Anyway The day went something like this
When I arrived at the Plaza I told the boys that I was on “Strict Orders” to be home for lunch by one O’clock. “She who must be obeyed” had told me that as the boys were home, the traditional Turkey Roast was being served at one…… and I would be there…. Today was to be a short Club run for me……
Others were not so forthcoming saying things like….. I have to be back to watch the Paris Roubaix. Griff threw in that “the Track Championships were on as well”. A Likely Story.....
Spot even phoned with the excuse “I won’t be out because I’ve got Tonsillitis”……. Not once did he mention the real reason that he needed to stay home……….. so that he could nick Iori and Mali’s Easter eggs…...
So it was a depleted club run that headed east for a short ride around the Ogmore/Southerndown circuit. This weeks attendees were Me, Selwyn, Curtis, Tank, Griff, Dai Triggs, Mark Thomas, Andy Lewis, Gareth Howe, Mark Hillier, Mike Hall and Jeremy Jones.
Across the A48 to Pyle we had a flying tail wind and the youngsters on the front, (Selwyn and Curtis) had to be reminded several times that 25mph is a bit quick for a club run.
Kenfig Hill Came and went and through the lanes, I opened this week’s prime account at Laleston. This was likely to cause problems in the Peloton with James declaring “Oh! It’s time to Play then” but the urgency of the situation was eased when Mark (Many Punctures) Hillier’s back tyre came out in sympathy and punctured for the umpteenth time this year.
Past the Watermill and along the river to Ogmore by sea the Peloton was on edge. However, fortune favours the brave and while everyone was watching the Cattle Grid and pots, Andy Lewis was watching for village signs, he went for and easily took the Ogmore Village Prime to cries of “well fancy that”.
As we approached Ogmore by sea, a hush fell over the group, the pace slowly but surely began to increase and Tank moved to the front. Out of nowhere Jez Jones put in an attack, putting his recent Audax miles to good use, everyone thought he’d gone to early and it wasn’t until half way up the hill, that Tank saw the danger and put it into the 53 x 11 to go after Jez, just failing to catch him at the Ogmore by Sea sign.
As the Peloton eased after the sprint some re grouping was required and it was decided to try the Barn Café at Southerndown. It was me and Mark hillier on the front as we approached the Café, so we were the first to notice that the Southerndown sign is just before it, I was the first to react and I gained my 2nd prime points of the day…
After some serious Cake and Coffee in the Barn (Highly recommended and at a reasonable price) we set off towards St Brides, where Tank made up for his earlier miss and quickly racked up the St Brides Prime and the Ewenny Prime from Andy Lewis.
The club run kept a much more respectable pace back towards Kenfig where me Mike Hall and Jez Jones turned off and headed off to Porthcawl.
So In Summary
Green Jersey Me and Tank
KOM Jez Jones
Puncture King Mark Hillier