LAST CHANCE POINTS GRABBER 27/9/09 – RACE REPORT
A slight frost meant that a cool start awaited the riders at the Event HQ - Fellowship hall in Whitwell. But there was no wind and a cloudless sky soon provided a warm morning. The start-sheet showed a full field of 60 riders with 15 reserves. Yet there were 19 DNS, including 6 of the reserves, so all the remainder and a further 3 entries on the line meant we could start with 59 riders. The total distance was 108 km made up of 7.2 laps of a testing 15 km three-cornered circuit of short hills and bends. The reserve rider who had travelled furthest to the HQ (from Warrington - he slept in his van overnight) Paul Thursfield of the Tunstall Wheelers was the first rider to jump away on the first lap. He took the prime prize at the end of laps 1 and 2 and went on to contend the lead with 2 or three others for the rest of the race. Jonathan Shubert, another reserve rider, from local club Verulam CC, was first over the prime line for laps 3 and 6, while James Fox of Team Milton Keynes, took the primes on laps 4 and 5. At the finish it was Thursfield who held of his chasers to win in just under 2¾ hours. The next 7 riders were given the same time and were led over the line by Shubert. Scott Holmes of Hillingdon CC was 3rd and Piers Brown (Finchley RT) at 4th was the best-placed ERRL rider. The bunch came in over a minute later. The full results were provided by Chief Judge Peter Little and Joan Potts whose BC camera gave an excellent freeze-frame view of each of the finishers. Thanks again to everyone who helped to make this another successful Herts. Wheelers promotion: Commissaires Brian Potts and Andy Lancaster with their assistants Joan and Alex; Judges Peter Little and 4 volunteers at the finish; M/C marshals Glen Carr and Dom. Stewart; NRCC for the loan of beacons, extra signs, radios and flags; BC Div. officials Derek Lusher and Paul Groves; Allan Hyde for the first aid with Jonathan Edwards of Verulam CC (“shanghai-ed” at the start to assist) and all the club members who coped with the various tasks thrust upon them (a few at very short notice) – John Farnham on flags, signs, finish area marshal; lead car drivers Tony Gilby, assisted by Mark Gilby, Brian Evans (who also checked Junior gears and ran the licences desk), assisted by Jane Pike; marshals Merv Player and Dave Rudkin at Codicote, John Clark, Danny Mason and Peter Walton at the Hitchin Road - St Pauls Walden turn, Bruno Cartwright and Graham Knight at Whitwell and Janet Pearson for catering and HQ management. Many, many thanks – without any one of you this event could not have taken place. John Pearson Herts. Wheelers |
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