Mercia Report 18-05-08

There was a good turn out of 18 local cyclists in the 10 mile evening time trial on handicap, including three new riders. David Clarke was again the fastest in 23 05. In second place was the ever improving Mercia HBM rider Steve Plummer in 23 41, followed by Sean Sleigh (Plan B) in 23 49 still recovering from an heavy cold. The times for the other 15 riders were Keith Staley 25 59, Simon Parker 26 32, Daniel Partington (Plan B) 26 44, Alec Taylor 27 33, Mark Ward 28 31, Mark Eccleston 28 37, Ivor James 28 41, Neil Sleigh (Plan B) 28 49, Tony Marlow 29 19, Colin Johnson 29 28, Andrew Windle 29 47, Adrian Waters 30 13, Phil Knott 32 13, Pete Rose 33 24, & at 1 lap Dave Peters 18 37. The first three Mercia HBM riders on handicap were Steve Plummer 21 11, Pete Rose 21 24 & Mark Eccleston 21 37.

David Clarke was in the prizes when he finished the highest placed East Midlands Divisional rider in 15th position in the Premier Lincoln International Grand Prix. The winner was Russell Downing (Pinarello RT ) who beat his brother Dean(Rapha Condor Recycling RT) by 3seconds. Russell’s winning time for the 86 mile race round Lincoln was 3 hrs 16 minutes 5 seconds.

South Pennine Road Club’s open 25mile time trial on the Etwall/Uttoxeter course was blessed with a light wind & warm conditions, conducive to fast times for a full field of 120 riders plus tandems. Mercia’s Noel Adams & Matt Simons timed 56 36 & 58 31 respectively. Plan B’s Ann Staley was under the hour & personal best in 59 40. Sean Sleigh & Kevin Potter (also Plan B) timed 50 10 to finish second in the tandem event. The winner of the solo event was Matt Bottrill (De Rosa RT) in 49 04, the course record.