What seemed like a relaxed start to me enabled me to slot into 3rd place surprisingly easily (cheers Brownie) for the wooded downhill. The first time I've seen the leaders all year, only lasted half a lap but its a start.

Jef Sharpe did his disappearing act as usual and Martin chased but could not hold off Steve Large who grabbed second place. Keith Sperry moved past for 3rd to shove me back to a more customary 4th. The whole race was then about fighting off Gary Houghton, which finally came down to a sprint which I got.

Great course and a whole load of fun.

Only a week since the last race, suddenly the championship is coming to a head and lots of riders want a pice of the action.  Here's how it went for me last night...............

The start was an uphill fire road climb as per the last race here a few weeks since, I went backwards when I missed the change onto the big ring, but was something like 7th into the first singletrack, following; Matt Barret, Paul Robertson, Adrian Scott, Jason Hucklesby, Chris Rathbone, Lloyd Bettles.  As soon as we left the woods again I set about moving forward despatching Rathbone, Bettles and soon-to-retire Hucklesby in quick succession.  In fact Hucks' face was a picture; when holding 4th he looked over his shoulder and the colour drained from his face when he saw it was me coming to spoil his day, priceless!

This left Barret, Robertson and Scott up front with me chasing (ultimately in vain but I kept them honest).  I'd practiced the bottom woods four times over before the start even finding the best front suspension setting to keep the steering tight so was able to really enjoy myself through there, but soon I started getting slight gear-shifting and indexing problems, I moved the gear adjuster to compensate but went the wrong way making the problem worse.

On lap two I saw Barret at the side of the track before the very fast descent, he'd ripped his tubeless rear tyre away from the rim, race over for him leaving me on the podium if I kept my head down.  By lap three I could see Robertson and Scott working together to move inexorably away, my shifting problems temporarily halted my chase allowing Bettles to get his tail up and start in on the gap between us.  I saw him coming at the top woods; I'd thought he was safely behind so trying not to panic I REALLY put the hammer down.  A combination of my renewed pace, gears working properly and Bettles crashing while trying to pass two Rugby Velo back-markers put a stop to his ambitions but he still wasn't far away (he later claimed he was going to catch me no matter what I did!).  As it was, Bettles had hurt his right arm and hand and was detuned enough not to threaten me further.

This didn't mean I eased off, I wasn't aware of the drama unfolding behind me so I looked out for Bettles next lap, he was much further back so I concentrated once again on trying to catch the leaders.  I did make faster laps than the leaders once or twice, but not enough to make an impression.  They were having a right old ding-dong or so it appeared, Robertson shadowing Scott for much of the later stages before putting in a decisive spurt, securing the win with Scott in second.  With no one else challenging me, I was chuffed with third, just catching and lapping team-mate Troy Rollason before the finish line - he didn't thank me for that.  Bettles was fourth and Rathbone came home in fifth.

I was happy to beat all my closest competitiors in the points standings, but now Adrian Scott has qualified he's shot straight to the top of the table.  Other riders in contention are Nick Jones and Paul Robertson; if either or both of these two turn up and have a good race next week it could spoil a lots of peoples championship aspirations, not least mine.  Mind you, if you'd have offered me my points tally today at the strart of the season I'd have snapped your hand off, so I can't be disappointed, can I? 

There are a lot of riders on four races who need next weeks' event to qualify overall, it's gonna be busy.

 

 

Hi riders and canoeists,

Sorry I have been abit quiet on what is happening, but I have had no internet for 5 weeks, but I am now back on line.

Bulwick estates event will go ahead, no matter the weather, the course will be designed around what we can use.

The final round at Brixworth country park will now be a normal cross country race and will be counting towards the overall positions, so you will still need 6 to count, as well as the BBQ afterwards, conditions permitting.

Treads are sending me a refund cheque, so all their pre entries will receive a cheque from myself, Kettering CC are sorting theirs out themselves.

For those who haven't heard, the Rugby round, due to be held at St Andrews, will now be held on the Cosford again.

 

Yours, Neil Holman

Series Co-ordinator

Due to the recent very bad weather and other factors here is the latest re-scheduled race information.

Rugby Cosford Round Now rescheduled for Friday 13th July!..................(risky!!)

Treads at Delapre Park (Was  Irchester race) Is still on the original date but has a new venue.

This has a new venue it will be held in Delapre Park Northampton for the first time.

Location on Multimap is here  Entry is via London Road on the A508.

There is a park website here Delapre ABBEY, there might be a teashop open on the evening but they are not sure yet.

The Desboro Race has now been re-orgainsed for 27th July.

So to Clarify:

13th July Cosford Rugby

20th July Delapre Northampton

27th July West Lodge Centre Desboro

A reminder that Fridays Race 5 venue at Kilworth has excellent facilities including changing rooms and showers (just turn left up the stairs just inside the main entrance) and theres a bar and good food available afterwards so why not make an evening of it and join us in the bar and patio beer garden at the 19th for the prizegiving.

 

PLEASE NOTE the entrance to the course is now just off the A426 dual carriageway as you come off the J1 of M6. Its almost opposite the roundabout by the big ALDI. It will be signposted.
From the M6 junction go straight over the first roundabout then at the second one double back on yourself to return on the otherside of the dual carraigeway and take the Sharp left farm entrance which will be signposted.

You can still get in the old way but the new entrance is easier and not so rough - its sign posted as LODGE FARM and you go over a cattle grid.




Free BEER and Soft Drink for each finisher again............(

Promoter: Rugby Velo, a Pete and Dud promotion.
Contact: Martin Eadon
Parking Info: Difficult entrance if wet, field parking, please shut all gates.
Race Terrain: Short course,very tight and twisty often rooty singletrack within two wooded sections where the riders with good skills can grab lots of time over other riders.
Includes open climbs and descents dependant on direction on the night. Skinny tyres when raining required as is some good balance.
Lap Length: About 2 miles but can be for longer with a third wood area.
Misc: Check out the site website at Boyestoys
Directions: From M6 junc 1 head for Rugby and at the 3rd roundabout which is the first big one (signposted Mr Kipling roundabout) take the 3rd exit - Left, and head for SWIFT VALLEY INDUSTRIAL ESTATE.
Take the 2nd or even the 3rd Right (Cosford Lane) and proceed through the Industrial Estate in the Cosford Village direction. At the end of lane roundabout follow the road on the right signposted Cosford.
The Race entrance is via a gate on the Right just on the Sharp LH corner before the village. Proceed down track and over river bridge to the parking area. NOTE: If very wet you might need to leave the vehicles on this side of the river bridge, but the farmer is adding hardstanding all the time.
Proceed with Caution if conditions are wet, and close all gates behind you especially over the river.

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