CL Rnd 20 – Harry Ferguson RR provides close racing
With Martin escaping to somewhere sunny it was good to see that he left some sunny weather behind as well as the signage.
The first thanks go to David D for popping up the details on the forum and harassing volunteers. The next thanks go to the army of marshals who turned out (must have been the promise of free goody bags) to help run the race:
Timekeepers: Lisa M & Emma J
Safety Car: Graeme D
Chief Marshal: Stephen W
Marshals: Chris A, Jim McM, Paul G, Martin M, Neil F, Colin McG, Raymund M, Trevor B, Alan C, Michael M, Noel G, Robert D, Davy F – Please let me know if I have missed anyone.
The handicap/group fairies had been working hard calculating lap times, recording power data of racers, checking the weather conditions until they made a decision. Its not easy and it isn’t always right so getting close is pretty good. Worst group to moan about their handicap goes to scratch but they are never happy even when they have half the riders.
This left groups 2,3 and 4 (Group 1 were absent so Eddie D got promoted to Grp 2) with little chance of staying away for the full 7 laps of the hilly course. With gaps being so large grp 2 had a lap done before scratch had started and concern was that grp 3 would do the same so scratch got to go a few seconds earlier much to the delight of Nathan.
With ride of the night up for grabs it was the two youngest who would prove to have the most fight. Aaron Watson & Jack Ferguson battled all night and when Jack managed to gap Aaron there was a real possibility that maybe…..just maybe he might make it. The timekeepers were in full cheer as the laps counted down.
Behind Scratch was attempting to work as a group but failing miserably however that doesn’t mean that the speed would drop. Lyndsey Watson tried to split the group on the hill with no success, Gareth Murray made a dash for it but was reeled back in and finally even Gavin M had a stab at getting away. Scratch finally caught Group 4 at the end of lap 5, forming an even larger main bunch which caught the remnants of Groups 3 near the end of the penultimate lap and would ultimately catch the ever cheerful Jack Ferguson . A frantic final lap ended in a bunch sprint, with Gavin Magowan taking the honours from Matthew Gibson and Nathan Mullan. Many thanks for the guests turning up and making Scratch go super fast.
Below are the finishing positions taken from the timekeepers sheet. There are a few people whose finishing position wasn’t recorded on the sheet; if anyone can help fill in the blanks or point out any incorrect results, please contact us.
Big congratulations to the top 3, but individual rider of the night must go to Kevin Walker, finishing a very impressive 6th in a hotly contested sprint. This coming after Kevin set a PB time in the TVR 10m TT on Wednesday evening must surely mean a free upgrade to Group 4 or should that be scratch :). Congratulations Kev!
