Rich&SueCaryHShoe07_10_12

Richard and Sue Cary on Top at the Horseshoe Pass

or Just Horsing' Around

Whilst a number of Southport club members were assaulting the north face of Ashurst Beacon, Sue and I took our tandem to Wales for that Classic climb, the Horseshoe Pass (07/10/12). Two and a quarter miles long, starting close to the Brittania Hotel, and finishing at the lay-by just as the hill starts to level.

It starts steeply, and finishes steeply (signpost says 1in 5, but I think I've explained before, this is over-stated). For a popular event attracting just over 100 entries we had the privileged position of starting last, so we weren't passed by anyone on our way up.

We engaged our 30-tooth chainring to pedal fluidly to the summit, even saving ourselves for an explosive finish on the final 400m uphill to win the tandem event. OK, we were the only tandem, but didn't disgrace ourselves with 19:01 (we managed to beat a few solos). The weather was peachey for October, views just wonderful, and we made a day of it with a very nice lunch back at the Brittania.

Winner of the main event was Dan Evans with 9:51. Former Southport rider, the classy John Findley, currently at university in Aberystwyth, was third with 10:12. Mark Lovatt, renowned northern hard-man, ex-pro etc. finished 6th with 10:32.

Report from Richard Cary, Pictures from Arthur Findley, Posted 14/10/12

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