Midlands XC Series, Round 5, 5 September 2004, Sherwood Pines Results
I thought I'd have a go at one of the Midlands Series XC races - they award National Points towards the British Cycling Federation ranking system - Liam Killeen and Oliver Beckingsale being ranked 1 & 2! There were riders from Scotland and the Lakes and I'm sure loads from down south. The ride was at Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire.
Anyway, the race was 4, 10km laps (40km!!!) in the baking heat of a Sunday afternoon. The course was surprisingly flat and fast, which favours roadie types with big legs and ballistic straight line speed. Anyway, I set off with the Veterans and thought I'd take it easy on the first lap and came round in 10th place. The aim was to take it easy, as I was expecting the race to last 2 hours and have only raced in 1 hour events. I also thought I'd try and work my way up the field as the race progressed. There were 2 or 3 riders in front that I could have taken during lap 1, but held back. Anyway just starting lap 2 my saddle came off and jammed in my rear wheel. Not carrying any tools I walked back to the start finish area to borrow a tool. 5 minutes later I set off in pursuit of the field. I overtook 3 or 4 riders to come round 19 at the end of lap 2, 16 at the end of lap 3 and finished in 16th place.
Whilst a little disappointed with my finishing position I felt that it is worth having a go at the Midland/National races next year.
Results from http://www.shokwave-racing.co.uk/midlandseries.html
| VETERANS - 4 LAPS | Name | Team/Club | ||
| 1 | 523 | 1.40.08 | Peter Harris | Pearce Cycles |
| 2 | 562 | 1.41.03 | Ian Wright | Pearce Cycles |
| 3 | 510 | 1.41.31 | John Galway | Keswick MTB |
| 4 | 536 | 1.41.53 | Keith Sperry | Welland Valley CC |
| 5 | 519 | 1.42.58 | Jack Peterson | Numplumz.com |
| 6 | 514 | 1.44.40 | Bruce Rollinson | Marie Curie |
| 7 | 517 | 1.46.46 | Phillip Roach | Rugby Velo |
| 8 | 566 | 1.46.47 | Garry Houghton | JT Cycles |
| 9 | 555 | 1.46.57 | Tim Grainger | Stourport Super Cycles |
| 10 | 533 | 1.50.44 | Mark Robson | |
| 11 | 530 | 1.50.47 | C.Holmes | |
| 12 | 565 | 1.52.10 | Paul Asplin | Boys from the Flatsstuff |
| 13 | 567 | 1.52.27 | Simon Bills | Ashford Rent A Car |
| 14 | 554 | 1.52.29 | Rob Burns | Wolverhampton Wheelers |
| 15 | 563 | 1.53.54 | Gary Hill | Double Dutch |
| 16 | 515 | 1.54.35 | Kevin Jackson | Macclesfield Wheelers |
| 17 | 513 | 1.54.40 | Peter Bromwich | |
| 18 | 545 | 1.56.10 | Colin Murley | |
| 19 | 503 | 2.00.59 | Trevor Sharp | Middlestone |
| 20 | 568 | 2.03.41 | M.Adams | Red Kite |
| 21 | 531 | 2.04.56 | Roger Soanes | |
| 22 | 534 | 2.07.12 | Steve Collen | Bike Factory |
| 23 | 501 | 2.08.36 | Leon Wormleighton | Shokwave |
| 24 | 526 | 2.10.20 | Phil Langford | |
| 25 | 564 | 2.12.06 | Rick Brooks | |
| 26 | 532 | 2.17.25 | Rob Thompson | |
| 27 | 504 | 1 Lap | Don Buffham | Middlestone |