NATIONAL VTTA 50M CHAMPIONSHIPS - Newark - 26th July 2020

NATIONAL CHAMPION!

First National TT Champs of any flavour for 2020, according to the previews I was certainly in the mix for the Cap & Shirt with Matt Bottrill and Andy Jackson. Having 7 / 8 minutes on those guys with how standards weight the ages, did give me optimism prior to the race, all being well! 

However, arriving at the HQ, I was aware the forecast was fairly strong winds, and increasing through the morning (I was no 100) but it was far stronger than anticipated (again for the third time on this course). As a consequence it was rather brutal on the southerly legs, but flew back....probably wrongly went out really hard with peaks of 10mins @ 346w and even 30mins @ 330w (although my new Stages power meter is def exaggerating)...on the turn after the tailwind on the Old Fosse Road, the wind was awful. and I really had to dig deep psychologically to prepare for the 2nd lap and final headwind stretch...really felt any chance of success was fast disappearing. 

Dug really deep, tried to stay controlled and in good rhythm, but power def dropped....and speed. The last 2 miles on the home stretch was back into the wind, managing to drag myself across the line, with no expectation - somehow rescuing a 1-49-13. 🤪

Until, I had a quick word with Matt B, who thought he had done a 1-42 something, which would be not quick enough to beat my 'plus'....and eventually it was confirmed that I did win the Vets Championship with Matt 2nd and Andy Jackson 3rd.🍾

Retrospectively though I was disappointed with my actual time, felt like last week, I was slightly off the pace...or has Father Time finally started to catch up!!

Anyhow, a second NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, so I should not complain! 🏆

Some stats: 53-37 @ 25M @ 327W (333NP)   /   55-10 @ 2nd 25M @ 302W (307NP) [PANTS 🙄]

Tailwind 1st lap 12.2M @ 33mph (318W / 324NP)  /   2nd lap @ 32.2mph (291W / 297NP)

SHAFTESBURY TROPHY - 50M - Newmarket - 19th July 2020

At last, 2020 starts!! 🎉🥳🍾

Covid-19 could not destroy the rather prestigious Shaftesbury ‘50’m TT in Cambridgeshire / Suffolk, but the bloody British weather tried its best, a window of torrential rain was forecast and at just the wrong time on Sunday very early morning, however fortunately those wonderful Shaftesbury CC boys declared it fit to race, and although it was very wet, it was never hazardous. ☔️

So, the first race of 2020, so good to have that ‘number on your back’, it’s not just the race it’s the build up, prep, how the training has gone?, of course the race itself, and then mulling over the result sheets, and where could it have gone better!

For starters it will do, a 1-44-27, my 3rd quickest ever, just under 29mph average - with a tidy 51 mins for the 2nd 25m...was looking for slightly quicker, but for the first rusty race, I shouldn’t complain, much 😉....good enough for 20th overall, 6th vet (O40) but pipped by 1 second to the vets ‘standard’ top podium prize (age and gender adjusted) by the impressive Anna Turvey...also improved the N Mids Vets record, but missed the National Age record by 52 seconds...

Amazing time btw by Adam Wild, especially in those conditions....possibly 2nd fastest UK time ever I believe? A name for the future at that rate 🥇

Bigger fish though next week, the rescheduled National Vets 50m TT Champs at Newark - all being well, I’m certainly in the mix with just the ‘oldies’ (O40s)  👴

Must thank the Shaftesbury club for endeavouring to persevere with the event, fighting not just the Covid constraints  but as mentioned the weather....their social distancing strategy was perfect but illustrated how simple yet affective it can be....adhering to all the rules, as did the competitors... So well done guys 👏