Master Evans comes to the rescue!!!

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BY: Donna Morris

Published: 20th October, 2013

Master Evans saves the night!!!

The Morris household are a breed that does not give up, but for some reason The Merlin Knight Cross, which is held at Carmarthen Park has a curse on Phil. Things started smoothly, with Bampy arriving early for Ryley duties and we got on the road earlier than planned. Hali Rae was first up to race, although wet underfoot the temperatures were good and with a great turnout of little kiddies it made for a cracking little race around the inside grass area of the velodrome. Well done racey Rae! Then with Hali Rae all set up (thank you Linsey once again!).

It wasn't long and seniors were off for a practise. Phil was on his mountain bike again, but has now switched to cyclocross tyres, so it was time to test them out. Conditions were very slippery, twisty to the point of making you giddy and a few nasty steep climbs and finished off with some hurdles the size of gates!!

However, after my warm up around the course I looked back to see Phil coming holding his handle bar in 2 bits!!! “Something a bit wrong their dear!!”. Unbelievable, he jumped over the one little board and the handle bar completed snapped in two!. This was 15 minutes before the start.  This race for Phil is really doomed. Anyway with no spare bike aboard and Phil not really wanting to borrow someone else’s bike, he was eagerly eyeing up mine!! Initially I thought no way, but then young Iwan Evan’s friends son and an up and coming young star, offered me his bike. Although he is 11 he has a mighty fine bike, and exactly the same saddle as my own cyclo cross  bike, so I took him up on the offer. We didn’t have many minutes to spare. Phil lifted the saddle for me and informed me I only had 10 gears and one ring, and it was literally ride to the start. He adjusted my bike and swapped the pedals and again with no chance to practice he was also straight to the line. Certainly not the best preparation!

We were off, a lap and half of the velodrome that nearly killed me and then out into the gnarly course, which was scattered with excited spectators cheering and hoping to see plenty of tumbles and slides. That for sure was the case and I throughout the race was on my backside 4 times!! The first few laps were fast and again with Laura Williams racing I couldn’t slouch about. I managed to get past Laura just before we exited the velodrome and from there on I pushed hard. About 2 laps in I caught glimpse of some male riders, who I am normally quite a bit behind. So I thought I must have been going fairly strong. This actually spurred me on, although I didn’t want to blow up, because there were still plenty of laps to go. Then after playing cat and mouse with John (MBE Lloyd) for a while, a few fall offs I heard someone shout go on Laura. I was hurting at this point and thought hell, is she in front of me or catching me. So I just thought I can’t go much harder anyway, so I just had to pace myself. Around the next few corners I passed Laura. At this point I still didn’t really know was I in front or her, but after I passed she didn’t come chasing so I took the lead and kept on trying to tussle with john then Ned potter. This didn’t last long as on the last lap I took a tumble and lost a few places, they were back in front and it takes a lot to get back to them when you’ve lost time and blowing out ya backside! Up in the woods I got back just behind them, and thankfully Ryan Bevis NFTO the leader called on my right so I followed him over the giant hurdles and got into the hardest gear I could on the bike and pushed to the finish, coming over the line just behind Ned Potter and about 2 inches behind John.

A very pleasing ride for me and I feel my best cyclocross performance this season. On to Brecon next weekend now, this is usually fairly similar, just a lot less twisty.  John, Ned and Paul you are my target to chase now so lookout!!

As for Phil, he had a surprisingly good race after a shambles of a start, not being used to riding a cyclocross bike and no doubt fuming over the situation!! He came home in a fifth place senior.

Well done to everyone taking part and thank you to the organisers and to the supporters!! The atmosphere was electric!

And a massive thakyou to Iwan for lending me his super speedy bike!! Cheers buddy!

Donna Morris, riding for XCracer.com