Cwmcarn Paragons cycling (From South Wales Argus)

Cwmcarn Paragons cycling

9:43pm Friday 3rd July 2009

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CWMCARN Paragon / Dudley Shopfitters / Pontllanfraith Carpets, star roadman Richard Harris, lined up with many of the top professional riders in the world to contest the British Elite Road Race Championship, at Abergavenny on Sunday 28th.

Riders like Cavendish, Miller, Thomas, Hammond, Froome and Wiggins were among those tackling the 200 kms of tough undulating Welsh roads, which included the fearsome climb of the Tumble and 10 high speed laps of a finishing circuit awaited, a big ask for an amateur club rider.

The blistering heat, fast pace and an early attack by Wiggins and Froome, shredded the field and as the riders toiled their way up the savage gradient of the Tumble, there was the welcome sight of the 'double-hard' Harris, still in contention.

As the race progressed towards the finishing circuit, the combination of miles, pace, heat and the professional peloton began to take its toll and the amateur withdrew from the race.

It had been a brave effort against riders that will be contesting the start of the Tour de France, at the weekend and one that Harris, can be proud of.

In the 120km Junior Championship race, former Cwmcarn rider Sam Harrison (Planet X ) rode to a fine 7th place overall.

The Town Centre Criterium on Friday night was one of mixed emotions for ever -improving Robbie Westwood.

Having ridden as superb attacking race and judging his powerful winning sprint finish to perfection, his joy at another brilliant win, turned to dismay as he was relegated to second place by strange bureaucratic technical decision that baffled both riders and spectators.

The previous Evening 10 event, saw Darren Morgan, the powerhouse Newport police officer, win the race with a personal best time for the distance.

This week he laid down the law in an even more convincing manner, winning again with another personal best ride, recording a super fast 22mins 30secs, ahead Matthew Jones, 22mins 35secs, Paul Chick, 22mins 45ses, a personal best, Danny Clifford, before returning to his day job as a serving marine, 24mins 20, a personal best, Barry McGregor, 27mins 30secs and a quite brilliant ride by young Jack Carpenter, who took over a minute off his previous best time to recorded 28mins 40secs.

Matthew Jones, exchanged his road for mountain bike, to contested the 4th round of the British Mountain Bike Series, in the New Forest (27 / 6). On a flat, rock hard course, the 4 lap race began at a furious pace and continued with no let up until the finishing line, where the multi-talented Cwmcarn rider crossed it in his best ever position in the Series, a brilliant 5th overall. Anthony O'Boyle, finished an excellent 15th in the 8 lap Elite race and Ross Porter, a fine 8th, in the Vet's event.

Robbie Westwood, soon put the disappointment of the Abergavenny Criterium, far behind him, as next day he was performing superbly in the B. C. National Omnium, Midland Division event at Newcastle-Under- Lyne. Competing in the Scratch, Points, Keirin and 800mts T.T, he won all his events and goes through to the National finals, which take place in August, at the Manchester Velodrome. Joining him will be club colleague and another star of the future Owen Thomas, who finished in 7th place overall.

Former British Mountain Bike Champion, Simon Jenkins, is slowly getting himself back into competitive mode, with another fine ride in the LVRC Series, winning his age category in the 45mile race.

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