Last weeks Stafford RC race round (week end 1 June 14)
Well it’s be a fabulous week with some superb rides with dozens of riders competing.
It all kicked off on Bank Holiday Monday when Susan Semple rode the Anfeild 100 mile TT. Which was first run in 1893 and is the oldest running cycling event in a Britians. It was her first ever 100 mile TT, and having only ever ridden 100 miles twice previously it was going to be a momentous day. She finished in a time of 4:48:28 and set a new (first ever) women’s vets record and missed the women’s record by just 74 seconds.
Tuesday – TLI Road Race – Lower Withington circuit by Holmes Chapel saw Ade Robinson, Robert Faulkner, John Charter, Andy Prince and Gavin Harthorne head off to Cheshire for a TLI road race. It was a tough night which saw groups broken up and spread all over the course. Gavin escaped a close call when he was ridden off the road at 30 mph and end up in a ditch, but luckily his bike was fine : ) none of our riders got placings on the night.
Wednesday – SRC held its club TT on the K7/21 course to Newport and back. It’s a tough course, a bit lumpy in places but some good results overall. Paul Taylor took 4 min off his course pb and despite no pb Martin Moore set a fabulous time of 52:25 and was the fastest club rider. Dave Parton also continued his superb first season back to racing with a 55:38
Thursday – TLI race hosted by SRC at the Swynnerton MOD base. We had 14 SRC riders take part (Ben Lain, Matt Alcock, Jack Mullane, Michael Peplow, Gavin Henthorne, Colin Davis, Matt Moore, Martin Moore, Robert Faulkner, Neil McHugh, Lee Robinson, Andrew Bentley, Andy Prince,Nick Howe) in this event organised by John Charter. The race was split into two handicapped groups, The 50+ age group set off with a 4 min lead before the remained of the field set off. 75 min race then 3 laps of the 2mile circuit. It was a fast start by both groups and riders from the 40 man field starting getting dropped by the second lap. There were 3 crashes and dozens of punctures on the night. But apartment form 2 riders bridging the gap from the under 50 to the lead group the remaining riders could be not catch them and on the night Matt Moore (SRC) took 5thplace in the sprint finish. Newcastle Track Leauge – saw Dave Smith sprint ot victory and take first place in the 10 mile race scratch race.
Saturday – K33/10d open tt in Worcestershire. Great conditions for the 2pm start with warm air and virtually no wind. We had 5 riders take part, Annis, Matt and Martin Moore and April and Melvyn Lewis. April and Melvyn both had good riders with April knocking 30 sec off her distance pb and 1:16 off her course pb with a time of 25:51. Melvyn also set a new course pb taking 1 min off and missed his distance pb by 5 sec with a time off 25:09. Annis time was 24:30 (no pb but an impressive ride) while Matt and Martin riding a tandem finished in 21:03 which is anew club record for that distance.
Sunday – Alastair Semple had an early start and headed down to Buckinghamshire for the F1/100 Open TT. He had good conditions with no wind but a little fresh for the first riders off at 5:06. Alastair ride went well up until the last 20 miles when fatigue and mild cramp set into his left leg, and on the lumpy last 15 mile loop he struggled to maintain his pace. He finished in 4:00:32 knocking 2:02 off his old pb but missed out on that sub 4hr ride by just 33 seconds, so 4 tenths of second faster per mile and he would have done it !
