Mercia Report 17-05-09

Simon Parker finished in 12th place in the latest race held at Darley Moor Sports Centre near Ashbourne. The race was for 3rd & 4th category seniors run over 55 kilometres organised by Ashfield Road Club. The winner was Bradley Burbage (Cycling Bargains / Metaltek). In the Elite 1st & 2nd category race also over 55 kilometres Plan B Racing Club riders Louise Cowley & Steven Locke were 4th & 6th respectively. The winner was Rapha Condor's Liam Holohan.

Simon Smith who previously rode for Coalville Wheelers chose the Speedwell Bicycle Club's hilly 28 mile time trial at Inkberrow in Warwickshire as his first open event for Mercia HBM Cycling Club, to finish in 1 09 01 for 13th place out of 44 riders. Bill Moore (Shorter Rochford RT) was the fastest in 1 02 21.

Three members competed in the Coventry Cycling Club's Dianne Cooke Memorial 10 mile time trial held on the Wolvey course near Hinckley. The fastest of the three was Keith Staley in 37th place timing 25 00. Phil Machin was in 38th position timing 25 03. Ivor James timed 29 59. The winner was Wolverhampton rider Stuart Dangerfield (Shorter Rochford RT) who had just returned from Australia timing 20 48.

Matt Simons chose to ride the local Derby Mercury RC open 10 mile time trial on the Etwall Foston course timing 23 22 for 57th place out of a full field of 120 riders. The winner of this time trial was Richard Bradley (Shorter Rochford RT) in 19 59.

Despite a strong easterly wind 18 riders entered the 10 mile evening time trial. Sean Sleigh (Plan B) was the fastest in the absence of David Clarke in 24 23. Mercia HBM riders Keith Staley & Simon Parker were 2nd & 3rd timing 26 10 & 26 47 respectively. The rest of the riders & times were as follows: Jack Hugill 27 27, Alec Taylor 27 43, Jeff Slinn 27 45, Neil Sleigh ( Plan B) 27 50, Ben Edwards (Abergavenny RC) 27 56, Ben Startin 28 09, Mark Eccleston 28 15, Andrew Wendle 29 33, Nick Marriott 30 18, Adrian Waters 30 26, Keiron Patterson 31 09, Andy Burton 32 35, Phil Knott 33 10, Peter Rose 36 38 & at 1 lap Dave Peters 19 22. The first three riders on handicap were Phil Knott 21 10, Keith Staley 23 10 & Alec Taylor 23 13.