The Recycling.co.uk team made a fine job of the East Riding Classic this year, in particular the Downing Brothers who expertly contrived a brilliant win, Russell coming in first to a good crowd at the finish in New Walk, Beverley.
The Mayor and Mayoress of Beverley led the field to the westwood.
Once the field was through the Westwood it got off to a fairly rapid start but 10 miles hadn't been covered before Dean Downing decided to stir things up. He was quickly joined by another five riders, Tom Southam, Anthony Malarczyk, Matthew Stephens, Leigh Cowell and the Yorkshire road champion Martin Ford. Quite a group but what was left behind was perhaps more formidable.
Malarczyk was there for the King of the Hills trophy and he soon began to dominate - first up Londesborough, then up Huggate first the first two laps and all three times up the Warter climb. Downing might well have challenged him but he had a better plan.
The lead group continued to stay away, losing Cowell second time up Warter, and were always at about a minute's advantage - most I think was 1.20. The bunch behind were playing a waiting game and riding tempo - a fast tempo that only saw off the unfit and inexperienced.
After the three laps of Huggate and Warter it was out to Nunburnholme and it was here that Tom Southam decided to go it alone. It was such a determined effort and would surely have won him a Most Aggressive rider award had there been one. It was, however, a bit too far; when he topped the Arras climb with about a half minute lead he was beginning to feel the strain. You could see it in his face as he asked how far it was to the finish. The remaining four members of the break kept slightly ahead of the peloton and it wasn't until over the top of the last climb, Trundlegate, that things began to happen.
The Planet X and Pinarello boys decided it was time to move and made a big effort to bring back the escapees. But the Downing brothers put their plan into action and off the front went Russell making a lone break into Beverley. And it worked.
Hats off to Russell Downing who scored a brilliant win, It was good to see Malcolm Elliot and John Tanner sprinting much better than anyone else for second and third. A good King of the Mountains for Anthony Malarczyk - it would have been nice to see someone else challenging, but he did a good job with Dean Downing second and Tom Southam third.
With Russell Downing first, Dean Downing 4th and Shaun Snodden in 26th place, the Recycling .co.uk team took the team prize from Parrot Print RT.
Stephen Ward, the 21 year old rider from the Pete Read team, came in fifth and took the Under 23 prize, the first 1st Category Rider prize and the best East Yorkshire rider prize. Now that was a good ride in such company.
2004 Results
- Russell Downing, Re-cycling.co.uk
- Malcolm Elliott, Pinarello RT
- John Tanner, Planet X
- Dean Downing, Re-cycling.co.uk
- Stephen Ward, Pete Read Racing
- Evan Oliphant, Team Velo Ecosse
- Mike Harrison, Cyclestore.co.uk
- Dave Worthington Prestige VC
- John Charlesworth Bannatyne CRT
- Tim Dunford Hargrove Cycles
- Alastair Kay York Cycleworks
- Andrew Roche Team Maestro
- Mark Wordsworth Doncaster Wheelers
- Mike Jones Pinarello RT
- Anthony Malarcyck Ridley RT
- Steven Higgins J E James RT
- Andy Lyons Parrot Print
- Paul Oldham Giant RT
- Jeffrey Capper Cyclestore.co.uk
- Gareth Hewitt J E James RT
- Danny Axford Parrot Print
- Luke Bettany Kingsnorth International Wheelers
- Martin Ford Race Scene
- Roy Chamberlain Team Milton Keynes
- Alex Coutts Flanders A fin.com
- Shaun Snodden Re-cycling.co.uk
- Robin Sharman Re-cycling.co.uk
- Bryan Pool Anderson Racing
- Ross Adams Red Kite
- Matthew Armitage Race Scene
- Richard Eastham Primera-Bournemouth
- Christian Varley Team Isle of Man
- Paul Butler Prestige VC
- Mike Kiss J E James RT
- Matt Melville VC St. Raphael
- Andrew Stuart BC East Midlands Div
- James Flanagan Team Milton Keynes
- Glen Turnbull Bannatyne CRT
- Adam Weaver Doncaster Wheelers
- Mark Lovatt Planet X
- Keith Haddon Parrot Print
- Chris Green Doncaster Wheelers
- Richard Wilkinson Anglia Sport
- Matthew Stephens Sigma Sport
- Matthew Sewell Cyclestore.co.uk
- Jim Bayley Arctic-Shorter Rochford
- Kevin Dawson Planet X
- Roger Morgan Parrot Print
- Ben Greenwood Re-cycling.co.uk
- Steve Kenny Bannatyne CRT
- James Dobbin Arctic-Shorter Rochford
- Luke Myers Team Axiom
- Tom Southam Amore-e-Vita
- Ian Wilkinson Giant RT
- Martin Smith Team Milton Keynes
- Martin Wheeldon Doncaster Wheelers
- Rob Enslin Prestige VC
- Andy Hayton Wi-Lec Panoramic
- Andrew Rigg Prestige VC
- Jack Hill BUSA
- Daniel Keena Cottingham Couriers
- Tom Kirk BUSA
- David Shackleton Hull Thursday
- Adam Mitchell Wi-Lec Panoramic
- Steve Gibson Bannatyne CRT
- Leigh Cowell Ribble Valley CRC
- Adrian Bird Arctic-Shorter Rochford
- George Richardson Ritchey Cycles
- Nigel Haigh Wakefield CC
Team
- Re-cycling.co.uk
- J E James RT
- Cyclestore.co.uk
Under 23 Prize
- Stephen Ward Pete Read Racing
1st Cat
- Stephen Ward Pete Read Racing
2nd Cat
- Chris Green Doncaster Wheelers
3rd Cat
- Martin Wheeldon Doncaster Wheelers