Mercia Report 30-05-10

David Clarke (Pendragon Colnago) is going through a golden spell with his 3rd win in a row of the East Midlands Road Race Championship, this year the race was held on the undulating circuit round Binbrook Airfield near Market Rasen in Lincolnshire & organised by Cherry Valley RT. The race was over 132 kilometres; the hot temperatures were taking their toll as about half the field had dropped out by the time the last lap was reached. This is where Clarke made his move dropping his two companions Rob Sharman (Basso Bikes) formally from Repton & Gareth Hewitt (Frezza Pasta). Clarke went on to win easily 5 minutes in front of Sharman & Hewitt.

Anne Staley (Plan B RT) won an age group medal in the National Women’s 10 mile Championship held on the Alcester to Salford Priors course timing 24 55 for 57th place out of an entry of 100 riders. Julia Shaw (Utag Yamaha) won for the 4th time in 20 31.

Ewan Davidson travelled to his native Scotland to ride in the popular Etape Caledonia Sportive finishing a creditable 192 out of an entry of 4,500 in 3hrs 82 mins for the 82 miles. The participants had the luxury of closed roads starting & finishing in Pitlochry. The sportive went along side Loch Rannock then climbing Scheihallion to drop down to Fortinghall Weam & Stath Tay to return to Pitlochry.

Ewan also rode in the Tuesday night road race at Mallory Park over 60 km finishing in the main field with Simon Parker & Peter Collins.

Mick Skivington chose to ride in the Warrington RC 50 mile time trial on the tough Cranage, Twemlow, and Chelford, Knutsford course in Cheshire. Timing 2 15 13 for 32nd place out of an entry of 65 riders. The fastest rider was Carl Ruebotham (Team Swift) in 1 52 45.

There were 12 riders in the 10-mile evening time trial on the Anslow circuit. Sean Sleigh was the fastest. The times were as follows Sean Sleigh 24 47, Keith Staley 25 01, Jack Hugill 25 07, Daniel Partington 25 31, Richard Knott 25 34, Phil Machin 25 47, Craig Tucker 28 31, Tony Marlow 29 00, Mick Abbott 30 04, Kieron Patterson 30 28, Peter Rose 36 13, & at one lap Dave Peters 18 44.