Ills, well just one hill in reality, but it came round with grim regularity on a circuit that is just over 2 miles long. You’ve just got your breath back and its time to tackle it again...oh joy...still the descent was magic with a dry road for most of the race the corners could be taken at full tilt and the racing line held with the help of the marshals and reasonable view ahead. I think I even surprised a few people...sorry Mr Whiteside.
The usual lack of Div 1 riders meant that 1 & 2 were combined, which is becoming the norm so far this season. We are looking at this and have some ideas how to solve the problem so watch this space. From the off the Div 1 riders rapidly pulled away from most of the Div 2 riders so it rapidly turned into 2 races. Predictably Chris Spence showed his peer group a clean pair of heels by the finish although I know at one point Adam came past me having opened a reasonable gap from the chasing group...good effort mate. Top Div 2 rider was Dave Mayman...just a heads up Dave, but you may be heading for Div 1! Martin Smith put in a good ride to take 6th with Mark Nish just behind in 7th, Mike Keighrey & Andy Boxall in 9th & 10th respectively.
For Div 3 there was a respectable turnout with one or two Div 2 riders taking the opportunity to have a rest and recover from lack of form, illness etc. On the first lap I...yes me...showed all but Steve Whiteside a clean pair of heels down the descent and actually crossed the line 30yds ahead of the rest of the field. But that was the end of my efforts and I fell back on the second climb, spending the rest of the race with Tony Pushman. In the main group Jim, Des and Steve Whiteside put in an excellent effort with Jim taking first, Steve 3rd and Des 6th. Well done Mary & Sam for sticking with it and battling round on your own.
Julie was clicking away so look for lots of photos with me sticking my tongue out...it’s not a rude gesture, just trying to get some more air into the lungs. Great work by organisers Mick & Nicki, ably assisted by John Pallot Brown, John Carney, Paul Lipscombe, Simon Perchard, Gerry and some else who I can’t remember...sorry.
Results
Div 1 & 2
Pos | Rider | Club | |
1st | Chris Spence | CCC | |
2nd | Adam Wojtkiewicz | CCC | |
3rd | Dave Mayman | CCC | 1st Div 2 |
4th | Chris Seviour | CCC | 1st Junior |
5th | Simon Fenton | CCC | |
6th | Martin Smith | VSJ | |
7th | Mark Nish | VSJ | |
8th | Gary De Gruchy | CCC | |
9th | Mike Keighrey | VSJ | |
10th | Andy Boxall | VSJ | |
1 lap | Rob Kirkby | CCC | |
| Peter Hubert | CCC | |
DNF | Ali Cann | CCC | |
| Paul Millar | CCC | |
| Lorenzo Nardone | CCC | |
Div 3
Pos | Rider | Club | |
1st | Jim Davis | VSJ | 1st Lady |
2nd | John Derrien | CCC | |
3rd | Steve Whiteside | VSJ | |
4th | Sean Crowther | VSJ | |
5th | Colin Perry | CCC | |
6th | Des McClelland | VSJ | |
7th | Keith White | CCC | |
8th | Sean Twohig | VSJ | |
9th | Tony Pushman | VSJ | |
10th | Peter Derrick | VSJ | |
11th | Sam Carney | VSJ | |
12th | Mary Crow | VSJ | |