Press Report 2 October

[thetrotter]

"With the summer cycling season coming to an end, attention has turned to the traditional winter events of cyclo-cross and track racing. The most famous – and by far the toughest and biggest– cyclo cross event in the UK is the Three Peaks which regularly attracts field of over 500 riders. The 38 mile course includes the climbs of Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen y Ghent, with 5000 feet of climbing, and over 20 miles of unsurfaced riding with 5 miles officially classed as unrideable even by the most skilled competitors. Conditions were dreadful this year with rain for the first 30-45 mins and mist over Ingleborough (which was very heavy under foot), but the Wheelers excelled and placed two riders in the top twenty (Simon Harding in 7th place with a time of 3 hours 21 minutes and 26 seconds, and Matt Lawton in 18th place with 3 hours 29 minutes and eight seconds) and took fifth place in the hard fought team competition with Eelco Doctor backing up Harding and Lawton in 75th place with 3 hours 51 minutes and 2 seconds. Other Wheelers were Alex Clarke-Williams (202nd in 4.21.21), Marcus Fielden (283rd in 4.37.23), Brian Renshaw (393rd in 4.56.20) and Ruth Gamwell (496th in 5.24.05). For both Renshaw and Gamwell this was their 12th participation in the event.
Away from the rain of the northern Pennines, Chris Higgs was competing in the European Masters Track Championships in Italy. Higgs came away with two silver medals for the 500m time trail and the 2 kilometre pusuit to add to her already substantial collection.
Roger Wrenn added another national title to his collection when he won the over 60s category of the TLI 10 mile championship held on the very sporting circuit around Siddington and Lower Withington with 24.29. Wrenn then rode the Seamons CC 25 mile event on the Chelford course and finished just outside the top twenty with his time of 1.00.43. Warren Jackson was a little further down the field with 1.02.30. Paracycling World Time Trial Champion Colin Lynch won the latest round of the Rudy Project Time Trial series held over a 14.9 mile circuit at Willoughby-on-the-Wolds, beating the overall series winner into the bargain.
David Higham and Steve Beckett tried their hand at comparing themselves with the professionals when they rode the same route as the Stoke on Trent stage of the recent Tour of Britain. Both were understandably a little slower than the winner of the actual Tour stage earlier in the month (Lars Boom who completed the stage in 3.23.46) with Higham finishing in 4.41.02 to finish in the top 50 and Beckett in 5.02.46. John Jackson successfully qualified as a Audax super Randonneur by completing the Venetian nights 210km Audax. The super Randonneur requires the rider to complete 200km, 300km 400km and 600km Audax events in one year. He joins John Perrin and James Roberson who qualified earlier in the year. The Venetian nights event started in Macclesfield covering 100km on the flat via Bunbury before heading to Matlock via the Roaches and returning over the Cat and Fiddle. Also riding were Dale Langham and Michael Leung making his first attempt at this type of event."

Thanks to Simon G for an excellent route to Wetton MIll on Saturday and good to see Dave Haley back on his bike again after his major operation.

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[Pokerface]

A pic of me riding in the Rudy Project TT on the weekend: