South East RR League 8 Beneden

[Peachey]

Regional B. 3/4/W/J
1 Andy Cater. GS Avanti
2 Keith Walker. Wigmore CC
3 Andy Lack. Kingston Wheelers
4 Andrew Whatmore. Addiscombe CC
5 Christopher Bedson. Dulwich Paragon
6 Drew Holmes. Progressive Cycle Coach
7 Nat Spurling. Finsbury Park CC
8 Henry Bird. Progressive Cycle Coach
9 Matthew Lehto. Putney Cycles
10 Kevin Grimshaw. Bigfoot CC

Great result Andy - wheres the race report?

[Sylv]

Whatmore do you want?

[img]http://www.velouk.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/20110501_SERRL_06.jpg[/img]
Well done Andy. I thought it was Wattmore though

[Andy W]

thanks Sylv

Report to follow shortly...

Sorry didn’t get back from a weekend at the coast until late last night so haven’t had a chance to post anything yet.

cheers
Andy (Watmore)

[Andy W]

SERRL Benenden / Cranbrook 1st May

I was out to better the 14th position I got at Millard Hill the week before and was quietly confident as long as I didn’t do anything to stupid.

When I signed up for this, both Paul and Dan were on the start sheet so I knew I’d be in good company. Then... I don’t need to tell anyone what happened to Dan, and Paul had a better offer of a trip to Frejus (I believe)? So I was on my own.

The race was 9.5 laps of 7 mile circuit, nothing to steep and after Millard Hill the course seemed pretty flat. After a lap of sitting in the pack and seemingly finding every pothole, I decided it was time to sit a little closer to the front of the field. On lap 2-3 a couple of riders made the break and got 100 yards of the front when 2 more guys decided to join them and bridged the gap. Was this becoming a group that could stay away? I had nothing to loose, so took the gamble and sprinted from about 20th back. A glance over my shoulder to see if anyone had my wheel – no, I was on my own. Head down, a hard 1 minute drive and I was up to the break.

This was a move that I regretted... having caught them, nobody seemed up for doing any work, so I decided to do a 30 second drive on the front and see if it might motivate the other guys. This didn’t work and within a couple of minutes we where joined by the bunch. This attempt at a break had taken a bit out of me, so I decided to get another lap sat in the middle of the field. It wasn’t long before another small group of 4 went off the front. I decided that after my last attempt I would let this one go and see what happened.

There was obviously a DP rider in the break, as the large contingent of PD riders were now controlling the pace at the front - which had dropped a little. We got to the long drag of a hill that led to the finishing line (a bit like the Merstham drag but with a lot more bumps and potholes) and another small group kicked of the front - I decided this was the one to go with. It wasn’t long before the 6 of us were out of site from the peloton and working well together. Another lap passed and the first break was in sight - a few good turns from all and we had caught them!

We still had 3-4 laps to go, so got a T&O going, which seemed to work pretty well until the penultimate lap when its obvious that a few guys were being carried, or were saving something for the final push? Myself, Andy Cater (GS Avanti), Andy Lack (KW), Keith Walker (Wig CC) and a couple of others were doing extra turns to keep the momentum going.
It was nice to here a lot of people shouting “come on Andy” each time we crossed the finishing line, even if they were shouting for the other 2 Andy’s in the break?

With approx a mile to go, Keith Walker made his move and sprinted off to go it alone. There was no immediate reaction as everyone knew the finish was a half mile drag with bumps like cobles, so he was likely to be caught?
At the sharp left hander before the final drag, Andy Lack made his move and was followed by Andy Cater. They were 20 yards up the road before I could respond and despite getting away from the other 6 guys I couldn’t bridge the gap and the 2 guys in front had now become 3 when they caught Keith Walker. The gap stayed at about 30 yards and that is how it finished. With the 3 guys in front contesting the sprint with me rolling over the line with the casing guys about 30 yards behind me.

Very happy with the 4th, although I whish I’d been a little more awake when Andy Lack made his move – maybe I would have been contenting the sprint too?

After the race I had a good chat with Andy Lack (nice guy) who was full of praise for Paul, George and Sylv. He also said what a great guy and racer Toby was having got in a break with him last year. He has been monitoring Toby’s progress very closely as his wife is one one the nurses on Toby’s rehab ward.

Looking forward to Goodwood now!

Andy

[Marcus]

Congratulations Andy on a fine 4th place. Great race and report

[Antloony]

Nice one fella, reckon you and Peachey will be 2nd cats soon the way your both going.