Steve Dennis writes…
Race organiser supremo Robin Johnson always puts on a 1st class event
and today’s example was no exception: Top class field, excellent prize
list (over £2900’s worth), challenging course and superb HQ.
The only
thing he couldn’t control was the weather. After last year’s Indian
summer conditions, most people who entered todays event were probably
doing so with rose-tinted oakleys. The weather fought back with a
vengeance – Wind and rain.
Understanably, riders times were far from their best, well, all except
race winner Richard Prebble of Pinarello RT who was only 47 seconds off
his last year’s winning time. Everyone else went backwards by several
minutes including myself (58:58), Brian Phillips just pipping me in 58:
35 and Mke Anton (1:04:06).
I can honestly say I have never ridden into such a head-wind down the
A24 before in over 25 years of racing. How on earth Mr Prebble averaged
over 27mph is beyond belief. Still, all was not lost on the day as we
easily won the team award, bagging a fair bit of the booty in the
process.
1st R Prebble 54:07 2nd D Dent 56:21 3rd C Birch 58:18 4th J Prior 58:29 5th B Phillips 58:35 6th S Dennis 58:58
