"The longest races in the time trial calendar traditionally take place towards the end of the season and this is where Steve Jackson is in his element. Steve started the week by riding the West Cheshire and Merseyside Time Trial Association 12 hour event based on roads in Shropshire. In contrast to most other events, the aim is to ride as far as possible in the allotted time and this is a discipline at which Jackson excels. Unfortunately this year, he did well to finish with 225.5 miles after a recurrence of an old knee injury at 70 miles into the event. Undeterred, Jackson also rode the Congleton CC 50 mile event on Saturday at Chelford. Conditions were very windy with heavy showers but despite this Jackson did one of his fastest rides at the distance this year with 2.06.55. In the same event, Dave Higham just missed out on a top ten finish but won the prize for fastest veteran over 50, with 2.02.36.
Roger Wrenn returned to competition after a six week break in Europe in the final Westmead Team 88 10 mile event of the season on Wednesday evening with 23.50. John Baguley also rode and showed no ill effects from last week’s J.F. Parkinson road race with 26.15.
Also on Wednesday, Jim Ennis and Dave Catlow completed the final event in the Peak Audax series, the Staffordshire Peak Grimpeur. This is a brute of a ride with 9,150ft of climbing in 69 miles including Windgather Rocks, the Goyt Incline, Axe Edge, Wetton Mill/Butterton, Elkstones, and Gun Hill. Unusually for this week, the rain held off and this is the first time that Ennis has managed to complete all five events in the same year."
Great ride by Steve on Saturday after his knee problems in the 12 - he was going like a train when I saw him. Three seconds off tenth place for me but £40 prize money in two weeks means that I will be looking for investment advice
