PTW

Sunny intervals and a moderate breeze - 15°C

Well boys and girls, this is our last club event for May as next week sees us promote the Presidents Handicap Road Race and it's also our last 10 on the dual until early July as we add a bit of distance and climbing to the menu in June.

Anyway, here are the essentials;

1. We meet up at the Neath Canal Car Park in Resolven for signing on from about 18.00hrs and closing at 18.45hrs for a prompt 19.00hrs race start.

2. You have to be a member of the PTW or a second-claim member of the PTW. There is no 'single race' fee - you have to join the club as a first-claim or second-claim member.

Course Description

START on the Vale of Neath Supplier Estate service road opposite Lamp Post No. 18. Proceed eastwards along the service road to the Resolven Roundabout (0.458 miles). (Safety Notice:- Do not cross the centre line of the road on the right hand bend). Take the 1st exit left along A465 dual carriageway westbound to the 1st exit left (4.862 miles). Continue up the loop to the small Tonna Roundabout where take the 1st exit to the large Aberdulais Interchange. Take the 4th exit (5.505 miles) to proceed down the slip road to re-join A465 dual carriageway. Proceed eastbound to the Resolven Roundabout where take 1st exit left to FINISH at the access road to the Canal Car Park on the cross-valley link road (10.006 miles).

Hi Alf, I can't see a calendar for the season, so I don't actually know what time-trials are coming up. Could you post the list somewhere? Also, how do I get myself into a team for the 4UP?

No problem Bill. After work this evening I'll get the list up. As for 4-up teams then I think you'll slot into a team comprising riders of similar ability. Let us get the Presidents out of the way and we'll sort out some squads.

Well, overall it was a good night and a lot better than the forecast. But it was by no means perfect and after some calculator button work I've established that on average you were 15 seconds slower than your current seasons best (SB). Rather oddly, whilst we did see the wind noticeably drop for the later riders it was the early riders who smashed their SB's. Go figure! Anyway, 28 riders took to the start line but only 27 would finish as Stephan Wilcox became a victim of the puncture fairy who, apparently, is attracted to red bikes.

Mike Timothy was first off and he took a healthy one full minute off his SB but our first rider home was Clinton Evans who passed six riders on his way to 5th place and almost getting a new SB. Next back was Andrew Jenkins from the Bynea setting a very respectable benchmark time of 24:26 to finish 10th. Amy Seppman slashed 38 seconds off her SB to edge up the rankings a bit and there's more to come I'm sure. Ethan Morgan took a useful 14 seconds off his PB but was within the sights of Emma Davies who almost caught him and that chase probably accounts for Emma's new SB and becoming a '26' girl (again). I think we saw more of the real John Deeley last night as he took 42 seconds off his SB and we'll be seeing a little bit more of him again if he wears THAT skinsuit!

We had no less than two steel Jeff Bruce frames in last night's race the first of which was piloted by everyone's favourite postman Andy 'Moon River' Williams who posted a time... of sorts! It was great to see you Andy and I'm challenging you to go under 30 minutes in July or August. The other Jeff Bruce was ridden by David Abbott who set a benchmark ride of 25:42 that will be smashed in future weeks I'm sure. Snuggled away between these two antiques was Ffion Davies who was slightly off the pace and 34 seconds adrift of her SB. Diane Wilson-Evans is still chasing her storming early season 26:04 and was 47 seconds down last night. Hopefully, Diane stayed upright when she (and many others) was passed by teenage typhoon Dylan Sage who blasted a 21:20 to take the win and also record our third fastest time of the season. Awesome!

Stephen Morgan was only 3 seconds away from his SB and Rob Lucas was 12 seconds down and, on the night, this was OK and better than the average deficit. Unfortunately, John Shehan didn't fare so well and was 91 seconds down but will get back there on warmer Summer evenings I'm sure. Brad Davies almost got into the top half of the results table and his time of 25:38 was only 5 seconds down on SB. Hollie Labunsky is also chasing a storming early season ride and finished 48 seconds down on SB. Bill Gannon is showing consistent form but was 22 seconds down on SB whilst Matt Jones is searching for answers to his drop in form but will come back. Karl Rees was off the pace too finishing 55 seconds down on SB but picked up two vital points in the roadbike competition to edge in front.

Hugh Pascoe was, once again, without his wingman Heath Williams but flew around the course to slash 23 seconds off his SB and a '22' must be his next target although he'll need to wait until we return to the dual in July. David Wilson-Evans was 21 seconds down on SB but finished 9th on the night and took the midfield win. Dan Jenkins was only 2 seconds away from a new SB and finished 6th - overall, a good night for son and father. Graham Rogerson was 35 seconds down on SB to finish in 7th place. Our PTW 'fast three' would normally fill the top three places, and in a variety of combinations too, but with Dylan Sage taking the win it meant that only 2nd to 4th was available and we had a return to seeding last night. Only 21 seconds covered the three of them and all three were between 22 to 25 seconds down on SB.

Alfie's 'man of the match' goes to Dylan Sage for a first PTW club event win and a 21:20 on a less than perfect night.

Thanks to Dai for sending you all off, Will for the whistles, Gareth for doing the turn and bringing Stephan back and very special thanks to Tony and Shirley for marshalling the roadworks about 60 metres from the start! That's a first!!