Eastbourne Rovers CC 10 29.05.10

I rode the Eastbourne Rovers open 10 mile TT this morning, the weather just about held up ok although it was quite blustery!
My legs wernt fantastic after a weeks walking holiday in Wales (great time) but came in 4th although i was well beaten!

1st Pete Tadros - In Gear Rt- 20.19
2nd Ben Instone - AC3Gr - 20.29
3rd Nick Dewey - Lewes Wanderers -21.29
4th Simon McNamara - Southdown Bikes - 21.59
5th Christian Yates - In gear Rt - 22.45

Given the prep, i was quite pleased with my ride :)

Simon Mac

Ian and Matt get XC Racer mention

Here is a link to the Gorrick Saddle Skedaddle Round 6 race report by Joolze Dymond (sadly no mention of the team name).

Congratulations to Ian and Max for great results at the w/e. Good luck to Andy and John for the Set 2 Rise on Saturday and anyone else racing at the w/e.

Southern XC – Pippingford 23rd May 2010


Back in time (more than 20 years ago) my first MTB race was a Southern Area Mountainbike race (SAM series) and I have been supporting the premier southern series ever since. In the old days there use to be up to 200 riders in some classes. The numbers slowly dropped until a few years ago when Steve Jones and a new team became more involved and now it is re-establishing itself with good courses and attendance.
Sunday was a hot day and at 27C and the SXC organizers were pulling riders off the course if they considered they were suffering heat stroke.
For those who haven’t ridden at Pippingford, if it wet it’s horrible, if it’s dry it’s good.
And good it was with new sections including steps, drop offs, ditches, roots and the fantastic top gear decent with burms all waiting to catch you out. The organizers admitted they set a challenging course, but that suits my 2009 Specialized S-Works Epic perfectly.
In my race I was seeded 2 from round 1 but after my poor race last week at Gorrick (caused, I think by overtraining and DIY) I was very cautious about rushing at the start so slipped into 5th place and didn’t rush for the first ½ lap a policy that really worked; by the end of lap 1, it was 4th, lap 2 it was 3rd and at the finish 2nd. I am very pleased with the result as I was several minutes ahead of 3rd and 4th places.
Southdowns Bikes team member Max Filleul also won the Sport class on his Specialized.

Southern XC Rd 2 Pippingford


Well done to Max for a great win in the Sport Male category and to Ian for a splendid 2nd in the Grand Vets to keep him in second place in the series ! , This week John and i will be off to Earlstoke for the Set2Rise twelve hour nite Enduro which was an awsome event last year.

Ian at his best !

Well done Ian , i thought you were taller or do they let Grand Vets sit after each race !
and i thought it was 2010 !

Gorrick Spring Series Rd 6, Frith Hill

16th May 2010

On Sunday Ian Petherbridge, Alex Taylor and I (Matt Knight) made the trip to Frith Hill for the final round of the Gorrick Saddle Skedaddle Spring Series. Going into the race Ian was top of the Grand Vet rankings and looking to close out what could be a maiden series victory.

The course lived up to Gorrick's excellent course building reputation with plenty of fast technical single track.

Ian was up first and despite puncturing and having heavy legs on the pre ride made a cracking start taking the lead straight away. However, he couldn’t shake the following posse and struggled on the short sharp hills which normally pose no problems, crossing the line in a disappointing 6th place. Reflecting afterwards Ian was annoyed having beaten all his rivals in a strong category throughout the series.

Due to a no show from His closest rival 6th place proved enough for Ian to be confirmed as series champion! Congratulations!

Alex and I started at one. After the usual hell-for-leather start I was in the top 10 with Alex in the midfield. During the first half of the race I managed to pick off the riders at the front and was in the lead going into the final lap. However, I slowed during the final lap and was caught by the second place rider. Having been out sprinted by our own Alex Davey at the Goodwood Spring Challenge I was determined not to let it happen again. With about a mile to go I put the hammer down on the penultimate hill and managed to build a 13 second gap by the line.

Alex had probably his best race in Southdowns colours. Having been caught on the second lap by a group of three riders he latched onto the back and regrouped. During the final lap he found the strength to pass them and push on. It was great to see him buzzing at the finish.

All in all a great event for Southdowns and congratulations again to Ian


Results.


Surrey League Barcombe 2/3 Sunday May 2nd

Steve Atkinson, Richard Sale, Tom Marchment & myself (Simon McNamara) rode the Surrey League 2/3 RR at Barcombe on Sunday.
The weather was awful from the start, with the bunch splitting as much on the downhill sections as on the ascents. Richard & Tom both punctured before half distance but looked strong up til that point, the race was domininated by a 3 man break that eventually split leaving Chris Holmes (Norwood Paragon) out front on his own, he did a great job in staying away for the win, hanging on to win by 5 secs when it seemes certain he would be caught but with no one willing or able to close the gap from the bunch. Steve Atkinson suffered in the last 1 1/2 laps being so cold he could not get any food or gels from his pockets! & finnished 28th.
I contested the uphill finnish to take 6th but my legs were pretty poor from the SCA 10 the previous morning (6th also)
It was good to be at the race with the Southdowns Bikes team & believe we will work well in races together in the future.

Emma with her 1st place trophy Gorrick 4 Hour


Local Time Trial - Tuesday May 4th

Brighton Excelsior TT - Tuesday May 4th 1845


Looks like there is no Surrrey League at Goodwood Tuesday so anyone riding the Excelsior TT on the GS982 ? Its 16.5 miles and starts at 1845. Starts and finishes near Steyning .Check the web site for details- www.brightonexcelsior.co.uk. They have been getting full fields so worth getting there early.