. Vince was in the thick of the chase from the very start, and found the energy to move into the leading group with only 5 miles to go, paying for his efforts only in the final sprint. |
| 06-07-2008 | Experience and Panache Wins the Finchley Racing Team Promotion. Experience told in the Finchley Racing Team's 65 miles promotion held on the South Mimms circuit on Sunday. Run off on conditions more akin to March than July, the race was enlivened by a two-man breakaway effort from the 55 strong field,which ended when the main bunch caught up at one lap to go. Immediately, Ken Baker of Colchester Rovers, at 48 yrs, twice the age of most of the field, attacked alone and held a 12 seconds gap to the finish, despite gale-force winds and torrential rain showers. A perfectly timed move which paid off. Earlier in the week, Andy Cullinane won a fast circuit race at the Hillingdon purpose-built circuit, catching a 4-man breakaway effort with 2 laps to go, then attacking with another rider and convincingly winning the Sprint. |
| 06-07-2008 | Paul Simon Homes RR - Finchley RT (ERRL) - British Cycling Website or checkout event on Paul Simon Homes RR - Finchley RT (ERRL)- Event on Facebook, (interactive) |
| 22-06-2008 | A Big Weekend for Finchley Racing Team! The Finchley Racers, sponsored by local property developer, Paul Simon Homes, scored big last weekend. On the Team Economic Race held on the Rodings circuit in Essex, The "Divine" Vince won from a group of three, after bridging up to the leaders and then launching an attack at 10 miles to go. Team-mate Werner Ottto and one other rider joined Vince, and he was easily able to win the sprint, helped by some tactical riding by Werner. Not to be outdone, new member Phil Shean won the bunch sprint for 4th place, whilst Trevor Burke was unfortunate to crash - the second time in 10 days! Edgar Medellin, one of our Colombians, placed 3rd in the sprint points contest. Over in Kent, John McMillan won the Veterans Regional Criterium (Short circuit) Championship, breaking away alone early in the wind-swept race, and lapping all of the field except one to win by over a minute. John is now off to a 5-day ride over the Italian Dolomites Mountains, sampling the local cuisines as he goes... :-) Next important date for the Finchley Racers is July 6th, when the Club will promote their annual Road Race on the South Mymms circuit, over 70 miles, for Category 3/4 riders. |
| 08-06-2008 | The "Old Stager" wins again! This weekend it was the turn of Finchley Racing's "Golden Oldie", John McMillan to win. Riding near Guildford on the "Kingston Classic" race of 52 miles, John was present in every breakaway attempt in a lively race with over 40 starters. As the race closed in on the finish, John took off at about 2 miles to the line, holding a short lead even up the fearsome hill on which the race finished. Other Finchley Racers were in action at the Elite Smithfield Nocturne on Saturday night, where Werner Otto finished 8th, and the Beccles 81-miler, with Vince Divine just missing the top 10 at 11th. |
| 01-06-2008 | The Finchley Racers got back to Winning ways this weekend. At the Finsbury Park Veterans Road Race, held on the Tips Cross course in Essex, over 52 mls, Costas Periedes won his age class, with Nick Faint just behind him in 2nd. The race had a field of over 60 starters, with breaks going and being caught all the way, finally coming down to a mass bunch sprint. Meanwhile, at the Eastern Division Championships, held "Over the Jumps" at Newmarket, our Star Vince Divine had to settle for 7th, and Werner Otto for 10th, after being involved in two breakaways over the 85mls race, against the cream of riders from the South East. |
| 26-05-2008 | With a rash of race cancellations this (Soggy) weekend, the only Finchley Racer to shine was Veteran Trevor ("Desperate Dan") Burke . Riding in the Veterans Criterium (Short Circuit) Championships at the Milton Keynes Bowl, Trevor managed 5th in his age group, chasing down a race-long breakaway group and catching them in the final 200 meters of the race, only for another rider who had contributed nothing to the chase to fly past and pip everyone on the line! Trevor says "His cards have been marked" Press Report |
