[img]http://www.londoncyclesport.com/news/images/beast_thumb.jpg[/img]
Well I went last night and joined Grahame who had been setting the course in the afternoon.
The ride from London wasn't that bad as it was tailwind assisted and pretty much straight all the way, 29km/18miles which took 1h15 on the singlespeed. Got there with time to spare for the 7.30pm start.
The course was great, only about 3km long but including mostly sections in the forest - very little mud altogether despite the previous days' rain. Attendance wasn't too bad at just over 100 considering the weather forecast (in fact it stayed nice and dry), but they are hoping for numbers over 130 to break even - should be attainable once the summer days are back.
The race went well and as I set off with the Sports category I soon found myself in a three-man fight with the two top Sports riders. In the first few laps I put attacks on the two main climbs and in the singletrack sections which got me some ten seconds ahead of the duo, during the second half they managed to come back as I was fading slightly (Palace Palace) and I let them take the lead for a bit. The finish was after a slighty downhill section in a big grass field (about 300 meters long) and I knew I would stand no chance in a sprint against geared riders on their big ring, so went for a final attack on the last of seven laps to get away from them, it didn't work and I was now between the eventual Sports winner (Chelmer Cycles), and a young chap wearing the national champion jersey. Managed to stay on the Chelmer's wheel for the first half of the field, but had to let him go eventually as I was in overspin mode.
I was glad to beat a national champion though ... until I found out he is only 13!!!
Grahame said he might do a reverse-sandbag next week and enter the Experts class, as prizes go down to 5th place and there were only two riders! (three last night)
We finished the evening nicely with the Beastway tyranny with a pint in Denmark Hill on the drive back, and then another 12km for me to ride back home - I stopped en route at a Mc Donalds drive-in and had to queue for 15 minutes - at midnight! and had my first Mc junk in about 9 months.
1 exm 173 Shaun Hurrell Glendene CC/Biketrax 00:08:38 00:07:58 00:08:03 00:08:05 00:08:19 00:08:07 00:07:28 00:56:38 7 laps
2 exm 132 Michael Butler VC Deal/Hammonds/Activ 00:08:39 00:07:58 00:08:04 00:08:04 00:08:19 00:08:07 00:07:28 00:56:39 7 laps
3 mam 48 Matt Carter http://www.eppinghardcru.co.uk 00:08:56 00:08:14 00:08:27 00:08:26 00:08:30 00:08:37 00:08:40 00:59:50 7 laps
4 spm 26 Dan Oakley Chelmer Cycles 00:09:33 00:08:33 00:08:29 00:08:35 00:08:24 00:08:42 00:08:06 01:00:22 7 laps
5 ssm 175 Sylvain Garde Addiscombe CC 00:09:34 00:08:27 00:08:28 00:08:35 00:08:32 00:08:38 00:08:13 01:00:27 7 laps
6 spm 59 Max Sykes VC Deal/Hammonds/Activ 00:09:25 00:08:42 00:08:30 00:08:34 00:08:24 00:08:43 00:08:12 01:00:30 7 laps
7 exm 188 Marcos Schier Torq Bar 00:09:02 00:08:46 00:08:34 00:08:36 00:08:51 00:08:43 00:08:14 01:00:46 7 laps
8 mam 7 Craig Beech Interbike RT 00:09:26 00:08:25 00:08:33 00:08:53 00:08:51 00:08:53 00:08:49 01:01:50 7 laps
