The evening TT series ended up on a high note with a great field of 21 riders on a warm sunny but windy evening. First timers were 15 year old Nick Dolan (28.46 but not riding a Dolan frame) who had been training on the circuit with Joe Kingsman and Alan Hopkins who first came out on a ride last Saturday for the bacon butty run and joined the Chilley Farm fan club (as did 15 year old Arran McCullum who rated his bacon butty very highly). A year after his last ride and having shot up six inches or so 16 year old mountain biker Wil Francis (26.42) set a PB. Mark Brittle did not get far up the ladder on a rare appearance, puncturing at Staplecross and being ferried back to his car by Stuart on his way round taking down the signs.
N.B. It is best to always carry two spare tubes, a sag wagon is not always to hand.
Point series winner Malcolm Daly (21.22) won the club event with Simon Newell (22.17 PB) 15 year old Joe Kingsman (22.35 PB), 16 year old Joe Jenner (22.53) and Alan Hopkins (23.20), on his TT debut, making the top five.
Completing the field of six juniors (not seen as many as that for a club TT since the 1990s) were Jack Heyes (26.50 PB) and Martyn Matt (27.47 PB).
The fastest two rides were private TTs by In Gear's Pete Tadros (18.21) and Rye's Barry Goodsell (20.35). Sixth and seventh fastest times were private TTs by Rob Morris (22.36 Bayeux) and Jamie Beale (22.51 In Gear and second claim H&StL CC).
Twelve of us rushed off for a curry in the Plough Westfield straight after. We had a great evening in excellent company in a buzzing pub with very reasonably priced good food. Romana took a photo which is in the BLOG entry below.
I usually give a word of thanks to all those that make the TT series happen, in particular Stuart Crabb who is there every week early to put out the signs and get everyone signed in before laying out the field and then pushing off. Thanks also to all the time keepers and marshals: Peter Jenner, Steve Curtis, Rob Dickinson, me and anyone I might have forgotten. Also a big thank you to Jamie Beale who still deals with the Police Forms for us as a second claim member.
The evening flew by with animated conversation and several had left so I forgot to say a public thank you, but everyone's contributions are very much appreciated and not forgotten. Earlier in the evening I had heard one or two give individual thanks to Stuart, very well deserved.
And of course thanks to all the riders and supporters for turning out to compete and chat to all and sundry which makes for great social evenings on top of a good work out. The more the merrier!
We have one club TT left: the ascent of Battery Hill on the Sunday morning of 26 October or 4 November. We have to check what date went on the Police Form before I confirm. As usual we plan to follow the hill climb with a short club run, probably ending back at the cafe by Fairlight church unless they are on their Autumn break again which caught us out last year.
Incidentally: if the road graffiti police approach anyone making enquiries about all the Team Slovenia graffiti on miles of tarmac around Box Hill at the time of the Olympic road race deny all knowledge of Romana. Chris Chapman insists on calling her Ramona, which sounds Spanish to me, so if pressed may be use that angle deflect any investigations?
Chris Parker
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