There were a few less down to ride than the previous week but plenty of helpers and extra offers of help on the evening. With no ‘super-rapid’ visitors this week - no disrespect intended to Welland Valley CC guests, veteran Nev Brooks and youngster Millie van Nierop - the battle for the top spot was between Rockingham’s Paul Beattie and Pete Bradshaw.
With a light southerly wind, conditions were perhaps a little slower than last week, Paul Beattie, despite smashing it through the finish, was not quite able to match his ride from last week, and was beaten for eleven seconds by Pete Bradshaw, on his TT bike this time but saying he needs to ride it more, finishing on 23:00. The next three, Simon Beesley, Julian Freeman and Nathan Joyce all finished on 24:49, riding a road bike with tri-bars, a TT bike and a standard road bike respectively; making a crowded third spot. Chris Fowler with 25:37 was next on a road bike with tri-bars, followed by Paul Furnell, a second slower than his PB of last week, and Austin Brough, improving a little to go just under twenty-seven minutes.
Young Millie van Nierop, mentioned above, was actually super-rapid – all but breaking the 20mph barrier on our not so fast course on a standard road bike.