Warren re-lives the Divs

Below is Warren's report from yesterday's SE Divs Champs - he managed a great result amongst exalted company - Great Ride!


VCM entered 7 riders for the divs run down on the Tenderten course in Kent

Craig Wilson
Duncan Hards
David Creeggan
Jamie Newall
Steven Richards
Warren Jesse
Ben Macland

Myself Steve R and the enemy Tim Elverson drove down together we managed to under estimate just how far away the course is and arrived with about 20 mins to spare much to Tim’s annoyance as he couldn't carry out his usual pre race ritual of warming up on the rollers. Instead of this he decided the best way to warm up would be to attack almost immediately along with another rider. Jamie was prominent on the front early on waiting for his chance to jump but no one else had this idea and the two were left to act as carrots for just over a lap.

When they were inevitably caught it wasn’t long before the next attack went this one looked promising as it consisted of 6 riders including Tim (again) and Steve as well as Dan Duguid of Sigma and Simon McNamara of Wildside, Matt Seaton of Rapha and Keith Goffey of Bec CC. They built up a lead of 1min 40 at one point but the momentum of the bunch was always reasonably high and just as we approached the bottom of the hill for the bell lap they were swallowed up.

Now was my chance after sitting comfortably in the bunch for 5 laps! The usual suspects gathered at the front on the penultimate climb and forged ahead, there were 9 of us which included Sigma riders Gary Dodd and Andy Bye, Wildside rider Chris McNamara, Norwood Paragon riders Chris Moores and Steve Calland as well as John Veness, Richard Hoult and Andy Betts.

It was touch and go at one point round the back of the circuit as we were nearly caught again by the pack. Once the elastic snapped though we were gone and were told we had 40 seconds it was obvious now we weren’t getting caught so could afford the usual cat and mouse tatics. Andy Bye made several attempts to go but wasn’t all that strong and was brought back each time, all this time though Mr Dodd was getting an arm chair ride. At the bottom of the climb I noticed the two Paragon riders talking and the next thing Steve Calland launched a flyer with Chris Moores tuck to his wheel, I responded but the pace was way to quick and by the top of the first section of the climb Steve dropped his anchor and literally stopped! Gary Dodd used this as a launch pad and just rode away from everyone. My legs pretty much folded as we all tried to start the sprint again and got 6th place on the line, David Creeggan managed to get 2nd place in the bunch finish for 10th place. Not a bad effort all round but as the school teachers used to say could have been better..