Mercia Report 05-04-09

The final race in a series of three races at Darley Moor Sports Centre sawMercia HBM riders compete. The under 12's race was an unlucky one for Joshua Waters. He was in first place as he sprinted for the finishing line, unfortunately his back wheel jammed up for the second time in the race & he finished in third place. In the under 8's Elliott Waters was again second & Bailey Waters finished 3rd in the under 10's.

In the 50 kilometre race for 3rd & 4th category riders. Keith Staley showed his improved fitness by beating Simon Parker. Plan B's Kevin Potter finished in 7th place & Alistair Staley also Plan B completed the race. The winner was William Wright (Will's Wheels Cycling Club)

David Clarke (Pendragon Kalas) finished 8th in the Elite, 1st & 2nd category riders race also over 50 kilometres. Lewis Cowley ( Plan B Racing) was 17th .The race was won by 2008 Premier Championship winner Russell Downing (Candi TV Pinarello Racing Team)

The Premier Tour of the Reservoir Road Race over 90 miles held at Blanchland in County Durham saw David Clarke finish a lowly 34th due to series of crashes in the main chasing bunch. The race was won by Wolverhampton rider Andy Tennant (Team Halfords Bike Hut)

David Clarke finished fastest in the Mercia HBM's First evening time trial over 5 miles on the Anslow circuit, with 23 riders competing. Sean Sleigh was a close second. The times were as follows: David Clarke (Pendragon Kalas) 12 mins 00 secs. Sean Sleigh ( Plan B) 12 03, Kevin Potter (Plan B) 12 10, Keith Staley 12 56, Matt Simons 13 04, Simon Parker 13 29, Mark Ward 13 38, Simon Smith 13 43, Jeff Lea 13 47, Jeff Slinn 13 50, Phil Jones 13 50, Mark Eccleston 14 02, Alex Taylor 14 07, Jack Huggill (Derby Triathlon Club) 14 07, Neil Sleigh (Plan B) 14 08, Justin Waters 14 33, Derrick Baker 14 33, Andrew Wendle 14 59, Colin Johnston 15 08, Adrian Waters 15 13, John Frowd 15 33, Keiron Patterson 16 32 & Andy Burton 16 42.