Wind, hail and points @ Goodwood

Steven Green reports from the Goodwood17th May Surrey League 4ths race:

"Our 12 laps started at 9:30 on Sunday morning in pouring rain and a howling wind coming directly down the start finish straight. The early pace was understandably modest with a few half hearted attempts to get away off the front of the group. After 4 laps the Almighty obviously decided that we should all be punished for being at a bike race and not church on a Sunday, and unleashed a huge hail storm! 2 laps later the remains of the bunch cheered the arrival of blue skies. The rather useful windsock in the centre of the course was indicating that the wind had switched round a tad to come behind the riders in the penultimate straight away on the circuit.

A minor crash at the chicane caused me to run wide and off onto the grass with 4 laps to go, but no great dramas and I was able to get back to the front of the pack with 3 laps left. There I stayed in second wheel for the next 2 laps and took the bell with the group massing behind for the inevitable sprint. On the final lap a trio of Redhill CC riders tried to lead out their man but didn’t really have the pace, so it was 3 abreast through the chicane for the last time, I tried my best for a sprint finish into the wind and managed to hold off the others to claim 3 spot, 7 points and my 3rd Cat license. I guess the hard work starts now!

Bad luck to Nick Upshall who was very helpful getting me back up the field after the off road incident. Nick got blocked out through the chicane on the final lap."