9 mam 8 Matthew Lewis Ride Beyond/MS Trust 00:09:25 00:08:50 00:09:11 00:09:18 00:09:13 00:09:06 00:08:41 01:03:44 7 laps
10 mam 34 Richard Matthews 00:10:02 00:08:58 00:08:57 00:09:05 00:08:52 00:09:11 00:08:41 01:03:46 7 laps
11 vem 74 Paul Champness Heron Cyclesport 00:09:44 00:08:50 00:08:57 00:09:02 00:08:49 00:09:05 00:09:17 01:03:44 7 laps
12 vem 134 Stephen Brazier SIS 00:09:31 00:08:54 00:09:02 00:09:04 00:09:02 00:09:14 00:09:03 01:03:50 7 laps
13 spm 27 Gary Record 00:09:31 00:08:48 00:08:49 00:08:58 00:09:03 00:08:54 00:54:03 6 laps
14 gvm 42 Geoff Bores Ford CC 00:09:53 00:08:51 00:09:03 00:09:15 00:09:16 00:09:28 00:55:46 6 laps
15 ssm 105 Keith Brewster Epping Forest CC 00:09:57 00:09:02 00:08:52 00:09:02 00:09:28 00:08:52 00:55:13 6 laps
16 vem 117 Dennis Dix Chelmer Cycles 00:10:07 00:09:21 00:09:07 00:09:27 00:09:35 00:09:16 00:56:53 6 laps
17 mam 98 Jeremy Olsen Freeborn Ellsworth 00:10:34 00:09:26 00:09:28 00:09:31 00:09:45 00:09:41 00:58:25 6 laps
18 mam 127 Matt Anderson Glendene CC 00:10:15 00:09:31 00:09:35 00:09:44 00:09:52 00:09:35 00:58:32 6 laps
19 spm 67 Mark Shepherd 00:09:48 00:09:14 00:09:14 00:09:16 00:09:16 00:09:07 00:55:55 6 laps
20 vem 81 John Cordery Basildon Timber 00:09:46 00:09:36 00:09:34 00:09:35 00:09:35 00:09:17 00:57:23 6 laps
21 mam 52 Russ Jones Mosquito 00:10:13 00:09:09 00:09:26 00:09:38 00:09:43 00:10:45 00:58:54 6 laps
22 mam 186 Stephen Burt Activ Cycles 00:10:47 00:09:13 00:09:30 00:09:57 00:09:57 00:09:44 00:59:08 6 laps
23 mam 80 Gray Turnock Epping Hard Cru 00:10:35 00:09:47 00:09:45 00:09:49 00:09:59 00:09:28 00:59:23 6 laps
24 vem 118 Nick Laing 00:10:21 00:09:29 00:09:50 00:09:48 00:09:47 00:09:47 00:59:02 6 laps
25 vem 149 David Flint http://www.flintsltd.co.uk 00:10:11 00:09:30 00:09:49 00:10:00 00:09:50 00:10:02 00:59:22 6 laps
26 ssm 17 Ally Rowe Chelmer Cycles 00:10:13 00:09:18 00:09:31 00:09:58 00:09:38 00:09:24 00:58:02 6 laps
27 vem 179 Kieran Dunlea PCA Ciclos Uno 00:10:32 00:09:26 00:09:46 00:10:00 00:10:06 00:09:52 00:59:42 6 laps
28 vem 76 J J Stephens Old Millhillians 00:10:27 00:09:38 00:09:57 00:10:14 00:10:09 00:09:38 01:00:03 6 laps
29 vem 182 Jim Scholefield Kona Midwest 00:10:22 00:09:39 00:09:54 00:10:18 00:10:01 00:09:50 01:00:04 6 laps
30 jum 120 Andrew Nichols Chelmer CC 00:10:20 00:09:26 00:09:52 00:09:55 00:09:44 00:09:24 00:58:41 6 laps
31 vem 82 Paul Cordery Basildon Timber 00:10:26 00:09:44 00:09:43 00:10:10 00:10:05 00:10:00 01:00:08 6 laps
32 mam 125 Tim Bailey Glendene CC / Biketrax 00:10:51 00:09:59 00:10:02 00:10:36 00:10:01 00:10:04 01:01:33 6 laps
33 vem 57 Simon Hurrell Maldon & District CC 00:10:35 00:09:47 00:10:02 00:10:15 00:10:20 00:09:45 01:00:44 6 laps
34 ssm 31 Andrew McMillan Chelmer Cycles 00:10:41 00:09:43 00:09:43 00:09:58 00:09:53 00:09:24 00:59:22 6 laps
35 vem 24 Mike Lawrence Chelmer Cycles 00:10:30 00:10:02 00:10:07 00:10:25 00:10:25 00:09:44 01:01:13 6 laps
36 mam 16 Mark Wilson Team Stoned Kitten 00:11:27 00:09:33 00:09:50 00:10:17 00:11:01 00:10:21 01:02:29 6 laps
37 mam 9 Kevin Gard Chelmer Cycles 00:10:53 00:10:18 00:10:36 00:10:27 00:10:26 00:10:15 01:02:55 6 laps
