Mercia Report 07-06-2009

Prior to his forthcoming Tour of Romania, guesting for the Luxembourg team, David Clarke (Pendragon Sports/Kalas) won the Mersey Roads Clubs Criterium on the Litherland circuit in Liverpool. He was also 2nd in the Liverpool Century Road club's race on the same circuit the previous week. In the Kings of Wessex Road Race over 160 km held at Somerton in Somerset he was third. The winner was Yanto Barker (Le Col- Colnago) & finally he finished 14th in the Edinburgh Nocturne circuit race at Grassmarket. The race was won by David Miller (Garmin Slipstream) just back from the Tour of Italy.

Keiron Frend (Sabath/Clayton) from Barton under Needwood won the Midlands Road Race Championship over 85 kilometres held at Sheriff Hales near Telford, out sprinting Matthew Higgins (Team Corley Cycles). Plan B's Lewis Cowley finished 20th out of the 51 starters.

Simon Parker continues to gain points towards the Mercia HBM Road Race Championship with another strong ride in the Mallory Park Evening Road Race League for 3rd & 4th category riders finishing just behind the leading seven riders in the 55 kilometre race. The winner was Colin Parkinson (South Western RC).

In time trialling Noel Adams timed 2hrs 7mins 16secs in a 50 mile open time trial organised by the Manchester & District Veterans Time Trial Association on the Blythe Bridge Mickleover course. Anne Staley (Plan B) timed 2 11 57 to win the ladies veterans prise. The fastest rider was Charles McCulloch (Shorter Rochford RT) in 1 43 50.

Despite the very windy conditions The Mercia HBM CC open 25 mile time trial on the A38 early on Sunday morning saw 10 Mercia riders compete in the event facing a very strong northerly wind on the outward leg from Alrewas to Willington. The return leg to Fradley saw riders doing 30mph plus. Matt Simons was the fastest club member in 14th place. Phil Machin & Keith Staley were 2nd & 3rd on handicap. The times were Matt Simons 1 02 56, Phil Machin 1 04 13, Keith Staley 1 04 17, Jack Hugill 1 07 16, Simon Parker 1 09 38, Justin Waters 1 13 51, Mark Eccleston 1 13 59, Tony Marlow 1 14 48, Adrian Waters 1 17 58, & Keiron Patterson 1 18 42. The winner was Andrew Bason (Wrekin Sport CC) 54 36.

On an excellent warm evening 21 riders competed in the latest 10 mile handicapped evening time trial. David Clarke improved on his winning time on the Anslow circuit by getting under 23 mins, timing 22 57. The second fastest rider was Patrick Heron (Plan B) in 24 44. 3rd was Mercia HBM's Keith Staley in 24 57. The other riders & times were Daniel Partington (Plan B) 25 41, Jack Hugill 25 48, Jeff Slinn 26 24, Neil Sleigh (Plan B) 26 24, Steve Herriman (Meynell Valley Hunters Triathlon Club) 26 42, Peter Collins 26 45, Steve Plummer 26 57, Alec Taylor 27 37, Andrew Wendle 27 41, Justin Waters 27 46, Ben Startin 27 51, Mark Eccleston 27 57, Mark Ward 29 28, Adrian Waters 29 34, Mick Abbott 29 48, Colin Johnson 30 41, Andy Burton 31 09, Peter Rose 33 57 & at 1 lap Dave Peters 18 27. First on handicap was Mick Abbott in 17 48 (his first cycling event in 13 years) joint second were Keith Staley & Peter Rose with 21 57.