Tricycle Time Trial League

Well the season has started with the hardier members venturing to the South Western 25 @ Falfield. It seems as if my comment about getting points as long as you finish is being taken on board with an entry of 9 riders this year compared to 7 last year.  Of the 9 entries 7 started and all 7 finished, with the finishers holding the first 7 places in the league for the moment.

The temperature at the start was 3 deg warmer than last year, but the chilly east wind made for a very testing event, all be it with a warm fast return from the Slimbridge turn.

John Thompson, the event organiser  rode well and earned a deserved 1st placing, both on time and Vets Standard.  He posted the only plus on the day.

The other prize ride came from Peter “Happy” Holland, who along with dead heating Jim Montgomerie for 5th place used his  allowance by the handicapper, to deprive John of a clean sweep.

Mike Gelder continuing his comeback overcame the cold wind for a very well deserved 3rd, and Garry Guntrip was pleased to have improved his time from last year by over 5 mins in 4th.

All races have both first and last places, the latter being taken by Adrian Hills who in the process collected 24 valuable Tricycle TT League points & 7th in the league at present.  Just goes to prove the point if you finish you get points.

Oh by the way I sneaked in, in second place.

A week on and 5 trikes lined up for the Thames Valley hilly 29 @ Frieth on a warm and sunny morning.  A 25% increase on last year, which I hope is the start of a continuing trend to larger fields, and I hope my wish for at least 50 point scoring riders this year.

Mark Silver led off and returned to the Time keeper 2nd for 2nd place, next was our President Geoff Booker for 3rd, shortly followed by the New Midland Region member Gary Guntrip for 4th (watch out Norman he’s ahead on points now).  Richard Bailey took the lantern rouge today but that was for 26 points, and finally blowing my own trumpet I started 3rd but was 1st home with a time fast enough to take the Handicap and break Geoff’s Course record by 4min 17 secs.

So after 2 events the league table is thus:-

1st Lez Young               59pts

2nd Gary Guntrip           54 “

3rd  John Thompson     30  “

4th  Mark Silver              29  “

5th= Mick Gelder            28  “

5th= Geoff Booker          28  “

7th= Peter Holland         26  “

7th= Jim Montgomerie  26 “

7th=  Richard Bailey       26  “

10th  Adrian Hills            24  “

2 events completed with all starters finishing as per the saying Trikies never Quit. 20% of my target acheived from 2 races keep it up, dont be shy come and join in points go all the way down to 30th place.

By for now

Your very happy league organiser and leader for the present.

Lez Young