Club Notes 4th September 2005

After all these years I should have remembered that deadlines for bank holiday weekends is earlier so once again I am on catch up! However this report should not be that lengthier a tome as we are now getting towards the end of the season with the evening time trial series now all finished and only a dozen or so weeks to Christmas, scary or what. So a deep breath and here we go with the results for most of August.

Starting with the VTTA 25 of the 6^th of August and Leek CC/Den Engels fielded two riders Mark Poyser and YT. Mark proving the fastest with a time of 1-00-25 , to my 1-00-44, although I feel Marks time was a little slower than he would have liked. A feeling shared by another local rider Mark Lovatt despite his winning time of 55-16 being over 2 minutes ahead of his nearest rival. Tuesday and with rumours of roadwork’s on the Congleton course I once more ventured down to Etwall for the south Pennine event, however hopes of another fast 25 was short lived primarily down to the club only running a 10, but also my deplorable lack of speed my 23-02 only marginally quicker than Cheshire times. Wednesday and Mark Poyser was back firing on all four cylinders for the Westmead Team 88 where he clinched victory from Peak RC rider Paul Dentith whose been enjoying a renascence season after a number of years out, Mark snatching the win with 22-50 to 22-56, whilst YT languished down the field with a 24-14. Elsewhere on Wednesday the less “gravitationally challenged” (i.e. younger and lighter, than me not Mark) Gary Whiston & Gavin Pringle took part in the first of the Macclesfield Wheelers end of season hilly events, the notorious climb of Pyms Chair, Gaz’s 4-54.42 out pacing Gavin’s 5-35.95 but despite these good times they were both off the pace of another former Leek rider Adam Kenway who rode literally up the ranks to win in a time of 4-02.50.

Saturday the 13^th and despite the unlucky date and atrocious conditions Mark Poyser made it two in row claiming a round of the TLI Spoco league in 23-11over a minute and a half from 2^nd placed rider Liverpool Centuries Paul Washington at 24-45. Tuesday the 13^th and Mark was back in action for the last of the Congleton 10’s but despite recording a personal Best time of 22-04 it was Paul Dentiths turn to edge ahead with 22-05 but it was oh so close, which was more than you could say for my 23-36. Wednesday and it was the last of the Macclesfield Wheelers events, and their second hill climb the long and winding Cat & fiddle favoured by born again motorbikers and according to my spies a preferred training run of several club members so it was no surprise, but very pleasant to see an excellent turnout. The fastest being that man from Pyms chair Gary Whiston in a time of 27-55, next in was Jon Middleton at 29-35, YT was the first of the forty something’s in 29-55 closely followed by Andy Bain at 30-53, Adam Kenway of Tunstall wheelers once again claimed first place honours with a rather rapid 24-09.

Finally with all the mid week racing finished we have two weekends races the Seamons Cycling Club open 25 on the 20^th which marked a return after a six week break for Richard Brookes and although possibly losing a slight edge and having what is best described as a bit of a moment on the course still finished inside the top ten with a time of 57-18, Whilst YT without the break slipped down even farther at 1-00-59. Ritchey Cycleops rider George Richardson won the event in 54-16.

Mark Poyser takes us into the last weekend in August with another excellent ride in the TLI series finishing 3^rd behind the series leader Paul Holt who had to settle for an unusual second behind Mark Lovatt, but it was so close that as Murray would say you could throw a net over them the times reading 22-41 plays 22-43 and 22-55 respectively, and if Mr Lovatt was less than impressed with his time in the race at start of this report I certainly would not have liked to have been in the shoes of anybody offering a congratulatory “ good ride” after this last one. My efforts later on in the day for the Stretford Wheelers 25 isn’t worth putting into print although the winning time of a certain Mr Stuart Dangerfield is. An incredible 51-18 which on any course is impressive but on the rutted lanes of Cheshire is amazing. Cheshire council informed me that they are not potholes until they are 2 inches or deeper so they must be ruts! Stuarts ride putting him 2 minutes ahead of end-to-end record holder Gethin Butler.