Mercia Report 24-05-09

David Clarke's (Pendragon Kalas) best result to date was 2nd place in the Blackdown Grand Prix held at Horton in Somerset & organised by 1st Chard Wheelers. The race went over the Blackdown Hills. Each lap was 11 miles long & was covered 7 times. Seventy seven riders started the race. Clarke broke away early on with 5 other riders in torrential rain. The leading five stayed away to the finish. The decisive move of the race was made by Jonathon Tiernan Locke of the local Sports Bean Willier Team who broke away to beat Clarke to the finishing line by 58 seconds.

David's other recent result was 9th in the 40km Circuit Races at Shrewsbury. Plan B RT riders Lewis Cowley & Steven Locke Finished 4th & 12th respectively. The winner was Simon Wilson (Arctic Premier RT). In the Lincoln Grand Prix Premier Race Clarke finished 35th in the 138 kilometre race, 2 mins behind the winner Russell Downing (Candi TV Marshalls Pasta). It was the 3rd time he had won the race. 87 riders finished the race out of 176 starters.

Mercia HBM riders also competed in local races. At Mallory Park Simon Parker finished 12th & Noel Adams finished in the main field in the 3rd & 4th category races Over 40 km. The winner was Phil Blacker (Wyre Forest CRC). Noel also competed in & finished the 2nd & 3rd category race over 55km at Daley Moor, organised by Derby Mercury Cycling Club. In the Birmingham Cycling Club Criteriums held at Solihull Business Park over 45 km for 4th category riders Phil Machin was 15th & Keith Staley 16th.

In time trialling Matt Simons timed 1 4 10 in the VC Long Eaton 25 mile event held on the hilly Griffydam course near Coalville. Matt Bottrill (De Rosa RT) broke the course record timing 54 08 to win the event.

The threat of thunder storms saw the number of competitors reduced to 12 riders in the first evening 10 mile time trial on the A515 at Yoxall. Only eleven riders finished as Simon Smith retired with a mechanical problem. The riders & times were as follows: Sean Sleigh (Plan B) 24 12, Noel Adams 26 02. Jack Hugill 26 38, Peter Collins 27 25, Jeff Slinn 28 19, Neil Sleigh (Plan B) 28 34, Mark Eccleston 28 36, Justin Waters 30 07, Adrian Waters 31 17, Keiron Patterson 31 43 & Peter Rose 35 17.