Mercia Report 11-10-09

A fine autumn morning on Marchington Cliff was the location for the Annual Mercia HBM Cycling Club hill climb championship. Eight riders rode up the hill. Charles Taylor (South Pennine RC) was the fastest in 2 min 22 seconds. Second fastest was Sean Sleigh (Plan B) 2 38. Third was Daniel Partington (Plan B) 2 47. In fourth place & the Mercia Hill climb Champion was Phil Jones in 3 05. Phil Machin was only one second behind in 3 06. The remaining times were Neil Sleigh (Plan B) 3 19, Keith Staley 3 20 & Mark Eccleston 3 36.

The following Free wheeling competition that followed was won by Phil Machin who travelled the furthest. Followed by Sean Sleigh, Daniel Partington, Phil Jones, Keith Staley, Mark Eccleston & Neil Sleigh. The Anniversary Trophy for the best Mercia rider over the two disciplines was shared between Pill Jones & Phil Machin as they both finished first & second in the two events.

The fourth Notts & Derby Cyclo Cross League race organised by Bolsover & District CC was held at Holm Valley Park Chesterfield. It was a hilly course plus the strong winds made especially hard for the younger riders. In the under 10's Elliott Waters finished 10th out of only 28 finishers. The winner was John Webster (Matlock CC). In the under 12's Joshua Waters was an excellent 3rd (Joshua is currently leading on points in the first four events). Bailey Waters was 6th. The winner was William Gascoyne (Heanor Clarion). In the senior race father Justin was 99th. Grandfather Adrian was 102nd out of 103 finishers. Dave Collins (Hope factory Racing) was the winner.

Six local riders entered & finished the Brian Rourke Challenge over 55 miles from Stoke via Wilmslow & Macclesfield to climb the 7 mile hill to the Cat & Fiddle then to return to Stoke via Buxton, Whalley Bridge & Hazelgrove. There were 1,300 riders who sterted the event, including the legendary Sean Kelly. The six from Burton were Jack Hugill, Simon Parker & Ben Startin (Mercia HBM CC), Alistair Staley, Kevin Potter & Ray Yeoman's (Plan B RT) who all finished under 4 hours.

Despite a strong wind Plan B's Anne Staley won the fastest lady prize in Nottingham Clarion's Goosefair 25 mile time trial in 1 07 50. The fastest in the time trial was Lee Tunnicliff (Fit for Cycles Dauphin) in 55 30