BOXING DAY TIME TRIAL REPORT.
For this year’s annual festive event some 16 hardy club members faced the timekeeper Dave Ritchie resplendent in his Father Christmas outfit.
At the gathering in the clubhouse prior to the event I was able to overhear the plethora of excuses regarding lack of fitness,eaten too much etc whilst numbers were being pinned on a variety of clothing, some in skin suits (clearly approaching the race with serious faces), others in Winter jackets, and one even in short sleeves, adopting a more casual manner.
Most of the bikes this year were decorated in tinsel and ribbons, however, the outright winner was Neil Laing and daughter Olivia with the ‘tag along’ bike, for the second year running.
The weather was fine and dry with little or no wind making for favourable racing conditions for the route from Weld Road roundabout to Pontins and back a distance of just over 5 miles.
The clear winner was in form Simon Deeley with a time of 11 minutes and 38 seconds, at times was up to 30mph, riding his Giant time trial machine, the previous week he had recorded a 23.03 ride in the Manchester 10 mile TT.
In second place was fast improving big Tom Williams on his newly acquired Trek TT bike he stopped the clock on 13 mins 14 secs.
In 3rd place riding a conventional road bike adorned with decorations was the club’s Junior star Conor McKinnon who recorded 13mins 35secs.
Amongst the rest, credit to evergreen Margaret Biggs who arrived late in a panic still managed to record 17secs 5secs. As most of you will be aware Margaret is an amputee but this disability doesn’t deter her from cycling and is an inspiration to us all.
Also,new member Vinny Murphy overcame a mechanical problem at the start but still completed the course with a smile on his face.
Thanks go to the timekeepers Dave, Derek, Neil and the Marshalls Pete Leonard and Allan Taylor at the turn.
There were no incidents of note and all riders successfully completed the course, See you all next year.
El Prez ??
