Mercia Report 09/05/10

It was a good day for riders in the local Derby Mercury open 10 mile time trial on the Etwall Foston course There were 95 entries on a day when weather conditions were almost perfect with only a light northerly breeze, dry & warm. Peter Rose (Mercia HBM) & Anne Staley (Plan B) both won age group prizes. Peter’s time of 29 38 was his fastest for 2 years & only 19 seconds off winning an age standard medal. Anne’s time of 24 36 was her fastest 10 mile time this year. The fastest time recorded in the event was under 30 mph done by Mathew Sinclair (Leicestershire RC) in 19 45.

Over at Wolvey in Warwickshire on the same afternoon Matt Simons & Jack Hugill competed in the Coventry C C 10 mile time trial on the undulating course between Wolvey & the A5 island at Cross on Hand. Their times were only two seconds apart. Matt timed 24 15 to Jack’s 24 17. They were placed 32nd & 34th respectively in the event out of 71 starters. The winner was Richard Bradley (Shorter Rochford RT)in 20 51.

Richard Knott finished an excellent 13th in the Wiggle Thunder run at Catton Park over 10 kilometres in 46 minutes 42 seconds out of 89 competitors. The winner was Geoff Beetham (Retro bike.com.uk) in 41 minutes 41 seconds. The following day Richard teamed up with Mick SKivington to finish in 38th place in the Enduro 6 hours Mountain Bike Race also at Catton Park, after completing 11 laps. The winners were Team Wiggle who covered 14 laps within the 6hrs. 131 teams took part.

David Clark (Pendragon Le Col Colnago) most recent placing was 6th in the Stan Robson / Charter Hotels race over 84 miles held at Stockesley near Middlesborough. The winner was Chris Newton (Rapha Condor).

The Mallory Park Road Race League was well supported by Burton & South Derbyshire riders in the 60 kilometre 3rd & 4th category race. Mercia’s Peter Collins & Noel Adams finished in the top twenty. Ewan Davidson, Simon Parker & Christian Aucote (Moda Bikes UK) all finished the race.

A cold windy evening saw the times slower than the previous week in the evening 10-mile time trial. The fastest of the 15 riders competing was again David Clarke. The times were as follows: David Clarke (Pendragon La Col Colnago) 23 09, Matt Simons 25 00, Keith Staley 25 29, Richard Knott 25 35, Jack Hugill 26 02, Phil Machin 26 23, Jeff Lea 27 37, Alec Taylor 27 38, Mick Skivington 28 18, Ben Startin 28 28, Craig Tucker 28 41, Tony Marlow 29 30, Kieran Patterson 30 40, Andy Burton 31 45 & Pete Rose 37 32.