It was a busy start to the year for the Rockingham Forest Wheelers with ten of our number entering and completing the 9th April ‘Round One’ of the Northampton & District Cycling Association series - our promotion on the 18.7 miles Middleton ‘valley’ course. Pete Bradshaw leading us with thirteenth fastest overall in a very decent 44:36. Our top three of Pete Bradshaw, Paul Beattie and Pete Wilson combining as fourth fastest team from eleven scoring teams. A great start to the series, although our only prize winner on the day was Harry Freeman as second fastest Junior.
23rd April
N&DCA round two, 23rd April, on the NC1/10 Sawtry- Stilton (former A1) course saw nine Rocko’s enter and again no DNS’s. We could count second claim member Graham Bickle, who has been riding for Kings Cliffe Flyers for the last couple of seasons, as our number ten! Always nice to see life-long TT enthusiast Graham riding his older style machine and to see Michael Church, defeating the awful injuries he suffered a few years ago, putting in a ride for himself between time keeping duties for association and club events.
On the day, with a strong headwind against all the way out to the Stilton turn and a long section of newly tarred and gritted surface, fast times were hard to come by with Pete Bradshaw again our fastest in 23:47 for fourteenth place from Paul Beattie 24:17.
7th May - New Personal Bests!
Our three fastest guys from the N&DCA round one were entered in the Bossard Wheelers ‘Ten’ on Saturday morning 7th May. This was to be on the Brogborough F15/10 course but was relocated to the F11/10 based on Tring, Hertfordshire. Pete Bradshaw recovering from his RFW Two Day race accident was unable to ride, but on a very fine morning Pete Wilson and Paul Beattie both got great new PB’s – 20:47 and 21:22 respectively, both were pretty excited with that!
And, showing their commitment this season, all three were entered in the afternoon’s N&DCA round three – the ‘Lamport Ten’. Unfortunately Pete Bradshaw had to DNS after his injuries but Pete W and Paul B both finished on 23:51 for equal 9th place. Both again were very pleased with their rides on what is a challenging course with its bumpy surfaces and long drag coming back up the slope from Rothwell and exposure across the old airfield plateau, and against some seasoned time trial specialists. Mark Daniels was our third fastest, just about a minute slower. Again we had nine riders entered, but this time three were DNS and one DNF – the unfortunate Harry Freeman who took a tumble at the turn island avoiding an errant motorist. Michael Church was on Finish Time Keeper duty.
If any individuals may have ridden one or two other events please contact Peter Nix below with details.