Andy Seltzer writes…
Sunday Morning saw the 44th running of classic early Season Time Trial the East Surrey Road Club Hardriders “30”. Based on the Surrey Sussex Boarder the event consisted of lanes more akin to the roads of the Tour of Flanders, along with a fair section of more traditional time trialing roads along some dual carriage ways down the A24 to Horsham, before returning to the finish close the Reigate via the lanes of Rusper and Newdigate.
East Grinstead C.C. had a good advanced entry on the start sheet, however illness took a heavy toll leaving just Ted Boorman and myself to face the timekeepers. Ted was off quite early in fairly large field of 88 riders looking to find some form for his Easter trip to Guernsey he recorded a time of 1hr 28mins and 09 seconds. I started towards the back end of the field, fortunately the heavy rain from the previous night had abated along with the strong westerly wind, all in all not a bad morning for racing just a bit cold.
One of the problems with time trialing is never knowing how well you are going until you finish, as I climbed South out of Dorking along the A24 I had my minute man well in sight, little did I know that 4 times winner Ray Hughes of Clarence Wheelers who had started 2 minutes after me had a similar view of yours truly.
We lined out momentarily on the Capel bypass as a three up before Ray powered off into the distance. By the time I hit the Murr de Rusper I had caught my 2 minute man. However I now nearly came to a grinding halt on the rough 1 in 10 climb, some of the G.S. Stella guys cheered me on at the top I think more out of pity as I think I could have walked up quicker. Once recovered and onto a good road surface it was a flying last few miles to the finish. in a time of 1hr 16mins 49seconds. for 24th overall and 10th veteran.
To put this into perspective the winner was Matt Bottrill of De Rosa RT in 1hr 07mins and 25seconds, narrowly beating Richard Simmons of London Dynamo by 29seconds.
