SCCU 10 & SCCU 25 Report

SCCU Sporting 10

It was a really busy time trialling weekend for the Phoenix with these two events separated by a little over 12 hours. The 10 yesterday afternoon was a very blustery affair and with the air temperature being on the colder side of what Spring weather should be, made it fairly uncomfortable at the start. We had 11 riders, which although slightly down on last year, was still a brilliant effort and we were by some margin, the best represented club on the start sheet.

It's a quite unusual course, with a quick-ish opening 3 mile loop, before joining the main circuit, however a few sharp left turns required riders to scrub off a considerable amount of speed at times. As the competitors come back past the HQ and then join the main circuit there's a very fast and bumpy descent with basically one long pothole running down the road and gravel absolutely everywhere. It felt a bit like going over a hump on a rollercoaster and I for one bottled it and held on for dear life on the bull horns rather than staying down on the extensions. This led to Stane Street and the long drag up to Ockley Green. Personally I didn't mind this too much but the left turn at the green and the following lumps and bumps along Ockley Road seemed to go on for far too long, with me at one point thinking my rear brake was jammed on (no, just a headwind, a hill and tired legs). However, the riders are rewarded with the fast gradual descent along the Horsham Road before the final left turn to the finish.

So not a particularly quick day, even for this course, but David Watt rode a very good time to take the scratch win. It looks like David is going to be the man to beat this year with some good early season form. I think he may have been doing that thing called 'training'. I was pleased to follow him home in second place and Simon Trehearn rounded out the top three.

Both Jake Dodd and Rachel Watkins were aboard their new TT bikes for the first time. Nothing like picking an easy, non-technical course to ride a tt bike on for the first time, eh ladies!? Both did brilliantly to finish second and third in the women's race overall.

Most impressive however was Grant Pyke's age category win in the 75-79 age group. Well done Grant.

SCCU Sporting 25

So it was back to do exactly the same course for the 25, except it was 3 big laps rather than just the one. I don't know about the other Phoenix riders but it seemed that every obstacle that could be put in the way of a relatively fast and trouble free ride was out this morning. Gravel, pot holes, tractors, horses, mud, headwinds, crosswinds, club riders 4 abreast and to cap it off, a flock of 100 or so sheep that had decided to make a bid for freedom on Ockley Green. That said, the winds were lighter and it was not quite as chilly as the day before, despite it being a considerably earlier start. I think that we now all know this course like the backs of our hand.

It was mixed fortunes for KPRC riders. Joe Bertorelli had to retire after the first lap owing to an injury and David Watt punctured at the beginning of the second lap, the gravel finally claiming a victim. I was able to benefit from David's misfortune (thanks David) to take the scratch win, with Simon Trehearn in second place and Simon Waller taking third. Again, Jake and Rachel took the Women's first and second place. Mike Morley kept up our age group victories for the weekend with a win in the 70-74 age group. Well done Mike.

Thanks should also go to Brian Powney for marshalling on Saturday and Frank for timekeeping as well as  Ron and Doreen Powney and Philip Burgin for supporting.

The next Rawson Shield event is the SCCU 25 on April 19th (closing date is the 7th April) so let's try to get another 13-15 riders out for that one. Hopefully we will be blessed with a faster day and some good times.