Maldon & District CC hilly 20

[Jon H]

Started my 2008 racing season with the same event as the past two years - the MADCC hilly 20 in Essex. 53 people on the start sheet and I was number 35.

Blimey, it was windy - in some places I was grovelling along at 16mph on the flat into the headwind, then on the tailwind sections I was wishing I'd had a cassette with an 11 sprocket. Caught numbers 34, 33 & 32 in the first half of the race, then 29 & 28 towards the end. When I caught 29 there was a car stuck behind him, and I couldn't overtake both as there was an HGV coming the other way, so I lost a few seconds there. I was expecting I'd get caught by Dean Lubin (No. 40) towards the end, but no, he finished behind me but probably had me in sight.

I finished in 53.42 which was a course PB over a minute, which I'm pretty chuffed about. 12th place which I'm not as chuffed about, as I was hoping for a top 10 placing, although 21 seconds covered 9th to 12th so it was pretty close. Winner was Tim Bayley in 48.58.

[Andrew G]

Nice one Jon. A bit cheeky of the others to knock you out of the place you were after when you go to the trouble of PBing by a minute.

[Ian A4size]

Well done jon, hopefully some of your TT magic will be transferred via the handbook. I will be at the committee meeting on monday night- clutching me fiver! ( easy finbar)

[tel]

Good start to the season Jon, plenty more pbs to come methinks.

Well done


Terry

[Jon H]

Just got the official result through, and I was actually 11th. Hurrah.
But missed the top 10 by two seconds. Bugger.

[George]

well done Jon that quite a few riders you caught there