Club Notes - 5th September 2004

Although things have been very quiet on the racing front of late one club member as continued to excel, must be something to do with the fresh air up in Ipstones, although by the time I’ve normally reached the dizzy heights of the village I am not in any condition to appreciate it! If you have not already guessed I am taking about one of our newest members who only started racing last year, Richard Brooks. Having not competed in a time trial since his rather rapid 10 in the penultimate Congleton CC evening event, and not in an open event for eight weeks, Rich selected the familiar roads of Cheshire and rode the Seamon's 25 on the 21st of August. Dropping on one of the rare good days of the season (well at least it was dry) Rich made the most of the conditions to record yet another personal best.

However having not ridden on those roads for a while he was surprised how the surface has deteriorated over the year, joking that next year we may need 4 x 4 ‘s to race on them. Even when I was last on the course, a good few weeks ago, it was as much about missing potholes as it was actual racing and an unsatisfactory state of affairs. Racing wheels are expensive items of equipment and riders don't want to end up with rims more akin to ‘thruppney bits’. More importantly it compromises safety, with some riders this season ending up in the back of ambulances after breakages due to impacts. Also today’s traffic seem reluctant to give any manoeuvring space, forcing many riders into the gutter. Apparently we shouldn’t be there as we don’t pay road tax, although most riders have a car or two that we do pay for, but enough of my soapbox rhetoric.

It certainly didn’t put riders off with the event drawing a full field possibly helped by a generous prize list. Multiple National champion Gethin Butler rose to the occasion recording a blistering time of 53-11 (a little over 28 miles per hour!) which would be good for one of the fast straight out and back courses never mind one with junctions, the notorious Chelford Island plus the aforementioned "obstacles"!

Gethin was out on his own minutes ahead of the rest of the field and the next seven riders all within 1minute and 10 seconds of each other. Our man was just out of the top 5; his time of 56-48 placing him 6^th behind winner of previous events Crewe Clarions John Waddiloves 56-31. So certainly no disgrace there nor in finishing ahead of other event winners and notable fast riders such as Nick Giles 56-48 (7^th), Roger Wrenn 57-38 (9^th) and ex-patriot Pat Kinch 57-57 (10^th). I believe Rich as got one last race for this season so let’s hope he can continue on his upward rise.

I can confirm rumours that another member has been doing some road racing and despite a certain amount of success including just missing out on moving up a category on his racing licence by virtue of being taken out in the last lap of his last race, Mark has been playing his cards close to his chest but it does appear that training runs with another ex Leek member, the young and aspiring Adam Kenway, who amongst other successes took the two Macclesfield wheelers hill climbs emphatically. Plus the odd trip out with top roadman Mark Lovatt, are paying certainly paying off. I think that Mark may also be riding in the same 25 as Rich, so Leek C.C. / Den Engel’s Belgian bar could well have riders in the top 10. Whatever the outcome I will be sure to let you know.