Chris in yellow.

Paul writes: According to the official race “blurb” today’s stage was “Dreamland”! Everything one wants for a great stage race – if you’re a spectator”. I’m not sure the riders would agree with you, but the small field of riders took to the roads of the Ashdown Forest for the final stage of this years Surrey Revolutions 5 Day.

Around the changing rooms I heard four different weather forecasts for the coming day so just decided to wait and see. I only needed my brolly once (which I promptly left behind but was kindly returned by the Colemans - thanks).

Firstly it was seven laps of the Ladies Mile circuit and for the first few laps it was Wildside’s Simon McNamara, brother of overall leader Chris who did some long turns on the front keeping the pace high to discourage any breaks, something he would suffer for later on in the stage. Eventually though it was one of the aggressive Kinesis RT riders, Peter Williams, who attacked and opened a gap.

Next lap Gary Hand, Daf Dylan and Richard Cartland had detached and were closing on the lone leader, although only Cartland was a threat to the overall lead. As the field came through it was again Simon McNamara setting the pace.
On to the climb up through Ashdown Forest and the lone leader had been joined by the three chasers with KOM leader Matthew Higgins and Surrey League’s Andrew Bye trying to cross from the pack. The field was brought up by race leader Chris McNamara, Simon now having been distanced.

Simon's last turn.

Following the long climb through the forest and the ensuing descent, it was onto the wall and as usually happens on this nasty climb the field began to split, but not as badly as in other years, with most riders being able to regroup on the long descent each lap.
Matthew Higgins was off in pursuit of more KOM points and as it later transpired, more points for the Green Jersey as well..
Near the head of the chasers it was Chris McNamara closely followed by one time points leader Gary Dodd, with the remainder of the field remaining pretty much intact.

Three or four riders were beginning to feel the pace now. A special mention here about Addiscombe CC’s George Brent. Riding a five day is hard enough, but at the end of your first season it must even more daunting but, each day, he would be there usually grinning (I did suggest he was grimacing with pain but was assured it was a smile!!) He was struggling towards the end of this final stage but even managed a laugh and a raised arm as he crossed the finish line having been turned short (as several riders were) so as not to finish too far behind.

More to come from this young man I think in another couple of seasons.
Each time up the wall, looking surprisingly untroubled by the gradient, it was Matthew Higgins adding to his KOM total.

Chris on the front alone now.

At the finish line it was Daf Dylan who took the victory just ahead of Matthew Higgins, the line just a little too far from the top of the last climb for Higgins which meant that he wasn’t able to add to his two stage wins. The rest of the main contenders finished one minute and forty three down on the winner and after a few quick calculations Chris McNamara realised he had taken the overall victory as the two leaders weren’t any threat overall.

An excellent five days or racing and from what was said during the race it was five days of “racing”. Speaking to Glyn Durrant over the five days he tells me that the race may be back next year but with some “modifications”. All in all a great race and with only three riders dropping out from the original twenty nine starters I think that must be about the best “wastage” rate for many years......"