NATIONAL VTTA 50M CHAMPIONSHIPS - Abergavenny - Monmouth - 14th May 2022

 8th Overall; 2nd in Championship

Really not expecting to be able to race this event due to the earlier crash and injuries, but somehow got to the start line. Must admit, before the race I was not overly enthusiastic...but had to motivate myself for the start line. Felt like I was going pretty well, power started where I wanted it, but it did drop ultimately to 294w which is  probably about 12w minimum at where I should be at least. 

Completed in a time of 1-49-09, some 2 mins slower than my slowest attempt (of three previous races) on this course, but hoped in the Standard comp, it would be good enough to steal the National jersey? Alas, no...2nd by just 14 seconds from Chris McNamara who in fairness deserved to win (well...😉) by nearly breaking the course record and breaking 1-40 on his actual time.

Cannot deny I didn't take it well, although, many plaudits for even making the start line...but that doesn't equate to a winners jersey!! 😫

Must add that a certain young lady was hot on my heels, barely 15 secs behind me...Angela Carpenter, amazing ride by her...and won the overall Championship, again! Well done that girl 😘

FROM THE VTTA WEBSITE

The 50 Mile Championship saw some very fast times on an afternoon that was warm, sunny and dry. A southerly breeze, however, was quite gusty at times, and made conditions less than ideal. The R50/1B course features two laps between Abergavenny and Monmouth, mainly on dual carriageway but with a rolling 5 mile section on a country road that adds to the challenge. 

The men’s championship was a very tight finish with the top three within just 31 seconds of each other on standard and Vets Handicap Result (VHR).  Christopher McNamara (Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT) took the gold medal with the fastest actual time on the day of 1:39:54, only 38 seconds short of the course record. Silver went to Keith Ainsworth (Lindsey Roads Cycling Club), a specially commendable ride given his recent return from a training accident, and bronze went to David Shepherd (..a3crg). Their VHR times were 1:37:08, 1:37:22, 1:37:39. A very close finish indeed!

In the women’s championship Angela Carpenter continued her unbeatable form with a stunning time of 1:49:24 giving her a VHR of 1:30:30. This was a new course record and a Welsh record by more than 2 minutes. Angela’s fellow ..a3crg team members Claire Emons and Sarah Matthews took the silver and bronze medals respectively giving them a clean sweep of the podium.