PTW

Just a bit of advance notice:

Friday 26th March 2010
The second of the 'Lungopener' series will be held on Friday 26th March.
The event will commence with a Go-Race at 1900. This event is open to novice racers/non BC members/4th category riders. There are no license points available for this race and it is intended as a 'taster' for those new to cycle racing. The cost of entry for non BC members is £10, this includes the cost of a day racing license (£5).
The main race will commence at 1945 (approx) and will be a C+ criterium race for 2/3/4 category riders. Points are available down to 10th place. Prizes will not be awarded for the race but will be awarded for the overall series winners. Entry is £10 EOL.

I strongly reccomend those interested in racing give the Go Race a whirl.

The Squadra will be out for the main event, with Me, Tank, Hefin and hopefully Curtis putting on a show.

i'll be there, should be good!

Your man in the field reporting...

Another damp and cold evening greeted the squadra this evening. Almost a full compliment of Tank, Disco, Hefin and Curtis lined up against a considerably stronger field than last week, with local 'stars' Richie 'Haggis' Harris (Cwmcarn), John Fitzpatrick (Abergavenny) and west Wales strong man Chris Bates (Bynea). All in all there were about 40 riders with another strong turn out from the Jif.

There were attacks from the word go and it was clear we were in for a long night. With me lying 3rd overall in the series standings the Squadra were under team orders and performed perfectly, chasing down dangerous moves and getting in evrything that went. Another strong performance by Curtis who is turning into something special. Tank never got the chance to flex those tanned tighs of his however, and in the way only Tank knows how, snapped his chain after 4 laps.

Their team leader, however, was on a bad night. Getting into some early moves my confidence was high. This soon gave way to confusion, and finally consternation as I realised I was on a bad night. Fortunatley I had two excellent teamates to take up the slack and they covered anything dangerous while I recovered on the back.

Coming to the closing stages of the race a dangerous looking moved clipped off the front and myself and Andrew Davies (Ajax) bridged across. THere were now 6 of us going away from the main bunch, opening up a promising looking gap. We couldn't afford to let the pace drop as the bunch, driven by a determined Harris was never more than half a lap behind. We had a few shirkers in the break, but with myself, Graham Howell (Ogmore) and Davies driving it we kept a good enough gap until one lap to go.

Then, in what I can only assume must have been a monumental effort, Curtis and Hefin bridged across. Alas too late to give their ailing leader a lead out and it was all I could do to hang on to the back of the break to roll across the line in 6th.

All in all an excellent team performance, with some truly outstanding work by Curtis. Disappointed I couldn't finish the job, but there will be plenty of chances later in the season.

Sunday brings the Betty Pharoah and another chance for the Squadra to flex its toned thighs - with Curtis in the 3/4 race being a man to watch!

Til next time...