CREST SPRING RR, UGLEY, ESSEX, 110km - SUNDAY 7TH MARCH 2004

Phil Moon, Frank Rawlins, George Olive and Tony Bradford raced in their opening road race of the season, the Crest Spring RR.  The weather was far from spring like with wet roads, sleet and a chill wind blowing from the north.  The race was a 70 mile marathon in North West Essex taking in the Littlebury climb 8 times.  Tony was first out the back with a puncture 35 miles into the race.  George and Frank lost contact on the fourth climb as the pace hotted up and the weather worsened. The weather, climb and punctures whittled the pack down to less than half and there were several small groups on the road as the race drew to a close.  Phil Moon, returning to racing after over a decade, hung on in to the bitter end to finish in 17th place.  The Winner, Ed Whitehorn of the Glendene showed the pack a clean pair of heels in the final laps throwing down the gauntlet early in the Essex Road Race League.