This was the first time the Brogborough '10' course had been used for an NBRC club event. The course was first used a few years ago when the new link road to the Bedford bypass was opened, thereby rendering the old A421 quite quiet. It features a gift start hill that doesn't need to to raced back up. On the other hand, the road can be quite exposed, and the surface leaves a bit to be desired in places. The Marston Moretaine roundabout needs a bit of care on the outbound leg, because the exit lane doesn't seem in line with the entry lane!
On the evening, the weather was fairly breezy - what wind there was provided a bit of side and a bit of tail wind going out - though there was enough crosswind to make things a bit twitchy at times.
I was number 17 in a field of 21, and as I lined up at the crest of the hill in the lea of a big articulated lorry, dark clouds were gathering as the temperature dropped. A few big raindrops fell, and I think we all felt a bit apprehensive!
I set off down the hill, feeling reasonably good. There were a few minor twitches due to the wind, but nothing alarming. The outbound leg had been widely expected to be roaring fast, but I guess the real direction of the wind was not going to allow that. At times my speed fell and rose for seemingly inexplicable reasons! I had no trouble with traffic at the first pass through the Marston roundabout and only got slowed slightly at the turn roundabout. I had Andy Wickham in my sights by this time, and on the return leg used him as a target (I eventually passed him shortly before the finish).
In the return leg, my speed seemed to fluctuate quite a bit, but by dint of keeping in a quite big gear, I kept things rolling well enough. The last half mile seemed absolute torture to me! I finished in 22:30 to take second place behind Jez, who did a splendid 21:11.
Results
Pos
No
Name
Club
Time
Cat
Vets Std
.+ / -
Vets Std
1
4
Jez Honor
Equipe Velo
21.11
V44
26.18
.+ 5.07
1
2
17
Robert Saunders
NBRC
22.30
V55
27.09
.+ 4.39
2
3
12
Simon Moss
Equipe Velo
22.51
V41
26.04
.+ 3.13
4
4
21
Lindz Barral
Equipe Velo
23.02
Sen.
5
13
David Carrington
TeamMK
23.21
V49
26.41
.+ 3 20
3
6
6
James Barlow
Albarosa CC
23.28
Sen.
7
19
Alan Crane
Chronos RT
23.29
V46
26.27
.+ 2.58
6
8
16
Andy Wickham
NBRC
23.35
V44
26.18
.+ 2.43
9
9
8
Ant Newland
Bossard Wheelers CC
23.45
V49
26.41
.+ 2.56
7
10
3
Mick Atkinson
TeamMK
23.50
V46
26.27
.+ 2.37
10
11
11
Trevor Hook
TeamMK
24.34
V57
27.20
.+ 2.46
8
12
15
David Price
NBRC
24.52
V47
26.32
.+ 1.40
12
13
9
Paul Woodham
Bossard Wheelers CC
24.58
V63
27.59
.+ 3.01
5
14
18
Ian Markham
Chronos RT
25.26
V46
26.27
.+ 1.01
14
15
7
Trevor Watson
Bossard Wheelers CC
26.07
V56
27.14
.+ 1.07
13
16
14
Ross Andrew Callacher
Leighton Buzzard Roads CC
26.23
Sen.
17
2
Clive Faine
TeamMK / NBRC
26.26
V68
28.42
.+ 2.16
11
18
20
Luke Daniells
NBRC
27.06
V42
26.09
.- 0.57
15
19
10
Dave Crane
Chronos RT
33.41
V50
26.45
.- 6.56
16
Katja Rietdorf (#5) didn't finish. Timekeepers were Steph and Tony, with Dick doing the pushing off. Bryan, who's hand was recovering from an operation was sort of general factotum and jacket curator.
