By Tim Costello ...
Divisional championships
Congratulations to Toby Neave on his storming ride in the divisional championships last Sunday. Whilst most of us were enjoying a pleasant jaunt in the countryside, at the beach or generally avoiding too much hard work, Toby was riding 80 miles on the hottest day of the year on the hilly Tenterden course in Kent. Toby finished in fifth place which is a truly excellent result. Judging by the 'photos (here) it looks like a lot of people dropped out. Results here.
Toby writes ... "The first climb of the race saw a group of riders go clear, me included. Out of the 12 of us this also included 3 sigma sport riders (they do the prems). We worked well together for 3 laps, then a group of 7 came across. 2 riders slipped away (1 from sigma), but with 4 laps to go i decided to save my energy and hide at the back of the group. With 2 to go myself and Steve Calland lit the fireworks and split the group up, then we got across to the 2 ahead. With 1 lap to go 3 more came across, including gary dodd, some irish fella, and jaco ehlers. These riders have been winning on the road fairly regularly so i knew i had my work cut out. On the penultimate climb i put a dig in but got no-where, then with 5 miles to go i attacked hard and quickly got a gap. Unfortunatly i got pulled back, then Calland counter attacked and they let him go. The final time up the main climb dodd and ?????? (name to be inserted when i see the results) attacked but my legs seized up. They rode off to contest silver and bronze, whilst i was pipped for 4th by Andy betts from sigma sport.
It was a super tough race, harder than anything else i've ridden this year bar the jock wadley (which was basically a premier calendar). The av speed was in excess of 26.5 mph, not bad considering the cross winds and climbs! I'm really happy with the way that i rode, although maybe if i followed Calland when he attacked i would have finished in the medals. Who knows, that's the good thing with road racing, it doesn't matter how strong you, are at the end of the day the most tactical person wins."
Angmering results
I'm indebted to Mike Marchant for supplying the results from Angmering on Monday night. Declan Inglis, Joseph Marchant and new members Erin and Alderney Baker all rode.
Mike writes ...
"4 lap scratch - Cat D&E - New members Erin 4th and Alderney 7th
6 lap scratch - Cat C - unfortunately Declan crashed when in a good position. Carried on with the evening's races once Jez had fixed a suspected rolled tyre!
8 lap scratch - Cat A&B - Joseph 3rd
4 lap H/cap - Cat D&E - Erin 5th and Alderney 6th
6 lap H/cap - Cat C - Declan 3rd
8 lap H/cap - Cat A&B - Joseph 3rd
6 lap scratch - Cat D&E - Erin 7th and Alderney 6th
8 lap scratch - Cat A&B&C - Declan 4th and Joseph missed this combined event (probably my fault for not paying attention!)
4 lap H/cap - Cat D&E - Erin 5th and Alderney 7th
6 lap H/cap - Cat C - Declan 2nd
6 lap H/cap - Cat A&B - Joseph 5th "
Kalas 2-day
Toby and I are seriously considering riding the Kalas 2-day in Somerset (West of Taunton) over the weekend 20-21 June. On the saturday there is a 1.6KM TT, 20KM TTT, 1hour circuit race all based on Ilton circuit which is a falt closed circuit. Sunday the road race is at Somerton and is 100KM. Anyone interested let me know. Closing date is 13 June. No entries on the line.
Retro - VC Noviomagus in 1971
