The third East Yorkshire Road Race League event
Walkington circuit, 27th May 2010
We scored our first win of the season on the Walkington circuit, with a fine lead-out from the boys to set up Ben for the sprint.
Sunny but cool weather greeted this third race of the series, with a light westerly headwind that would hopefully keep things manageable up the long Hunsley drag whilst guaranteeing a fast descent to Bluestone Bottoms before the final kick to the line.
Life in group 3 was a little bit less organised this time – perhaps the elder, wiser statesmen in the group had decided that with Group 2 likely to stay away on this circuit (it’s happened a lot in the past), there was little point in busting a gut before the inevitable catch by the scratch group hardmen.
Still it kinda goes against the grain not to race in a race, so after a hesitant first lap (in which we took five seconds longer to get round as group 2, for shame), we gradually turned up the wick a little. By lap three there were a few exploratory digs off the front, mainly from a Richardsons rider using the uphill kick on the finishing straight as a launchpad, but we marked all of these and kept it together until the catch on the lap 4 climb. From here on in it was the usual madness, tempered slightly this time by the pretty certain knowledge that group 2 would be getting all the glory tonight so there wouldn’t be much point putting in massive, destructive efforts.
It was nonetheless quite brisk on the descent down from High Hunsley, and a quick chat with Pete F-S on the way down soon turned to intense concentration as everyone tried to get in a reasonable position for the final kick, which is the high point of this circuit. I managed a reasonable effort at the steep bit but as usual was dismayed to see a train of superior beings filing casually past on the right. Ignoring the wise words of Steve Macklin (tradition now dictates he gets a name check in every report) to take it easy on account of there being no chance of any points or glory, I still feebly attempted a kick to the line before gasping off to join the jubilant team from group 2.
Turns out we did good racing strategy by accident this time. Feeling a bit peaky, Ben had sat in for the duration, only preparing the afterburners for the last lap. Gary started the lead-out with a furious drive down the hill to Bluestone Bottoms, then it was Steve who came through in the last 100 metres or so with Ben glued to his wheel: as Steve peeled off, spent, Ben had a clear view of the line and did the business. Gripping stuff.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens in the next Walkington race… the forecast stiff easterly wind could seriously change the dynamics… who knows? Anyway, a great result for VC Beverley and good teamwork all round. Full results are on the Hull Thursday site together with some fine pix. Our results in brief:
Ben Bell – 1st
Steve Cooper – 4th
Chris Holland – 18th
Gary Trees – 20th
Paul Waddington – 31st
Rob Brown – 41st
