HARLOW ROAD RACE - SUNDAY 25th APRIL - HATFIELD HEATH, 40 MILES

View From The Back.

Still searching for that extra little bit of speed needed to hang on I lined up on the start with Tony Bradford, Phil Moon, Frank Rawlings, George Olive and Del Evans. Del, having missed the start of the supporting 4th cat race opted to sign on with us. Looking not quite as relaxed as normal Del set off along side me and George. Before we had done more than a couple of miles the pace seemed to be too fast, must be all those 2nd cats in the bunch. Despite waking up with a head cold at this point I still felt OK or so I thought until a glance over my shoulder told me that this might not be the case!

Del had been dropped and only one rider was behind me (and that wasn't for long) The next hill I was gasping for breath and lost contact, a very brief lull in the pace and I got back on. In a short space of time I was losing contact again,
feeling slightly despondent I sat up and waved the Chief Com through.

Telling myself beforehand that I would carry on until the end of the race that went right out of the window when I got to the finish of the first lap. Climbing off and muttering 'Its easier to watch', to a handful of spectators, I stood on the side of the road alone with my thoughts. Soon I was joined by Del who must have come to the same conclusion as me. The legendary Steve Nunn was out spectating and we had a bit of a chat concluding that we now know that we used to take our fitness for granted or was it our youth?

Back to HQ to change then back to the finishing line for the gallop where we were joined by Chris Glithero, Nick Harris, Richard Somerset and Chris Bullock on his scooter, the others having ridden out. How the judges get a result I'll never know. I just about managed to pick out George in the top 20. Phil and  Frank also finished up there in the top 20 and Tony in a very
credible 10th place.

Back to the drawing board for me!

Andy Lancaster