House Wraps Up Series With Third Win
Images & Report: Andrew Kennedy

Kristian House (Recycling.co.uk) rounded off an outstanding season in the Premier Calendar series with his third win in seven events in the final round, the Tour of Pendle.

House had already clinched the series, but he and his Recycling.co.uk team (which finished with six wins in the series) were in no mood to relax and dominated the event.

Chris Newton shrugged off his previous week's crash, in the AA Brown race, to follow team-mate House over the line, whilst last week's winner and former series winner Mark Lovatt recorded his best finish in this year's series with third place.

The day started cold and blustery, although heavy overnight rain had not affected the road conditions, which were dry and in excellent condition. The 80 starters set off into a strong headwind as they rode through the neutralised section. On reaching the main circuit the attacks began, and when the race passed through the small village of Padiham Matthew Stephens (Sigmasport) was at the head of a group of 15 riders which had gained a 20 second lead.

At the start in Barnoldswick some riders had been talking about the climb out of Blacko, and they were about to find out for themselves just how difficult it was. The village of Blacko is at the foot of the 10km climb towards Rimington. A fierce headwind was blowing straight down the valley, and as the riders began the ascent they were strung out in a long line across the road. The Police motor cyclists from the National Escort Group did an excellent job in performing a rolling road closure, mainly as practice for the forthcoming Tour of Britain, and the Tour of Pendle riders took full advantage, echoloning across both carriageways of the road.

As the race passed through the second feed zone at Chatburn, Mark Lovatt (PlanetX RT) led the 15 man break, with Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk) and Matthew Stephens (Sigmasport) sharing the work at the front. Local man Ian Wilkinson (SIS) was also in the break, and trailing off the back was Kristain House (Recycling).

Robin Sharman (Recycling.co.uk) was setting the pace up the second ascent of Blacko with a decisive break in the field. The lead group now whittled down to 12 riders, with the main field over 3 minutes in arrears and being policed by a trio of Recycling riders at the front.

At the start of the final climb attacks by Mark Lovatt (Planet X RT) had reduced the lead group to four riders, Lovatt, Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk), James Williamson (Agisko-Dart) and Robin Sharman (Recycling.co.uk). They had a gap of 31 seconds on the next group of riders that contained Kristain House (Recycling.c.uk), Matt Stephens (Sigmasport), Alex Highman (Agisko-Dart), Duncan Urquhart (Agisko-Dart), Ian Wilkinson (SIS) and Matt Talbot (Glendene CC).

On the relentless climb towards Rimington, House received instructions from team boss John Herety to attempt to bridge the gap to the leaders. 30 seconds up the road, and into a strong headwind it was going to be a very difficult task to get across. House launched his attack, and rode strongly up the climb, and caught the leaders near the summit.

As the leaders left the main circuit to begin the final 8km to the finish, team Recycling had again stamped their authority on the Premier Calendar series. Series leader Kristian House and team mate Chris Newton outnumbered the other teams in the group, with Lovatt, Williamson and Stephens, House was obviously on form and had shown his strength with the awesome lone climb of Blacko to catch the leaders.

The crowd of spectators had gathered outside the Rolls Royce sports ground on the outskirts of Barnoldswick as the leaders came into view, with Recycling jerseys leading the line. Kristain House took an easy win from Chris Newton with Mark Lovatt third.

Taking a maximum 100 points for the win at the Tour of Pendle gave House the overall win in the Premier Calendar series. During the post race interviews he told reporters he was pleased with his win, and delighted at winning the Premier Calendar series. He was also quick to acknowledge the efforts of his strong team, and said he was now looking forward to riding the Tour of Britain.

1 Kristian House Recycling.co.uk 3.30.41
2 Chris Newton Recycling.co.uk 3 secs
3 Mark Lovatt Planet X RT 7 secs
4 James Williamson Agisko/Dart/Cycling.tv 11 secs
5 Matthew Stephens Sigmasport 26 secs
6 Alex Highman Agisko/Dart/Cycling.tv 30 secs
7 Robin Sharman Recycling.co.uk 33 secs
8 Duncan Urquhart Agisko/Dart/Cycling.tv 37 secs
9 Matt Talbot Glendene CC 37 secs
10 Evan Oliphant Recycling.co.uk 2.50
11 Kevin Dawson Agisko/Dart/Cycling.tv 2.50
12 Dale Appleby Recycling.co.uk 4.12
13 Matthew Higgins JE James RT 4.12
14 Ian Wilkinson SIS 4.12
15 Gary Hand Agisko/Dart/Cycling.tv 4.12
16 Mark Wordsworth JE James RT 5.37
17 Mike Harrison Sigmasport RT 5.37
18 Dion Black Red Kite Cycles 5.37
19 Peter Bissell Artic-Shorter Rochford RT 5.41
20 James Stewart Le Coq Sportif - Dolan SIS 5.41
21 Chris Bartlett Gendene CC 5.44
22 Gary Adamson Kuota/Biemme 5.44
23 Stephen Feeney Chester RC 5.44
24 Not identified
25 Richard Kent SIS 5.44
26 David Ebbrell Blackburn & Dist CTC 5.44
27 Richard Sykes-Popham Glendene CC 5.44
28 Ben Prochee Rapha Condor 5.44
29 Danny Axford Artic-Shorter Rochford RT 5.44
30 Shaun Snodden Recycling.co.uk 5.44