GarstangLastGasp_23_09_12

Last gasp at Garstang - results of the West Pennine RC 10 22 September 2012

Remember there was a time when it didn't rain? Well, there was - last weekend was lovely. The West Pennine RC hosted what must be one of the final flings of the racing season on Saturday afternoon.

Greg Rycroft and I represented Southport perhaps with different objectives - for me, it was to desperately try to improve on my time for a 'Class A' event. For Greg, perhaps just to test his form in an Open event. Greg was off early and finished before me, and gave me the low-down on the course - although not a true hilly, certainly a bit lumpy, and a cross-wind to bother riders all the way. Anyway, Greg, after a month free of racing (with holidays etc) returned home with very respectable 25:18, at which point I knew I'd be hard-pushed to better my objective. Greg has beaten me frequently this season, and this event was no exception as I rode home with 25:31 (failing, as I expected given the course, to improve on my 'Class A' 10 time by 18 seconds).

Former Southport CC fast-man, Bill Sedgwick slotted between the pair of us with 25:22, all the more impressive given that of this week Bill is now undergoing treatment for a serious medical condition - I'm sure all of us wish Bill all the very best, and hope to see him back at his very best before too long.

One of the country's top riders from Preston, John Morgan, made it all look rather simple with 20:39.

Richard Cary 26/09/12

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