LVRC Kirdford UPDATED

Afternoon race for ABC's (under 55s)

The ABC's lined for the South Western Vets race - the 5th in the South East LVRC series. Due to the local village fete the circuit was re-routed to a shorter circuit. After 2 laps it soon became clear that if we were to cover the full 10 laps then we might travel nearly 90 miles - far too much for such a bunch of old men.

After 2 laps the break went with the big hitters including Terry Morgan and (already in his 2nd break of the day) our VCM teammate Gianluca Capello. With 8 up the road including Craig Wilson's and Martin Hulbert's main challengers in the B and C age category it was panic stations in the bunch. Sterling efforts by Tim Costellara doing his best impression of an (old) motorbike (with hayfever) kept the break at under 2 minutes. Thankfully the race was shortened by 2 laps and, with the break well gone, the remainder of the field broke up leaving 5 Vecchi's, Martin Hulbert from VCM and a few others in a chasing group. Into the last 2 laps Martin and Ashley Holding jumped away to take 7th and 8th. The Vecchi team trial squad of Costello, Morgan (having dropped back to help the chase) Addison and Jarrett towed a failing Wilson to the finish where they virtually had to push the miserable mess, resplendent in his all white outfit, across the line to take some points to defend his jersey. With Wilson across the line, Colin Addison led in Keith Jarrett and Terry Morgan.

A big thank you to the team who went well beyond the call of duty to protect the jersey. Hopefully I will return from holiday well rested and able to do the support justice!
(report supplied by CraigW)

Gianluca persevered in the break and crossed the line 4th in the race and 2nd A Cat.


Morning race for DEF's (over 55's)

Sat AM LVRC Kirdford; The cricket at Plaistow hadn’t started so the old boys were able to use the bigger Kirdford circuit which also included the finish hill and the climb up to Plaistow each lap… the blustery wind (was it ever behind us?) and the two drags each lap together with the constant attacking meant that a few of the less fit were soon struggling to stay with the bunch. At times it looked like one of the many attacks would succeed however it wasn’t until just under a lap to go that the real damage occurred.

A fast ascent of the finish hill left some struggling and a counter on the next drag saw a stretched out bunch and a select group of 5 pulled away consolidating the gap with a very quick descent to Kirdford. Seeing the danger 5 more got across forming a group of 10 at the front with just 10k to go and although this group, containing most of the leaders of the series, did not get themselves organised the wind had gone out of the chasers and that was it.

With 7k to go Dave Worsfold and ex Condor pro Barry Jones clipped away with the others looking at each other, 4k to go Tony Woodcock sprinted across to the leading two quickly followed by myself expecting the rest to follow but they hesitated and we were away. On the finishing climb I crept past Dave and Barry and expected Tony to come by but all the work he had done during the race took its toll and he took second and first in his age group. (Leaving KB to cruise over the line for another win and an even bigger lead in the overall series - Ed)

(report supplied by KeithB)

In the overall series we still have leaders in the B & E categories with CraigW and KeithB. MartinH lies 2nd in the C category standings and Gianluca (starting the series part way through) has a good chance of moving up to 2nd in the A's (if he rides well in all the remaining rounds)