Carrying on from the bumper action in May, it didn’t stop in June with 10 events participated in and 11 members pinning on numbers. Our Club TT series was also running in the month as reported post events. The Series standing to be produced ahead of the season finale, who will take the club championship 2023……?
Words: James “Commander & Chief” Smee. Edit: Adam Coppard.
Moustache is Faster(er)??
1st June – RCR Handicap race - Goodwood
This format of race is slightly different to the normal one seen, each category of rider is set off with time gaps with the idea each group will catch the one in front close to the finish. Points on the line for the top 10 and prizes for first in category. Adam, Reid and myself took up the challenge - low entry numbers in the 4ths meant Reid started with Adam and myself - our objective stay away for the race avoiding the catch or sit on and wait for the catch, then ride with the E12, easy right?!
Reid always bringing the BEAM!
Let’s just say we went out at race pace, and it pretty much stayed there for the hour! A decent number of riders willing to work meant we stayed away with only two E1’s catching us on the last corner before the chicane and sprint finish. Solid rides from all and a top ten finish earned for myself.
2nd June – SDV Coach to Race session - Goodwood
Not directly racing, but close enough, SDV/Goodwood Summer Series host Tracey put on an evening dedicated to the women riders of the area. This closed track session saw all kinds of skills & drills coached by some pros, with lessons taken away that could be applied to all/any riding.
June 3rd – Southern XC
To the trails now, where Glenn and Chris D were competing in the Southern cross country mountain bike race. On a warm day with plenty of longer climbs Glenn kept up with the hard pace and made it onto the podium with a 3rd place finish, great work! Chris rode hard throughout and came in 24th out of a 60 strong field.
4th June Farnham RC – H8/10 TT
Still with the decent weather Larry rode the H8/10 course (bit of a rumble strip in places) pushing some big numbers to finish in a great time of 21:34 and 6th place overall.
6th June – SDV Summer Series #6- Goodwood
Back on the track Jon and Mark in the 4ths, with a thinning field, Jon led from the front and was ‘used’ by his competitors, but he stayed strong to hold on for 8th across the line.
I went in the 3rds not looking to score points and help a friend score their first points. I chased down breaks setting up a sprint finish which I led out dropping off rider, seeing them score their first points in Cat 3.
HRC – P841r TT
That same evening Larry wound it up again on the P841r posting a time of 22:13 with some tricky wind to deal with.
9th June – Portsmouth evening circuits #10
On a quieter night at the ‘oval’ Mark went in the 4th Cat race which was low on numbers. Finishing 5th but unfortunately only points awarded for 1 to 3 due to the field size.
10th June – a3crg vets – Goodwood 10
On a warm evening I took to the Goodwood circuit to ride in the Southern 10-mile closed circuit championships. This Vets event had riders competing across various categories, not just the overall quickest on the night, but age and ranking categories. I managed to come in 10th being beaten fairly and substantially by some senior riders to myself! Maybe I shouldn’t have gone out so hard (again) time recorded 21:30
Alice, unaware of how a collar works…
13th June – SDV Summer series #7
Jen and Alice, new to the club, went straight into the women’s E1234 race, which looked hard with plenty of attacks being thrown down. In the end it came to a bunch finish with Alice taking 9th and, in the points [nice ;)] and Jen finishing her first race, chapeau!
I raced again, with no one else (CCR) to look for I rode with a few friends again looking to help them. But being me….. I rode off with another rider and spent half the race in a two-up break before being caught. Taking a rest, I then hit the front on the last lap and towed the pack through the chicane before the sprint started, I came across the line 4th but thought it was 6th. This took my points up to 40 and Cat 2 promotion.
HRC – P841r TT
Larry, Adam, and Laurence rode the local course in a field of 22 riders. Larry 21:47, Adam 22:31, Laurence 23:23. Larry taking 2nd place on the night and showing a consistent strong run of performances on the TT rig.
June 14th – Portsmouth evening circuits #11
Two for the club, Adam and Sam took on the field riding in circles breaking and countering each other for Sam to get away in a break. It came together before the end, but Sam had enough left to take 3rd on the line and his partner in crime (Adam) rolling in for 9th - Nice teamwork boys.
Told you there would be a new skin suit…(and helmet 👀😁)
17th June – F11/10 TT
Larry took to the course he’d run early but this time with better conditions and course knowledge. To say he smashed it would be an understatement, a time of 19:20, a season best, PB and year’s goal all done on this TT. Averaging just over 31mph a club record as well, the time was good enough for 26th overall with a very competitive field. The benchmark is set now Larry – what’s next!?
27th June – HRC P841R/10 - 2-up TT
A slightly cooler (than previous heatwave weeks) but stunning Tuesday eve saw two CCR teams take it to the familiar and popular P841R/10 course for a 2-up showing. Sam Hadnett/Adam C on one team, and Ross K/Harry D on the other, both opting for road bikes to keep things fair and even.
And what a result for CCR, with the guys taking the 1-2 on the night, with times of 22:33 and 24:23 respectively.
Don’t forget the CCR 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
Season finale: P901/10 August 6th – closing date for entries 27th July – don’t delay get your entry in Now!
Enter here www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/26139
After the racing is complete, we will be heading out on a Sunday social club ride, starting from the HQ so look out for the details in the club socials/Spond.