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Merv took part in this at Risby, just outside of Bury St Edmunds. Encountering a strong southerly wind he recorded 1:08:09, less than 18 minutes behind the (much younger) event winner.

RESULT

This was Michelle's chance to take part in her first-ever race. In cold conditions at Hog Hill, she had a day of mixed blessings. She did not finish the full fifteen lap race - she was pulled out (by the race organisation) with about three laps remaining as she had been dropped from the leading bunch. However many were pulled out before her, and she outlasted both the other two lady competitors. The vital knowledge and experience gained, mollified her sense of anger and frustration at not finishing and she is eagerly anticipating her next race.

Merv rode this for the 13th time, but encountered very difficult conditions. Hence his time of 1:25:21.

RESULT 81" restricted gear

1. Brian Evans 25 mins 27 secs
2. Paul Fennel 25 mins 43 secs
3. Peter Walton 27 mins 12 secs
4. Barry Page 27 mins 16 secs
5. Steve Watson 27 mins 19 secs
6. Jason Thorpe 30 mins 09 secs
7. Richard Henderson 31 mins 05 secs

Result Scrubbers

1. Tony Marriott 26 mins 42 secs
2. Josh Tongue 27 mins 47 secs
3. Brian Hill 30 mins 07 secs

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RESULT

1. Alex Powell 2 mins 49 secs
2. Barry Page 3 mins 00 secs
3. Tony Marriott 3 mins 12 secs
4. Brian Evans 3 mins 18 secs
5. Josh Tongue 3 mins 20 secs
6. Michelle Erskine 3 mins 30 secs
7. Jason Thorpe 3 mins 45 secs
8. Graham Knight 3 mins 45secs
9. Peter Walton 3 mins 48 secs
10. Paul Dilley 4 mins 10 secs
11. Richard Henderson 4 mins 44 secs
12. Nikki King 5 mins 25 secs

RESULT

1. Alex Powell 2 mins 49 secs
2. Barry Page 3 mins 00 secs
3. Tony Marriott 3 mins 12 secs
4. Brian Evans 3 mins 18 secs
5. Josh Tongue 3 mins 20 secs
6. Michelle Erskine 3 mins 30 secs
7. Jason Thorpe 3 mins 45 secs
8. Graham Knight 3 mins 45secs
9. Peter Walton 3 mins 48 secs
10. Paul Dilley 4 mins 10 secs
11. Richard Henderson 4 mins 44 secs
12. Nikki King 5 mins 25 secs

When Michael Hutchinson looked at his startsheet and to his horror realised that BP was due to start a minute ahead of him, he quickly withdrew from the event. That, and probably the fact that the conditions were so foul. Unfortunately BP had to ride as this was the last race in which he could pick up the necessary SPOCO points he needed. His time of 1:23:06 was his slowest on the course for years but his 20th position gave him the points required.

If ever you want a difficult ride then try the E2 when there is a very strong north/north westerly crosswind on a cold day. PY, PW and CW struggled round in times of 24:32, 24:46 and 28:26 respectively.

Both CW and MP rode this race on the A1 on wet roads in windy conditions. CW (taking time off from triathlon duties) recorded a time of 1:16:13, whilst MP's 1:07:55 gave him the Best Vet on Standard by over five minutes.

On the A31 centred at Bentley, PW recorded a time of 1:04:10, although he got a shock when the event winner (46:58) overtook him at a speed more suitable for a machine with a motorised engine.

As it is harvest time it was probably a good bet that SW would again be delayed by a tractor. And so it came to pass. In a two-up with PF they posted a time of 29:55 which gave them third position out of six. PY did the event as a solo and his time was an excellent 29:06.

In good racing conditions MP recorded a course PB. His time of 1:08:03 was enough to win the First Vet on Standard Award by two and a half minutes.

RESULT

1. Phil Young 1 hour 3 mins 34 secs
2. Peter Walton 1 hour 7 mins 47 secs
3. Merv Player 1 hour 9 mins 03 secs

RESULT

1. Phil Young 59 mins 41 secs
2. Peter Walton 1 hour 4 mins 14 secs
3. Merv Player 1 hour 7 mins 18 secs

HWCC's Revenge Cup is incorporated into this event. PY's 1:03:34 not only won him the trophy but also gave him the Handicap Award (58:10). PW's (1:07:47) was an improvement on his previous year's time whilst MP's 1:09:03 was 22 seconds slower. MP's time gave him second Vet on Standard but won him the Charlie Cole (Luton Wheelers) Trophy, and also enabled him to win the Edgar Mascall Trophy for the sixth year with one event still to go.

SW did a time of 25:48 on this course despite being held up by a tractor.

Originally billed as a 25, this event was shortened to a 10 due to roadworks. BP's time of 25:20 left him 22nd out of the 47 finishers.

Racing an undulating course alongside the A1 south of Stilton, with a gusty crosswind, MP was able to ride on the tribars (as opposed to the previous week). His time of 27:03 was 5mins 43secs behind the winner.

One of the problems of setting yourself standards that you can't hope to reach, let alone maintain, is that you always feel that you could (or should) have done better. Driving to the event in a violent storm and breaking his glasses 15 mins before his start time PW achieved the distance of 220.821 miles. It did not rain during the day although many wished that it had (because it got so hot), but the brisk SW wind made parts of the course very difficult to ride. The difficulties of riding into a strong headwind are not always offset by being blown back on the return.