S Dennis writes……
With conditions seemingly more favorable on sunday morning compared to saturdays 10, no fewer than five Grinstead riders ventured out to compete in the Bec CC’s 25 mile promotion on the G25/53 Broadbridge Heath course.
Ben Hardisty was off no.4, followed five minutes later by Stef Arcidiacono. It was still a chilly 12 or so degrees at that time of the morning (06:34/39), so arm warmers were probably needed.
The wind was also starting to get up but that didn’t seem to worry Stef as he powered his new Cervelo P3 (jealous or what!) to a PB time of 1:01:57.
Ben on the other hand found the conditions hard and could only answer that with a 1:07:53.
Ted Boorman was off next #57, and still struggling to find form after a lay-off, returned a few seconds quicker than Ben in 1:07:50.
Then there was a big gap of 53 minutes before Steve Dennis took to the road. The leg out to the Crawley turn was fairly swift but then coming out of the roundabout the wind hit you full-on, which saw many riders reduced to snail pace on the return.
The leg to Southwater was a cross-wind, and I’m sure it changed direction again just for good measure so
we had a nice head-wind to the finish! Dennis recorded 54:52.
Mike Anton swapped camera for (mended) bicycle this week and was last Grinnie off at #119. He swept aside the disappointments of recent weeks to record just outside the hour in 1:00:02.
1st S Dennis EGCC 54:52 2nd S Kennedy Bec CC 55:08 3rd P Bull VC Elan 55:28 4th K Coffey Bec CC 55:33 5th S Geran VC St Raphael 55:36
