The snow in Suffolk was much lighter, giving more grip on the course compared to the previous very muddy rounds at Mistley and Redbridge. The cold also meant the sand banks were much firmer and so partly rideable. Usually sand makes running very slow, especially as the bike is carried on the shoulder.
A quality field lined up for the main Open race and Colchester's Ben Paton of Amis Velo RT-Solo Scaffolding began well from the second row of the starting grid. Avoiding a crash on the first corner, he settling in behind the early leaders.
Some attacking racing at the front led to small gaps that were difficult to close and Nathan Miller (Elmy Cycles XRT) went clear with Andrew Nichols (Cambridge University CC). They could not be separated until the sprint finish, where Miller crossed the line first but was penalised for riding Nichols into a bush who was awarded the victory.
Paton followed in the chasers less than two minutes later, finishing in an excellent eighth place overall and taking the prize for first Elite Veteran (40+). This catapulted him from sixth to second position in the league standings, with just two of the 13 counting races left.
Ivan Burch of Velo Schils Interbike also rode very well to 15th place and sixth Elite Veteran spot. The penultimate round of the league is at Foxhall Stadium in Ipswich on 2 January.
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