Fully Sussed Evening Series Round 2 2010

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Published: 14th May, 2010

This was a new experience for me, going to a race at Newnham Park that I wasn't organising, it was a bit weird seeing how Jay and Maddie had everything covered and leaving them to it felt a bit odd, but enjoyable.

I took the kids off to the woods to see what course had been put together. The fully sussed evening format is a bit of a challenge at Newnham as although the logistics are perfect the course is always gonna need a fairly stiff climb and on a short 8-10 minute lap it was going to beat a few up. The addition of the mineshaft descent raised a few eyebrows but seeing 9 year old Harry Birchill negotiate with some ease put many of the grown ups to shame.

The format means a 40min race at 6pm for the fun, oldies and youngies. About a 50:50 split between riders down the mineshaft and those taking the longer B line. The Junior race was at the front of things with Somerset RC's Peter Robinson enjoying the climbs but James Birch from Shred was more than reeling him in on the Mineshaft and looked better than anyone going down it. The better descender won the day and was first home overall with 5 laps in 41:42 just under a minute up on Peter. Harry Birchill took the under 14s and is on course for his first National event in September. Kevin Brown was at the head of Grand Vets and Ben Savill was the only rider to complete 5 laps in Fun.

Race 2 is at 7pm and by that time the car park was looking pretty full, a field of 70 was on the line with a great mix of locals, newbies and national level riders about to tackle the much hated clif (or cogs for the night) climb. Luke Eggar is new in Expert this year and whilst he has been at the front of the two nationals for a while the end result so far has been two dnf's, he obviously had plenty of legs left over from Wasing and took a clear win from Ben Price.



In Masters Matt Loake was sporting the slightly de vomited Southfork racing kit on his way to a win from fellow Cornish rider Phil Coad and Certini's Steve Ferguson was the only other 8 lapper in 3rd. Steve Toze continued his flitting between cats to race Masters (having switched to sport last weekend) and claimed 7th...maybe he should be in with the big boys afterall.

Perhaps Steve didn't fancy young Shred rider Harry Smith kicking his sport backside as Harry took the sport win from Rich Long and Lee Mallen.

In Veterans it was yet another win for Pete Dawe, having recovered from pewking his way round Wasing (maybe it's the kit), Garry Pike grabbed another Shred podium in second, with Martyn Andrews in 3rd.

For the Women Carla Haines celebrated her UCI point winning exploits at Wasing with a 7 lap win and Holly Russell won sport for local club Yogis (who had helped with course prep), Denise Richards took the Vets win.

So a lovely evening was had by all. Well done to Jay and Maddie at Fully Sussed, rumours are of a BBQ at the next one as the catering was a bit shonky (not Fully sussed's fault).

Talking of shonky, sorry about the pics....think i'll stick to organising and leave photos to Joolze.

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