For the first club championship of the season, it appeared to be a bright, if cold day with a slight breeze. For me this is a "local course", being only 28 miles to the event HQ, but as I drove over the top of the Black Mountain the thermometer registered just 3.5 c and it was blowing a gale. At the headquarters riders assembled amongst the remnants of last nights wedding party and discussed how long it would take to ride the 4 miles to the start line. I arrived too early and had a short warm-up ride - it was just 6.5 degrees and there was a strong easterley wind. I was no.2 and set off in pursuit of my minute man, gaining nothing until the climb of the LLandeilo by-pass, by which time I was being overtaken by a procession of much fitter competitors.
Although there was a tail wind it didn,t seem to provide much help - but Mark Nott sailed by at about a mile before the turn and was looking good. Once we turned for the 14 mile return leg, it was more difficult. The twisting, undulating nature of the road meant there was no constant wind. The climb of the "Col-De-Llandeilo" bypass was particularly stressful, coming as did with just about 3.5 miles remaing. From LLandeilo roundabout to the finish was a headwind, with both Mark Rosser and Steven Landeg showing their Majorca training had paid off, as they sailed by. The 6 miles back to the HQ seemed to take forever, as my ever diminishing energy level dissipated. I was so grateful that I managed to finish before Andy Harries and Keiron Davies stormed in.
Result:- 1st Keiron Davies Team NBCC 1.03.53
Mark Rosser OVW 1.12.48
Mark Nott " 1.14.59 pb
Andy Harries " 1.18.05 pb
Steven Landeg " 1.20.37
Norman James " 1.38.17
Stephen Madeley " DNSA
So Mark Rosser retains his club championship with an improvement of 1min 24 secs on last year. Congratulations to him, and well done the rest of the team.
