Club members took part in several events this month as the weather improved and Road Racing and Time Trial calendars were loaded with opportunities.
It has been a first for some and a return for others as they donned their CCR kit and rolled up to the start line. It was great to see the club colours represented across a number of events supporting the racing scene as well as our very own Time Trial series.
Forgive the “old” skinsuit, the new one was still on order… - Larry
3rd May – a3crg Goodwood TT series – P917/10
Open to Road bike and Time Trial bikes CCR had Jono, Nick B, and Keith ‘Mabbs’ riding (although Keith was under the Navy ☹) on road bikes and Larry, Adam, and Myself on TT bikes.
It was a really windy night, but we had some great times being posted by our riders on this closed circuit ten miler.
6th May – Portsmouth circuits – Mountbatten centre
The Kings Coronation circuits was one to remember, with driving rain and wind I was soaking wet with shoes filled with water after one warm up lap! A race dictated by a team with multiple numbers in it was tough to cover the rolling attacks. But after a mistake one rider got away with a few laps to go which meant they had to work for second place or more. On the final lap it came down to a mass sprint through the spray! I managed to hang on for 6th place.
7th May – F11/10
One of the fastest courses around attracts a lot of top TT riders. Larry donned the skin suit and climbed aboard the Ordu rocket ship for a blistering 10 miles putting in a time of 20:43! Which could have been better by all accounts, if he had not eased up for what he thought was the finish line about 100m too early. Chapeau.
9th May – HRC TT -P841r/10
Adam took to the TT course hosted by Hampshire Road Club on their regular Tuesday series flying the CCR colours along the local roads posting a time of 23:39 to finish 2nd, whilst still suffering from a pesky tooth infection and rattling with Amoxicillin.
10th May – Summer Circuits – Mountbatten centre
Taking to the track again I raced in circles with plenty of attacks and chases, but with a mixed field the sprint got too risky for me, so I backed off and rolled across the line for eighth and everything in tact!
I don’t know why I let you have this picture - Adam
16th May – New Forest CC – P128/10
Invited over to the New Forest where an old club member now resides, Adam and Larry took up the challenge of competing in their backyard. Fair to say Larry had the bit between his teeth and put down an impressive time of 21:44 and taking first place. Adam was not too far behind, and the pair took the overall team combined fastest time – nice work chaps, just waiting on the NFCC team to join us one evening on our course.
Goodwood Summer Series - #3
On the same evening I raced in the SDV series with a big field, I had a few attacks and managed a four man break for 20 mins before being caught by the pack. On the last lap with everyone together it went a sprint which I squeezed in for 8th
17th May – Portsmouth Circuits – Mountbatten centre
A sunny evening brought out Jon Ley and Adam Coppard to join Mark Labrum and myself at the races. Jon and Mark were active in their race forcing the pace early on. With a few counter attacks and others sitting on not working, Jon and Mark both finished in the points and getting off the mark for the season, well done, more of that please.
Meanwhile Adam and I had a plan to counter each other’s efforts as we raced with a field again dominated by one team with more numbers. After a few attacks Adam was away in a break only to be closed down a few laps later. I was then able to go with the next attack which after some work started to pull and we lapped the field. A decent result was hard fought for by the team.
21st May – a3crg – P881/25
The TT machine - Larry – hit a PB for 25m TT with a 53:11 on a not so simple course on the A3. Great ride Larry!
23rd May HRC – P841r/10
Larry and Adam took up the TT bike challenge on the local course, Larry taking another first place with a 21:56 (these times are coming down!) and Adam 23:30 for a CCR 1-2!
Mark, thinking up his battle-plan during the Race Briefing - and definitely not posing broody after spotting the photographer…
Goodwood summer series - #4
Mark Labrum had an eventful night racing, unfortunately getting caught in someone else’s crash, but not receiving too much damage to the rider or the bike. Antonia also made a debut on the track getting stuck into the women’s E1234 race.
26th May – Portsmouth Circuits #8 – Mountbatten
Friday night fun…. I went around in circles chasing attacks and counter attacks from two teams with big numbers in the field. One of them stuck and after a hard chase to catch the trio, we all pulled to lap the field. It ended with a mixed sprint from the whole field, but marking my breakaway companions managed to shoot it out getting second place on the line.
30th May – Goodwood summer series - #5
Last one of the month, a very windy night…. Mark Labrum was active in the Cat 4 race and on the final lap leading into the chicane but got mobbed up to the line to finish just outside the points, great racing though.
I lined up with the Cat 3’s with Keith Mabbott (still wearing that old Navy skinsuit) after a quick chat Keith said ‘not feeling too great… been on the beers… not raced a crit in 4yrs etc etc, so will just take it easy!’ As the whistle blew three PNECC riders attacked from the go, as we rounded the corner I caught sight of Mabbott firing down the track in pursuit of this break attempt. A couple more went in pursuit at which point I thought I’d join in the madness. As we hit the headwind section, which was like the brakes being pulled!, we soon closed the gap on the three out front, and as they sat up myself with two other riders rolled through. Looking back, I could see the pack thinking…. Idiots, lets leave em out there to burn up that energy….. fair enough I suppose, as one riding with us pulled out the line and freewheeled back to the pack. Not wanting it to be easy for the pack the pair of us pressed on (for 7/8 laps more) until two bridged across. We had a quartet that worked really well, all taking turns as we held the gap on the pack. Then the elastic broke, no organisation in the chase or riders not wanting to ride in the wind etc. our gap grew and then we were out of sight. Into the back straight I pulled a big turn and ‘flicked the elbow’ nothing happened, then the trio came through hard, I missed the back to watch them contest 1-3, checking behind I cruised across the line for 4th place – a rare day for the break at Goodwood.
An action packed month which I believe is only going to be bettered by June, as we have a nice weather spell, which I hope will encourage all those racers from last season to get back out there and of course see more members take up the opportunity to try Time Trialing on our club TT series which of course is free to members thanks to our sponsor Harkham Technologies – register and sign up here www.ttresults.co.uk