Final Portreath "One and All" crit. Saturday 24th September
With young Luke away giving the Northerners hell whilst at University, it was left to me and Hari to deal the pain on the final crit of the year.
I will, if you forgive me, use the term "One and All organised crit" loosely as there seemed to be a vast majority of PZW members organising the event! And what a race it was. This week I opted for the "Luke Pye feeding yerself before a race" method, consisting of a huge bowl of pasta and cold tuna! This must have worked as I was feeling pretty good as I left my house with my good lady as we set off for Portreath airfield for the final race of the year.
Unfortunately....the weather had other plans....miserable would be an understatement. It was pouring down, blowing a gail and not too warm! But didn't stop a few hardy souls from venturing up to the airfield to ride round in circles for an hour!
Gail had a good final race for the year finishing a strong 2nd place and I hope she gets some good training in for next year and buys some quality PZW kit to race in!
At the start it was decided to combine the E/1/2/3 race with the 3/4 race do to lack of numbers arriving the E/1/2/3 race...6 to be exact. It was good for me more so, as my good lady was First Aider and this meant I wouldn't be sat around waiting for the final race to end and we could leave early! Also this went down well with my good lady! Hoorah!!
Anyhooo....the race started with 1 lap neutralised and then it was the off. A few little breaks here and there started, but these didn't last long. Eventually a Primal UK rider broke free. Everyone thought he would die on his own, myself included, in the end it took Jake Alderman and Ian Houvenaghel to break away. There were a few nervous riders and few wheels touched here and there, but luckly the only casualty was Phil Walker's spoke in his front wheel as another rider pointlessly shifted lines!
With two One and All riders up the road, the remaining One and All guys sat back and let everyone else chase, eventually Ian Houvenaghel was pulled back into the bunch. A few turns on the front by all the riders to try and real the solo riders up ahead back proved futile, as it was very hard to get a good through and off train going.
A few laps before the end, I made an attempt to break off the front, all this did was drag a everyone along so I sat up and waited mid pack knowing that this was going to be a sprint for the finish. As the rain came down harder, the track got wetter and I passed the finish line seeing Matt Southam hold up 2 fingers indicating 2 laps remaining.
At this point I made sure I was in the front 5 of the bunch and sitting tight, fortunately I got it right as half way round the lap, someones rear tyre burst and this disrupted the bunch a little and I slotted behind a rider from Cyclelogic and One and All, here I waited for the remainder of the race.
At the bottom of the hill on the final lap, I heard someone changing gears and I went for the sprint, way too early for me, but I had to go, otherwise they would have got the jump on me....
I crossed the finish line winning the sprint for 3rd with two Shred Racing guys finishing behind behind me! Perfect end to the year for me, started very on in the year a 4th cat with no points, and finishing just needing a handfull of points to get my 2nd cat licence!!!!
A good win by Jake Alderman and a strong 2nd by the Primal guy.
Big thanks to all at PZW and One And All for putting on a good load of races, big thanks to everyone assisting (you know who you are!), more thanks to all the racers who have taken part in the Cornish Series for providing some great racing! And a final big thanks to Len Pascoe for being a Commissar all year! Woohaa!
And a final thanks to my good lady, Sally for stepping in and being first aider in the final two races, so that they could go ahead!
Pictures.....
Garry James warming up and failing, as the rain lashed down!!
Ian Houvenaghel and Jake Alderman chase down the uber strong Primal UK rider.
Said uber strong Primal UK rider!
Hellish wet corner, people had a few "moments" here.......
Garry James driving the bunch hard......
Garry James trying to break away into the strong wind, Hari Slade leading the chasers....
Hari and ex PZW rider Phil Walker...
Gary James opting to sit mid bunch with 2 laps to go....
