Mercia Report 26-04-09

It was busy weekend for Burton competitive cyclists. Starting with the Waters brothers who travelled to Solihull to compete in the Youth Criteriums at the Tudor Grange Leisure Centre. All the races in the different age groups were well supported. In the two races for the under 8's over 5 kilometres Elliot was 2nd & 3rd respectively. Moving on to the under 10's over 8 kilometres, Bailey was 6th in both his races. In the under 12's Joshua finished 12th & 8th respectively in his races. The difference in ages is a big handicap in this age group.

At Darley Moor Sports Centre four Mercia HBM senior riders were amongst the 80 starters in the 58 kilometre race for 2nd, 3rd & 4th category riders. Phil Machin, Noel Adams & Simon Parker rode very well to finish with the leaders, just out of the top ten. Keith Staley finished a lap behind. Second category rider Steven Locke (Plan B Racing) was placed 7th. The winner was Paul Thursfield ( Tunstall Wheelers CC).

The Burton & District Cycling Alliance 25 mile time trial had a full field of 120 riders with both Mercia HBM & Plan B riders competing on the fast Etwall to Uttoxeter course. The fastest of the 3 Mercia riders was Noel Adams in 1 01 25. Mark Eccleston timed 1 05 54, just 4 seconds off a personnel best. Peter Rose timed 1 24 38. The strong Plan B team only missed out on the 5 man team award by only 17 seconds to the Hinckley CRC team. The Plan B riders times were as follows Dan Davies 52 56, Lewis Cowley 53 26, Kevin Potter 54 58, Sean Sleigh 56 47, & Alistair Staley 58 51, Ann Staley was 1st lady on age standard & 2nd fastest lady with a time 1 02 10. The fastest rider was Matthew Bottrill (De Rosa RT) who averaged over 30 mph timing 49 26.

The first 10 mile evening time trial on the Anslow circuit attracted 21 riders. The fastest was David Clarke ( Pendragon/Kalas) 23 21, Lewis Cowley (Plan B) 24 10 was 2nd & 3rd was the first Mercia HBM rider Keith Staley in 25 59. The rest of the times were: Steve Herriman ( Meynell Valley Hunters) 26 02, Carl Robinson ( Meynell Valley Hunters) 26 03, Noel Adams 26 10, Simon Parker 27 07, Mark Ward 27 23, Jack Hugill 27 30, Jeff Slinn 27 49, Phil Jones 28 10, Mark Eccleston 28 10, Alec Taylor 28 22, Andrew Wendle 28 41, Derrick Baker 29 18, Colin Johnson 30 43, Adrian Waters 30 57, Keiron Patterson 31 22, Andy Burton 32 20, Peter Rose 36 20 & Dave Peters at one lap 18 29.