Mercia Report 05-07-2015

Tweet

Jason Seabridge does another PB and new club record in the BDCA 50 mile TT. Top 10 placings in road races at Curborough and Mallory Park and Ian Hill qualifies to be a Super Randonee.

Jack Hugill again organised and rode the Burton and District Cycling Alliance 50 mile time trial, also a counting event for the Mercia’s 50 mile Championship. Although not one of the best days, due to the wind on the outward leg from Etwall to Blythe Bridge, this didn’t stop Jason Seabridge doing a personal best and a new club record. Second fastest was Jack Hugill and third was Ben Startin. Tony Marlow’s time was the fastest he had done since the 1970’s Unfortunately Anne Staley did not finish due to feeling unwell against the wind on the outward leg. National 50 mile Champion Matt Bottrill won the open event by nearly 3 minutes over the second placed rider. The riders times were as follows. Matt Bottrill (wwwdrag2zero .com) 1 35 54. Jason Seabridge in 13th place 1 45 33. Jack Hugill 1 54 08, Ben Startin 1 58 53 & Tony Marlow 2 04 08.

Road Racing at Curborough Sprint course organised by The Royal Sutton Cycling Club. The Senior race for 3rd & 4th category riders had 2 Mercia cyclists competing. Tom Comb finished in 7th place putting points onto his licence. Andy Wray finished in the main field. The race was over 1 hour plus 5 laps of a 1 kilometre circuit. Christopher Welburn a member of Lichfield City C C won the race.

Haley Bosworth travelled to Mallory Park to compete in the evening ladies race to finish in 10th place . The 30 minute race was won by Emma Birtles, another member of the Lichfield City C C.

Mercia’s Ian Hill has also qualified to be an Audax Super Randonnuer by completing 2 more events over 400 and 600 kilometres. The first was the “Snowdon & Coast” 400km starting from Wem in Shropshire. This included a night-time ride on the quiet main roads through Newtown & across Wales to Aberystwyth. A tough hilly section followed with 3 climbs of Pen y Pass(359m high) Cwm Hafodyredwdd (485m) and the 487m Milltir Cerrig after Bala. It was the an easier ride across the Shropshire Plain to finish back at Wem within the 27 hour time limit.

Next was the “The Buzzard” 600 kilometre Audax ride from Leighton Buzzard which was a self supporting ride. It headed south over the Chilterns to cross the Thames at Pangbourne and the Hampshire Downs to Winchester. The ride then went westwards through Salisbury & the hilly A30, Shaftesbury, Sherbourne, Chard and Honiton to Exeter to complete a tiring 300 km against the wind. After some nights rest it was an easier ride up the old A38 to Taunton, then to Wells and Bath for the Cotswold climbs. Next was Cirencester, Burford & Brackley for a fast run into the finish at Leighton Buzzard, well within the 40 hour time limit. The event had 5900 meters of climbing… but also 5900 meters of decent.

19 riders signed on to compete in the Mercia Club’s 10 mile time trial on a very warm evening on the Anslow circuit. As usual the heat didn’t seem to slow the fastest rider Jason Seabridge who was nearly 2 minutes faster than the 2nd placed rider. The riders and times were as follows Jason Seabridge 23 53, Robert Gower 25 30, Ben Startin 25 48, Oliver Parker 26 04, Clive Walker 26 29, Eryk Woronowicz 27 03, Keith Staley 27 19, Simon Parker 27 33, Jon Quimby (Coalville Wheelers.) 27 36, Jeff Slinn 27 39, Tony Marlow 27 46, Andy Stewart 28 20 Dave Lovatt 30 35, Luke Slater 30 57, Gary Bush, 31 32. Owen Heath 33 01, and at 1 lap Dave Peters 18 25, Adrian Waters did not finish due to a puncture and Nick Marriott was unwell due to the exceptional warm conditions. The first 3 on handicap were Robert Gower 22 15, Luke Slater 22 42 and Tony Marlow 22 46.