Sprint finish success

SIMON ROWE won the bunch sprint to take the honours in the final round of the Guernsey Velo Club's Easter cycling event. That win also gave him the category one classification win in the KPMG-sponsored event.

Second over the line after five laps of the 7.75-mile Pleinmont circuit was Ann Bowditch - her best finish in a senior Guernsey Velo Club road race.

Also in the seven-strong bunch sprint was Chris Le Page: his third place was enough to secure the overall elite category title.

The elite and category one riders starting together. Elite leader Le Page had a two-minutes advantage, while Rowe was 40sec. to the good.

Bowditch and Alan Rowe were the first to show their hand, setting a blistering pace up Pleinmont hill, but the bunch were quick reacting to every move.

Lap three saw Mike Brehaut and Nick Mann attack from the bottom of L'Eree hill but, again, the bunch worked hard to bring the pair back.

In the closing laps Rowe again attacked up the hill but the lone rider was chased down once more.

With everything set for a sprint finish, it was Rowe who took the spoils from Bowditch with Chris Le Page in third.

Category two was a close battle between Ian Scholes and Dave Gallienne.

With the action hotting up on the descent of L'Eree hill, Gallienne took briefly to the gutter, crashing out of the duel, but Scholes showed impeccable etiquette by waiting for the injured rider.

Scholes was keen to see the favour returned but Gallienne had other ideas out-sprinting the good Samaritan to hold on to the overall victory.

The category three riders set off with Michael Serafin keen to keep his unbeaten record, but John Mapley and Aidan Stanford had other ideas.

The trio were joined by the much-improved Jonathan Dorey, competing in his first season of senior road racing. In a tightly-contested sprint, Stanford edged out John Mapley with Serafin third.

The Under-14 riders competed a one-lap time-trial, Nathan Baudains the victor in 23.38, thereby completing a victory in the overall standings from Gary Robert with Daniel Ingrouille third.

Peter Lee continued his domination of the Under-16 category with victory from Karl Robert with Charles Lowe third.

Easter Sunday had seen the riders take to the track at Delancey Park for the criterium, sponsored by David J Gallienne.

In a change to the usual format, riders first tackled two laps of the track solo.

Rowe added to his tally of wins with in 1min. 49sec., with Mann in second. Following the solo run, riders returned to the multi-lap race format.

Category one and elite riders left together but with just 15 laps the race was a tightly controlled with any sign of a break brought swiftly back to the pack.

The sprint was won by Marcus Elliott who pulled clear of Le Page. The latter regained control of the leader's jersey with Terry Wright sitting this race out.

Gallienne took control of category two with a superb display in the criterium. Making a break with five laps remaining, he stretched his lead to win comfortably from Andrew Colver with Ben Walden third.

Division Three saw Serafin continue his domination with a fine win over Stanford. Sam Nichols won the sprint of the day from Mapley to retain second in the standings

The Under 16s race ended in a sprint finish: Charles Lowe took the honours due to his earlier result in the solo event, finishing six seconds ahead of Peter Lee.

Nathan Baudains extended his lead in the under 14 category from Gary Robert with Daniel Ingrouille in third.