38 gvm 187 Ken Youngman West Drayton MBC 00:11:24 00:09:49 00:09:57 00:10:12 00:10:14 00:10:07 01:01:43 6 laps
39 vem 4 David Young Crest CC 00:10:33 00:10:09 00:10:04 00:10:32 00:10:19 00:10:31 01:02:08 6 laps
40 mam 32 Jonathan Bishop Farrar Tri Club 00:11:29 00:10:31 00:10:25 00:10:12 00:10:22 00:10:30 01:03:29 6 laps
41 gvm 164 Martin Hegman 00:11:41 00:10:03 00:10:04 00:10:19 00:10:00 00:10:14 01:02:21 6 laps
42 gvm 158 Robert Laing 00:09:59 00:09:56 00:10:39 00:10:32 00:10:43 00:10:38 01:02:27 6 laps
43 gvm 58 Richard Wood VC Deal/Hammonds/Activ 00:11:18 00:10:24 00:10:02 00:10:19 00:10:20 00:10:26 01:02:49 6 laps
44 gvm 159 Steve Burton Activ/Trek 00:11:20 00:10:04 00:10:21 00:10:20 00:10:21 00:10:25 01:02:51 6 laps
45 vem 22 John Savage 00:11:23 00:10:04 00:10:19 00:10:29 00:10:40 00:10:08 01:03:03 6 laps
46 spm 128 Tom Gowlett 00:11:03 00:09:57 00:10:10 00:10:34 00:10:38 00:09:40 01:02:02 6 laps
47 mam 123 Carl Treleaven Activ 00:11:16 00:10:18 00:10:48 00:10:51 00:10:55 00:10:36 01:04:44 6 laps
48 vem 136 Stuart Hatfield 00:10:29 00:10:07 00:10:29 00:11:33 00:10:51 00:10:13 01:03:42 6 laps
49 vem 177 Peter Sykes VC Deal/Hammonds/Activ 00:11:43 00:10:19 00:10:32 00:10:42 00:10:32 00:10:19 01:04:07 6 laps
50 mam 147 James Bostock Activ 00:11:09 00:10:14 00:10:52 00:10:53 00:10:59 00:11:16 01:05:23 6 laps
51 vem 55 Martin Orford Spraytech 00:11:01 00:10:22 00:10:36 00:10:46 00:10:53 00:10:54 01:04:32 6 laps
52 vem 176 Robin White Planed Wood Ltd 00:11:25 00:10:35 00:10:33 00:11:02 00:10:26 00:10:34 01:04:35 6 laps
53 mam 70 Darren Reeves Chelmer Cycles 00:11:11 00:10:47 00:11:14 00:11:17 00:11:07 00:10:28 01:06:04 6 laps
54 vem 160 Debbie Burton Activ/Trek 00:13:30 00:10:21 00:10:07 00:10:20 00:10:15 00:10:25 01:04:58 6 laps
55 vem 94 Andrew Glynn Herts Fire 00:11:05 00:10:42 00:10:50 00:11:00 00:10:40 00:10:49 01:05:06 6 laps
56 mam 64 Andrew Bishop 00:11:02 00:10:28 00:11:13 00:11:30 00:11:21 00:11:07 01:06:41 6 laps
57 ssm 178 David Fearon 00:11:23 00:10:24 00:10:19 00:10:36 00:10:37 00:10:51 01:04:10 6 laps
58 spm 35 Lee Pudney 00:11:17 00:10:29 00:10:45 00:10:54 00:11:08 00:54:33 5 laps
59 mam 28 Mark Granados 00:12:02 00:10:58 00:11:23 00:11:54 00:11:27 00:57:44 5 laps
60 mam 183 Brian Fleming VC Lincoln 00:11:58 00:11:14 00:11:13 00:11:27 00:11:58 00:57:50 5 laps
61 vem 43 Peter Grehan 00:11:16 00:10:37 00:12:29 00:11:01 00:11:20 00:56:43 5 laps
62 gvm 101 Ray Blackwell Bedgebury Forest CC 00:11:48 00:10:59 00:11:36 00:11:32 00:11:33 00:57:28 5 laps
63 yam 56 David Nichols Chelmer Cycling Club 00:01:01 00:08:12 00:08:28 00:08:50 00:08:36 00:35:07 5 laps
64 vem 122 Gareth Cozens Woolwich Cycling Club 00:12:32 00:11:40 00:11:17 00:11:13 00:11:19 00:58:01 5 laps
65 gvm 63 Michael Mott Maldon & District CC 00:11:40 00:11:26 00:11:59 00:11:44 00:11:30 00:58:19 5 laps
66 vem 13 Garhame Baker Addiscombe 00:11:44 00:10:55 00:11:42 00:11:55 00:12:05 00:58:21 5 laps
67 vem 19 Douglas Baker London Phoenix 00:12:07 00:11:14 00:11:20 00:11:57 00:11:44 00:58:22 5 laps
68 spm 6 Matt Hancill Epping Hard Cru 00:12:06 00:11:06 00:11:27 00:11:50 00:11:22 00:57:51 5 laps
69 mam 170 Darren Foy 00:12:23 00:11:45 00:12:07 00:12:27 00:12:26 01:01:08 5 laps
