.I've always hated this course, but after the first race of the year in the the rest of my sporting-to-fitness plan I've been going quite well and have noticed that I've been getting "my head on" a lot better than I have in the past. Not so much of the gazing at the scenery and more concentrating on what I'm supposed to be doing.
The long and short of that little waffle is that I actually enjoyed today's race, although it being in lovely weather in contrast to the hail of last year helped. Just before I was going to start warming up PVT arrived still with his phlegm factory in full production. He should know better than to race (or ride round) like that but
. I was off 2 minutes behind Paul so with him doing his Bob Fleming impression I'd be disappointed not to catch him.At the first left hander I had to stop for cars but they also stopped and waved my through so a quick track stand and off I went. Very grateful to them as it was a pretty quick bit of the course but with a few bends and on lanes so I might have got held up by them otherwise.
Finishing the first loop you go back passed the HQ and it was very pleasant to get support from the ACC racers who'd already done their rides. I put on my best in the zone face as I sped by
.I was caught just before Ockley by Steve Dennis for 2 minutes (but he's a rocket) and I caught Bob Fleming just after Ockley about half way round the course, blimey he was suffering.
Coming to the finish I nearly caught my five minute man and one other who I think had started 4 minutes in front but didn't see his number. All in happy with my race as I'd done a mid 26 on a course with the odd lump and a bit of a drag or two and nearly all on country lanes.
Times:
Terry Hill 28.52
Jon Hemming 25.32
Doug Shaw 31.14 (really didn't like the fast swoop downhill to the A29)
Robert R-E 27.something - sorry didn't get the time.
Paul "Bob" Tunnell 30.21
Andrew Green 26.20
Steve Dennis who'd caught me clocked a new course record, for all of about 10 minutes before Ben Instone came in with a 22.07 to grab yet another course record (5 out of 5 so far this season for him), so Steve had to settle for a new vets course record.