| 17-05-2008 | Wins eluded the Finchley Racing Team this weekend, but our fast-improving South African, Werner Otto, came close at the Essex Criterium held at the Ford Test Track at Dunton, coming 2nd, in the leading breakaway group, from a 60+ field. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Essex, at the Andrews Trophy Race held over 80 miles at East Hanningfield, our Colombian Star Edgar Medellin finished 8th from a classy field of riders much younger than him, having been in all the breakaway groups in a fast and turbulent race. Next week, on the Holiday Monday, John McMillan will be going for the National over-50's Criterium Championship at the Milton Keynes Bowl. |
| 11-05-2008 | More than the weather was hot this weekend - so were the Finchley Racers/Paul Simon Homes! In the Lea Valley race in Essex, run over 90miles, our new Colombian rider, Johnny Torres, claimed 3rd after a race-long breakaway, with Edgar Medellin in 10th place and Vince Divine in 15th. This result means that Finchley Racing now heads the Essex Road Racing league table, and also that Vince heads up the individual classification! Meanwhile, way up to'North in Huntingdon, Costas Pierides grabbed 6th place in the Anglo Polymers race over 60 miles, and Peirs Brown continued a meteoric career progression from neophyte to local star in 10th place, in a hard-fought race on a difficult, nervous, circuit. Even the mid-week racing was hot - Andy Cullinane and Edgar were part of a group chasing the race-long breakaway at the Hillingdon circuit on Wednesday, with Costas and John McMillan in hot pursuit! Actual Press Report |
| 04-05-2008 | This weekend saw the Finchley Racers in action at the Festival Road Race, held over 85 miles on a course round High Roding in Essex. Once again, Vince Divine was in the thick of the action, as both he and Edgar Medellin chased and caught a 10-man breakaway group, which split in two towards the halfway stage of the race. Vince claimed 4th, after suffering cramp in the last mile, with Edgar Medellin, Daryl Gannon and our latest Colombian racer, Johnny Torres finishing in the main bunch 2 minutes behind. Andy Cullinane was also in action over at the Ford Test Track at Dunton, with the rest of the Club doing a long training ride over Whipsnade and Ivinghoe Beacon in Bedfordshire. Earlier in the week, neophyte Piers Brown climbed from 4th Category Licence to 3rd, with a fine 4th placing in a windy and rain-swept race at Hillingdon. |
| 27-04-2007 | Finchley Racing Team continued their victorious ways on Sunday - "Elder Statesman" - ex-professional John McMillan won the over-50's race at the Epsom Grand Prix, held at Leigh in West Sussex, breaking away with 10 miles to go, and coming home with over a minutes advantage. And this despite having forgotten his racing shorts and having to borrow another pair from a competing team! Andy Cullinane and Kevin Elderfield competed in the younger mans race, both finishing in the leading group of 25 riders. Over at the Dunton circuit in Essex, The Divine "Vince" was in action, with our South African Werner Otto, with Werner finishing 3rd after a race-long breakaway, with Trevor Burke claiming in 6th and Vince in 10th, in a race full of moves and counter-moves. Edgar Medellin raced in the AW Spring RR which was held over 120KM with some stiff opposition E/1/2 with the likes of Tony Gibbs, who has been racing over in California. Racing in singleton against the Plowman Craven Racing Team. Tony Gibb launched a final attack on a steep hill on the final lap and could not manage to maintain the pace. Richard Preble launched the counter attack and Edgar went with the move, making it to the end, on to be pipped on the line. An 11th position makes it Edgar's best performance for the season so far. |