70 vem 112 Steven 'Perce' Brett Team Technical Waistcoat 00:13:03 00:11:30 00:12:05 00:12:13 00:11:21 01:00:12 5 laps
71 mam 169 Darren Wilks 00:12:46 00:12:02 00:12:10 00:12:28 00:12:14 01:01:40 5 laps
72 vem 88 Rob Kettridge Essex County Fire and Rescue 00:11:58 00:11:34 00:12:14 00:12:47 00:12:24 01:00:57 5 laps
73 mam 50 Alasdair Kelly Essex Fire & Rescue 00:13:14 00:11:31 00:12:18 00:12:46 00:12:25 01:02:14 5 laps
74 vem 83 Tony Champness Champolinis 00:12:51 00:11:58 00:12:21 00:12:27 00:11:33 01:01:10 5 laps
75 ybm 29 James Burton Activ/Trek 00:01:06 00:09:05 00:09:39 00:09:42 00:09:02 00:38:34 5 laps
76 vem 166 Andy Shipp 00:12:03 00:11:54 00:12:06 00:13:19 00:12:11 01:01:33 5 laps
77 ybm 47 Hugo Humphreys LVYCC 00:01:02 00:08:40 00:09:38 00:10:03 00:09:32 00:38:55 5 laps
78 gvm 36 David Bull Hollyprickes 00:13:05 00:11:57 00:12:14 00:12:19 00:12:25 01:02:00 5 laps
79 ybm 84 Michael Norris Crest CC 00:01:14 00:09:12 00:09:44 00:09:55 00:09:38 00:39:43 5 laps
80 yam 73 Nat Jarvis Orange Monkey 00:01:11 00:09:34 00:10:18 00:09:59 00:09:26 00:40:28 5 laps
81 yam 116 Stuart Stares Lee Valley Youth CC 00:01:04 00:09:43 00:10:14 00:10:15 00:09:56 00:41:12 5 laps
82 ybm 1 Daniel Young Lee Valley Youth CC 00:01:08 00:09:17 00:10:20 00:10:09 00:10:27 00:41:21 5 laps
83 vem 185 Mike Hedges 00:13:16 00:12:14 00:12:59 00:13:11 00:12:41 01:04:21 5 laps
84 vem 60 Nigel Routledge Epping Forest MTB 00:12:44 00:12:56 00:12:58 00:13:05 00:12:39 01:04:22 5 laps
85 vem 181 Eddie Wallace Team Economic Energy 00:13:17 00:12:24 00:13:06 00:14:09 00:13:59 01:06:55 5 laps
86 spm 184 James Crutchfield 00:13:39 00:13:01 00:13:15 00:13:16 00:12:42 01:05:53 5 laps
87 nom 174 Mike Haxell 00:11:55 00:12:49 00:13:43 00:14:12 00:52:39 4 laps
88 ybm 167 Nathan Shipp 00:01:16 00:10:19 00:10:30 00:11:20 00:33:25 4 laps
89 ybm 87 Alex Cozens Go Ride Bexley 00:01:18 00:10:39 00:10:26 00:11:37 00:34:00 4 laps
90 ybm 62 Isaac Mundy LVYCC 00:01:13 00:10:42 00:11:25 00:11:49 00:35:09 4 laps
91 vem 190 Mark Walker 00:14:26 00:14:35 00:15:02 00:14:21 00:58:24 4 laps
92 vem 49 Gary Byford Essex Fire & Rescue 00:14:38 00:14:36 00:14:45 00:14:57 00:58:56 4 laps
93 ybm 168 Sam Bores LVYCC 00:01:21 00:11:24 00:12:41 00:12:23 00:37:49 4 laps
94 mam 25 Andy Armstrong Chelmer Cycles 00:16:02 00:15:00 00:15:24 00:15:23 01:01:49 4 laps
95 ybm 180 Sean Dunlea PCA Ciclos Uno 00:01:22 00:13:52 00:13:55 00:14:37 00:43:46 4 laps
96 yam 111 Frederick Brett 00:01:29 00:13:04 00:16:30 00:14:05 00:45:08 4 laps
97 ybw 96 Evie Burton Activ/Trek 00:01:38 00:14:12 00:15:41 00:15:23 00:46:54 4 laps
98 ybm 171 Alex Scoltock LVYCC 00:01:36 00:13:47 00:16:02 00:19:34 00:50:59 4 laps
99 ybm 138 Sam Jones Lee Valley Youth CC 00:01:34 00:16:57 00:18:08 00:36:39 3 laps
DNFs in no particular order
DNF mam 189 Francois Brederkamp 00:14:29 00:14:29 1 laps
DNF juw 92 Sam Bryant Marin UK 00:12:03 00:12:03 1 laps
DNF vem 3 Hamilton Wolfe Epping Hard Cru 00:14:02 00:13:27 00:12:43 00:40:12 3 laps
DNF vem 165 John Garrett 00:16:32 00:16:32 1 laps
DNF ssm 45 Paul Warner Team Darenth 00:23:42 00:09:13 00:09:13 00:09:12 00:51:20 4 laps