KEIR MARIS MEMORIAL (Percy Stallard LVRC Round 6) - Sun 18th
July
My brother Chris (Knaresborough
Racing Team) and I took part in the Keir Maris Memorial RR. The 13.5
mile course started in Daventry with a fast section downhill on the A45
for about 3 miles. After a sharp left the road wound through some lanes
for 3 miles before a left turn that took us up Park Hill the first of
two climbs. At the top of the second climb it was a flat mile and a half
before the uphill finish.
The pace was high for most of the
race with any potential escapees from the bunch quickly brought back,
having many quality riders meant there was always someone ready to
organise the chase and I was spinning my 53 x 13 on the fast sections.
The hills thinned out the bunch each lap and Peter Greenwood, the
eventual winner, got away the fourth time up Park Hill. Although they
were hard, especially when attacks were going, I felt I still had a bit
more on both climbs, I kept
near the front of the bunch on the climbs and avoided getting caught
behind riders who were finding the pace up the hill too much.
On
the last lap Chris and I had thought about trying to get away on the
lane but Phil Bayton had the same idea and it took a concerted effort to
get him and his companion back. At the start of the last time up
Park Hill, with five miles to go, I went to the front and put the
pressure on. I soon had a gap but expected to be joined by the fast boys
but thinning the bunch. At the top of the hill I was still alone and had
about 20 secs. I continued hard downhill, still expecting to be caught
and rode hard on the second climb. Just before the top I felt I was
going backwards but focused on the motorbike escort and drove on.
Meanwhile, on the second climb, Nick Yarworth, who has won most of the
races I have been in, attacked and Chris sprinted to take his wheel. Two
more riders soon joined them and the chase was on with Chris sitting in
and trying to upset their rhythm. As Chris and I are not in the same
colours the other three thought he was tired or waiting to sprint for a
place. Not cricket? Blood/water and all that. I was dying on the drag up
to the finish, but after a shout from Chris, I managed to hold them off
other than Nick Yarworth who beat me by a bike’s length, so finishing
third overall and second to Nick in the “B” category. Chris came
through in fifth place and second “C” to Pete Greenwood.
Event One A/B/C Categories
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67 miles (5 laps)
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Pos
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No
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Rider
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Club
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Cat
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Time
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Cat Pos
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1
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29
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Peter Greenwood
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Clayton Velo
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C
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2-48-48
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1st C Cat
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2
|
15
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Nick Yarworth
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G S Strada
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B
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at 2-54
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1st B Cat
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3
|
20
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Roger Bishop
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North Road CC
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B
|
st
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2nd B Cat
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4
|
18
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Brian Davison
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Middridge CRT
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B
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st
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3rd B Cat
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5
|
31
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Chris Bishop
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Knaresborough RT
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C
|
st
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2nd C Cat
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6
|
27
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Dave Scargill
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Birdwell Whlrs
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C
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at 3-06
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3rd C Cat
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7
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9
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Michael Donnelly
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Royal Sutton CC
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A
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at 3-08
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1st A Cat
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8
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22
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Christopher Davis
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Real Cost Cars.com
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B
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st
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4th B Cat
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9
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13
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Robert Blackburn
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Wil-lec Panoramic RT
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A
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st
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2nd A Cat
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10
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12
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Steve Davies
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Warrington RC
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A
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st
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3rd A Cat
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11
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23
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Rob O'Connor
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Real Cost Cars.com
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B
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st
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5th B Cat
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12
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35
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Gordon Smith
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New Brighton
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C
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st
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4th C Cat
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13
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34
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Phil Bayton
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M I Racing*
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C
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st
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5th C Cat
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14
|
32
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Tony Williams
|
Leamington C & AC
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C
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st
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6th C Cat
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15
|
38
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Mervyn Sperry
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Websters Cycles.co.uk
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C
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st
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7th C Cat
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16
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33
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Martin Hackley
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M I Racing*
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C
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st
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8th C Cat
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17
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8
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Peter Varian
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Red Kite Cycles
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A
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st
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4th A Cat
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18
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1
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Mark Burnham
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Coventry RC
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A
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st
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5th A Cat
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19
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11
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Robert Wheeler
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VC Deal
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A
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st
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6th A Cat
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20
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26
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Mike Hopkins
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Wyre Forest CRC
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B
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st
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6th B Cat
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21
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5
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Martyn Sladdin
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M I Racing*
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A
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st
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7th A Cat
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22
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16
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Gerald Sturdy
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Lichfield City CC
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B
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st
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7th B Cat
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23
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6
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Paul Sleaford
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Norton Whlrs
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A
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st
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8th A Cat
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24
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40
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Garry Fulstow
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City RC (Hull)
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A
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st
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9th A Cat
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25
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41
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Joe Quill
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Team MK
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A
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st
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10th A Cat
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26
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4
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Darryl Gunson
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Johnstone Whlrs
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A
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st
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11th A Cat
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27
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28
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Andrew Donaldson
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Calvert Carpets
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C
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st
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9th C Cat
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28
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37
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David Williams
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VC Deal
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C
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2-59-32
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10th C Cat
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29
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25
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Malcolm Whitehead
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VC Deal
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B
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at 1 lap
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8th B Cat
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