| 21-04-2007 | Finchley Racing Team, sponsored by Paul Simon Homes, returned to Winning ways on Sunday, with a divine (Ouch!) result by Vince Divine in winning the Revolution Series Race at picturesque Layer de la Haye in Essex. Vince bridged the gap to an early breakaway group on the last lap of the 70 miles race, and won the sprint by several bike lengths. Other "Finchley's" in the same race were not so lucky. Trevor Burke and Edgar Medellin punctured early in the race, and Darryl Gannon had to misfortune to crash in the last 200 yards - but only injuring his pride.... Over at the Ford Test Track at Dunton, Andy Cullininane finished 2nd after a race-long breakaway, lapping the field. And in darkest Sussex, Stavros Socratous (No relation) and "Elder Statesman" John McMillan competed against some younger lads just old enough to have been their children in the Archer Spring Classic...'nuff said... Actual Press Report . Our South African, Werner Otto entered the E/1/2/3 race and manged to come second after James Jackson a Plowman Craven Racing Team. This moved Werner to 2nd Category by gaining 25 points. |
| 14-04-2007 | As the Cycling season clicks up a gear, and Spring arrives (Well,that's the theory) Finchley Racing Team,sponsored by local housing developer Paul Simon Homes has been ranging far and wide in search of more victories. Starting with neophyte riders Piers Brown 5th place at Hillingdon just over a week ago, followed by Wednesday night at the Hillingdon Circuit, with Kevin Elderfield placing 4th and Andy Cullinane 7th, both in a race-long breakaway group. Fast forward to Saturday at the Dunton circuit, where Trevor Burke finished a terrific 4th riding against some of the best Elite riders in Essex, not bad for a 45-year-old! Sunday saw the "Veterans" racing at Thaxted in Essex, with fine grouping by Kevin, Trevor and Andy placing 4/5/6th...1/2/3rd would have been much nicer :-). Werner and Daryll did the Cat 3/4 race with Werner coming in 6th and Daryll 11th. It was left to the Club's ""Elder Statesman" Ex-Pro John McMillan to claim the weekend's highest placing, 2nd in the over-50's race. And finally, not far away in Saffron Waldon, Vince Devine and Edgar Medellin came 7/8th respectively, in another race against Elite category riders on a hilly course. |
| 06-04-2008 | Despite the atrocious conditions, the Finchley Racers gave a good account of themselves on Sunday, at the Maldon Road Races, in Essex. In the Category 3/4 event, one of our South Africans, Werner Otto, finished 2nd only just behind the vastly more experienced Dominic Schils, an ex-professional from Belgium. These two riders were chasing a lone leader, who all but collapsed from hypothermia on the last lap. Only 13 riders finished out of a field of 60 starters. In the Elite event for top class riders, Trevor Burke finished 9th in the leading bunch, despite racing against riders half his age. Again, only 12 out of 50 starters finished. Both races were run off in almost constant snow showers and near-freezing temperatures. Let's hope Spring makes a comeback for next weekend!" Actual Press Report |
| 24-03-2008 | Despite the atrocious weekend weather, Finchley Racing scored another victory on Monday, at the Bell Temme Memorial race, held over 35 miles on the Dunton circuit. Racing was fast and furious, with many breakaway attempts through the frequent snow showers, but it all came down to a wind-assisted bunch finish, with Finchley Racing's Trevor Burke getting his first ever win from a group of 30+ riders, and maintaining Finchley Racing's 100% record on this circuit, for 2008. Costas Periedes finished in 6th, with Edgar Medellin 9th. |
| 16-03-2008 | Finchley Racing Team scored their first win of the season, with an impressive 1-2 in the first of the Spring Criterium Series, run under heavy rain at the Ford Motor company Test Track, Dunton, Essex, on Sunday. Our Colombian Rider, Edgar Medellin, won ahead of Andy Cullinane, with Costas Pierides backing them up in 5th place, on this 1.8mile circuit which normally sees Mondeos and Focuses screaming round the steep bankings - this time the only noise was that of heavy breathing...... Meanwhile, over in Suffolk, Vince Divine distinguished himself with a sixth place in the Ed Taylor Memorial, run over 60 miles at Thurlow, from a field of 80 riders. |
| 01-03-2008 | Finchley RT Criteriums |
