Latest Condor Cycles Series Rankings

This was the first of 5 races in the Condor Cycles Region 9 Spring Series, all being held at Hog Hill, and running through March and April. For the first time in quite a few years, dry and sunny weather was promised for the season’s first race, and it did not disappoint. Although chilly first thing,. the sun broke through, and it approached something you might have called a ‘mild spring day’ .. wonderful to behold. As has become the norm these days, much promotional work was required to wake the slumbering masses, and get them all excited about yet another season’s racing! A very slow trickle of entries on Rider HQ, eventually developed into a torrent in the last week, and Don Valentino of the Gemini Chapter managed to get together over 50 fine men and women for the morning’s two races, which were to be run concurrently.

After a briefing first from myself regarding the Condor Cycles Series itself, then by Ian Dawson, Don Val’s hired muscle for the day, and the racing rules of the day, the EFGHIL race rolled out one minute prior to the ABCDs. After a tentative first 20 seconds, Chris Beales (quite out of character!!!) attacked half way up the drag. I followed and tried to bridge, but a Chris Beales gap of 5 metres is incredibly difficult to bridge, and I waved more riders through. Only Damian Foy and Costa Pierides took up the mantle, but the three of us kept Chris at 10 seconds for three laps.  The plea for others to come through landed on very deaf ears, before one or two other riders came through, and Chris had 14 seconds the following laps. Job done for Chris. Time for me to attack, and hope Costa would respond, and he did, how he did!

We were clear for over a lap, but a quick glance behind reminded us that although the bunch was content to amble round letting Chris run rings round it, they were not allowing any upstarts to gain any advantage. Silly really, and it has just prompted more resolve with Costa and I to make it count next time.

New E Damian ‘Damo’ Foy was industrious but to no avail. Helen Taylor Carter, the eventual third placed ride roverall, got busy at the front as did a few others, but well after the Chris Beales damage had been done, and Costa and I were a bit mashed by then. The bunch had shrunk to about 12 riders with 5 or 6 laps to go, and there was the usual jostling for positions, and when the ‘3 to go’ board went up, the mood got just a little more cagey.  With a lap and a half to go, just as we were exiting the 30mph+ downhill section, someone? clipped my rear wheel sending me into a massive slide, my front wheel deciding to go all 90 degrees and that was it, airborne. Bang, followed by, apparently, a very artistic somersault concluding the day’s acrobatics and I came to a muddy end, with the bunch disappearing into the distance.  I got up, spun the wheels, re-fitted the chain, checked the steering, and got back on, and finished 12th! Battered, muddy, but with everything intact.  Naturally Chris won, and Steve Piper won the bunch followed closely by Helen and Costa. 

With much gratitude and thanks to Don Valentino, Ian Dawson and their Families, a great promotion, 2 great races, terrific weather, all in all, a wonderful start to the series and Region 9 racing as a whole. Next up in the Condor Series is the much anticipated Arctic Aircon ‘Rob Finch Memorial’ races at Hog Hill on March 16th. Please try and enter in good time, give your local race promoter peace of mind!

If you spot any errors in placing, or if you are wrongly identified, please e-mail results@bmcr.org.uk. Much of the data (spelling, capitalisation, club) is a reflection of the data on RiderHQ. Please make sure that your data on RiderHQ is correct by logging into RiderHQ directly.

With huge thanks to Trevor Mills and team for organising the event.

If you spot any errors in placing, or if you are wrongly identified, please e-mail results@bmcr.org.uk. Much of the data (spelling, capitalisation, club) is a reflection of the data on RiderHQ. Please make sure that your data on RiderHQ is correct by logging into RiderHQ directly.

With massive thanks to Kevin Hickman and team for putting on a great event.

If you spot any errors in placing, or if you are wrongly identified, please e-mail results@bmcr.org.uk. Much of the data (spelling, capitalisation, club) is a reflection of the data on RiderHQ. Please make sure that your data on RiderHQ is correct by logging into RiderHQ directly.

With a huge thanks to Olivier Macpherson and team for organising this event.

The latest Region 9 Series rankings are here.

If you spot any errors in placing, or if you are wrongly identified, please e-mail results@bmcr.org.uk. Much of the data (spelling, capitalisation, club) is a reflection of the data on RiderHQ. Please make sure that your data on RiderHQ is correct by logging into RiderHQ directly.

With many thanks to Jez Honor and the Equipe Velo team for putting on this brilliantly organised event. Congratulations to all those who took part and especially the winners.

Final standings of the Stallard ABCD series are here.

If you spot any errors in placing, or if you are wrongly identified, please e-mail results@bmcr.org.uk. Much of the data (spelling, capitalisation, club) is a reflection of the data on RiderHQ. Please make sure that your data on RiderHQ is correct by logging into RiderHQ directly.