Mercia Report 04-07-10

David Clarke finished the second highest placed UK based professional when he finished 6th in the National Road Race Championships at Pendle in the Trough of Bowland over 112 miles. The seven & half mile circuit round Pendle Hill was a tough one with 300 metres of steep climbs, including another mile of uphill terrain. The decisive break of 5 riders went off the front after the first five laps. There were 3 riders from Team Sky; Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh & Ian Stannard, Jeremy Hunt Cervelo Test Team & Simon Richardson Sigma Sport Specialised. Dan Fleeman Raleigh RT & David Clarke Pendragon Le Col Colnago were at the head of the chasing bunch. The very warm conditions took there toll as the majority of the riders abandoned. On the final lap Thomas & Kennaugh went away together to take first & second in that order in 5 hrs 7 mins 8 seconds. Stannard was 3rd at 2 min 20 secs Hunt at 7 59 & Richardson (the first UK based professional) at 8 23. Clarke out sprinted Fleeman to finish in 10 41 to Fleeman’s 10 43. Out of the 130 riders that started only 31 finished.

Mercia HBM’s Peter Collins also finished 15th in the 3rd & 4th category road race at Mallory Park. The following evening on the Curborough Sprint Circuit Simon Parker finished well up in the field against some strong young riders in the 3rd 4th & Juniors race over 1hour & 5 laps.

In time trialing there were 5 Mercia HBM riders competing in the South Pennine RC 25 mile TT between Etwall & Uttoxeter. There were some fast times in the event with Jack Hugill & Mick Skivington doing personal bests. Noel Adams was the fastest. The times were as follows: Noel Adams 57 05, Jack Hugill 57 10, Matt Simons 58 05, Mick Skivington 1 01 39, Anne Staley (Plan B) 1 03 15 & Tony Marlow 1 05 34. The winner was Matt Bottrill (I- ride.co.uk) in 48 54.

Another fine evening on the Anslow circuit saw David Clark (after his hard ride in the National Road Race Championships) do the fastest time in the Mercia HBM 10 mile time trial. The results were as follows: David Clarke 22 54, Sean Sleigh 24 49, Daniel Partington 25 28, Jack Hugill 25 37, Phil Machin 25 52, Keith Staley 26 11, Ben Startin 26 56, Phil Jones 26 57, Jeff Slinn 27 41, Mick Abbott 27 50, Craig Tucker 28 05, Alec Taylor 28 17, Tony Marlow 29 27, Phil Knott 32 06 & at 1 lap Dave Peters 18 47.