SL Handicap Newdgate 21/7

[Steve B]

Team Addiscombe ruled tonights handicap - Me Keith Matt and Darren racing with Paul T being the handicapper.

All 4 of us were put in group 4, along with a Dynamo and a Redhill, with the scratch group behind us by only 40 seconds. We had to work hard to keep them behind us and also to catch the groups in front. It was the best group I've ever been in in a handicap. We were flying. Everyone was smooth and despite the wet conditions it felt safe. It was damn hard though and by the middle of lap 2 (of 3) I was having to miss a turn every now and then to catch breath. Matt Darren and Keith were relentless.

We caught the groups in front at the sound of the bell. They had already merged as one, so it was fairly big. Matt jumped off the front of our group like a man posessed and sprinted past them taking a few with him. The rest of us took a bit more time to do the same but by the time we had past the garage on the left we were all top ten. Basically it stayed as is for the whole of the last lap - Matt, Darren, Keith and a couple of others doing the pace setting at the front. Intentional or not, it was perfect team tactics to get me to the sprint with a strung out field. I lost concentration for a few seconds as the pace rose again and I found myself getting slightly swamped. I couldn't see all this Addiscombe hard work go to waste and my brain clicked back into focus. I moved up the outside, about 10th now. Keith made a massive attack off the front - whether it was a brake for home or just to get others chasing I'm not sure but it worked, the pace was high now. Darren took over and did a long hard pull, then coming to the bottom of the hill Matt surged and led out the sprint. The hill is a bit deceptive and longer than you think. I let a couple of others get on Matts wheel and then as they past him I lit the fuse. I gave it all up that hill (Gilbert like ) and in to the 200m flat to the finish. My legs were dying but as I looked around I had a pretty decent gap - I had time to sit up, arms in the air and pose for the camera man

I think we put time into the scratch group -

Cheers guys

Steve

As Cav says - It was all down to the team

[Peachey]

Great race and result - well done Steve. It was a really hard couple of laps chasing a big 3rd cat group up the road, who were obviously working well together as we were really motoring.

Wasn't the normal cagey last lap with attacks going off and a good lead out down the back straight. Managed 9th and obtained the final points for my 2nd Cat licence

Cheers,

Darren

[Sylv]

AWSOME

[Andrew G]

Excellent result, well done Steve, Darren and everyone else who helped make it a rather nice evening for the lion.
[quote] I had time to sit up, arms in the air and pose for the camera man

[Marcus]

Great Team race and a big congratulations to Darren for achieving 2nd cat.
Who knows may have had a top 3 if you had a drink.

[Rob W]

Well done everyone and chapeau Darren on your 2nd cat licence

[Rogan]

Fantastic Result for Steve and the team and a big 'hats off'' to Darren on 2nd Cat

[Toks]

Great work Team ACC. Hey Steve I can't think of too many that move up from the safety of the 3rd cat playground and get a win as a 2nd cat (in fact has it ever been done by an ACC rider in recent years?). Chapeau mate. How many more points do you need to retain your 2nd cat jersey then?

[Steve B]

Thanks Toks, I needed 6 points before Thursdays race, so a nice round 10 has now taken me past the magical 25 mark . Retaining my second cat status was probably my main objective for this year so I'm over the moon at achieving this .

Steve