Firstly, I’ll take the opportunity to say thanks to all the guys who showed up during the year to lend a hand or to shout at/berate/abuse/support their clubs mates – the list is long but at the top of it goes Mr and Mrs ‘Fab’ Lamsdell who consistently ensured the timely arrive of our youngest member and consistently shouted encouragement to Team Wrekinsport through every event. Also mentioned in despatches are Jim Percival and The Gos who helped last night ensuring Wrekinsport were as well represented with helpers as we were with riders. Similarly, Wrekinsport held up their part of the bargain with the Charlton race that went off safely and without incident.
Big thanks to Big Daddy Goring, Steve Allcott, Andy Jones, Mike and Cheryl Jackson, Linezy et all for exemplary organisation. 80 quid for 13 perfectly executed road races is unbelievable value for money. A huge amount of time goes into these things in the off-season and they do it for the benefit of racing cyclists in region not because there is any financial reward.
Now then, remember my moaning at being put in the G3 at the beginning of the season? I knew revenge would be mine one day and here it is – Mr G mentioned to me he’d be getting some training in over the winter and riding next year in the league and now here it is in writing!
We would, it goes without saying, welcome him back to the racing fold with (quite widely spread) open arms. It would be great to see you back on the grid next year Dave.Thanks to the team for making it such good fun particularly Fab, Fenner, Gray’s Anatomy and Last minute Rowley (who did most of the events) and to Andy Steventon, Steve Elcocks and Dave Moore for showing their hand too. I’m pretty sure everybody who gave it a lash got something out of it even if it was only teeth marks on the handle bars and new holes to breath through!
Enough already: the racing. Last Minute and Fab off in G1, Fenner in G2, 3 puddings and Simon in G3. Last night’s race was graced with Andy Tennant, former junior pursuit World Champion and member of the current Great Britain 4 man pursuit team so it was perhaps no surprise that the whole thing went off like greased lighting. Dan Soltys made a guest appearance in G3 for his first road race since 2002 as well. Equally unsurprisingly was that G4 got hold of us within 2 laps, the merged G4/3 caught G2 half a lap later (after Mark has been away in a break) and we finally tracked down G1 on the last lap (I think…it was getting blurry again).
Unfortunately, Last Minute broke a spoke and taco’d a wheel so he was out early on and the early break took its toll on Fenner who couldn’t quite stay with the merged group on the hill on the last lap. Just to put it in some perspective, I averaged 42kph (26.1 mph) for the 1hr 15 minute race and the speed went UP for the last 2 laps so it WAS moving a bit. Fastest one of the year I think.
Big bunch sprint on a nice flat smooth broad surface with Gray’s Anatomy followed by 3 Puddings, Fab then Mark. I reckon 3 of the Wrekinsporters got into the top 15/20 so not a bad days work.
There was a BBQ afterwards and a chance to see the faces of some of the guys you race with every week, to say a few thanks to the organisers and congratulate the winners (lots of new, scarily young, faces).
I returned home for a Chocolate ReGo and a shower. To celebrate, I pinched some of my girlfriend’s volumising Hebal Essence shampoo which, aside from making my head smell like an apple, has not had the effect I was looking for so far.
Please come and join us next season. We’ve had some fun and I think its fair to say we’ve all progressed as riders. And, finally, thanks for reading!
More, much more…..next season
Richie ‘3 puddings’ Smith
.