Well I’m guessing my story telling skills need as much work as my cycling but here goes and sorry if you nod off but Mein Fuhrer has goaded me into giving this report.
So it all started on what was to date the hottest damn day of the year. First things first and that was to give my tomatoes a water and check over my home grown salad. No! This is not a euphemism, I do in fact have another healthy obsession, an alternative to cycling and that is my garden. 2009 Target…Cat 3 licence and a Gold in Caterham in bloom.
Still with me? Good, so let’s get down to business coz it’s business time.
This was my second outing to Dunsfold, my third race ever and this time I didn’t have Huw to hold my hand (He’d rather take off with some blonde bit with a cat 2 licence and pig tails). This time I was alone with not one single ally amongst 70 riders some of whom were team mates and I had a serious score to settle.
Hydrated, warmed up, gelled up, stoked up and on the line focused on the task ahead. Keith and Glyn (remember this was my third race now so I can refer to them like old mates) gave it to us straight…Scratch Handicap, 12 laps, preems for 1,2,3 on each lap and no crossing the cones around Gambons (Top gear fans please note).
Race strategy this time was Not to go too hard despite how good I might feel, Not to go for the preems and Not to enter the popularity contest by taking the front too often or for too long. I am pleased to report that I, the sole Addiscombe rider, Mr Billy no mates sticking out like a canary was quite selfish and rode the race with nothing but self preservation in mind the whole time.
I am afraid that I am unable to recall the race details quite as Huw usually does, but hey, he's a professonal and it probably gives some clues as to my state of mind during and after the race.
Having enjoyed a staggered start I knew that sooner rather than later the big guns would be upon us and therefore prepared myself for the onslaught that was to follow. Sure enough they arrived and the pace quickened and I could sense the carnage at the rear as weakened riders were being dispensed. Determined not to be a back door man this week I stepped up to the plate and held in there.
Another couple of laps and the top guys made what I think was a four man break. This would seem to be the selection process that I was waiting for but no effort was made by the bunch to bridge the gap and I wasn’t about to get excited so we sat tight and was possibly quietly confident of catching them. This did not happen and the small four man breakaway hoovered up the preem points.
Still my race was not done and there were still points to be had in finishing. One observation I made was that despite the preems being out of contention riders in the main bunch still challenged for the line on each lap……crazy I thought and I just sat tight and conserved my energies for the final lap.
Eventually the bell rang and the pace quickened and riders switched left, right and centre just millimetres separating each other and even touching at times. I was strong enough to stay with the front group all the way round and just as we went over the three painted mini roundabouts before the final corner I managed to squeeze through the smallest possible space and find some room. My legs like huge pistons from an industrial revolution mill powered me into warp speed (Fred Dibnar would have been proud) whilst riders around me appeared to go backwards. I made it across the line and was overcome by a huge emotion of relief at completing my first race proper.
Not really being sure of how many riders went before me I had to sit tight until Wednesday evening when Surrey League posted the results. 18th out of 70 riders and as the 1st of the 4th Cats me thinks I get 2 bonus points.
Well pleased with myself…thanks for reading.
Scott
Next time you are at Dunsfold come up and say hello, then i might let you call me an "old Mate". 
