Old Gore - 16th August

It was the season finale on the hilly one and the Old Gore still had a thing or two to say. On a windy and drizzly night, Will Bevan set a blistering time of 22:35, breaking Alan Cooke’s 2011 course record by 2 seconds. Now only 20 seconds off Walford’s record, and another weeks worth of racing underneath his belt, who knows what the last Walford will hold?

It was fantastic to see four young riders pitting their cycling wits. With a few choice words of wisdom; watch out for the first few corners, don’t go to fast on the way out and save yourself for the last hill, they all set out with youthful exuberance. First back was Matt Fallon, 20 seconds off his PB with a time of 25:27, swiftly followed by 2 new prospective members, the Berry brothers, with 32:32 and 30:27 respectively. Allowing dad to conduct his second week of pushing off was Mark Carter, with a time of 34:29. Once he converts that mountain bike skill into straight line speed, he will be shaving off those minutes.

Max Suff continues to impress with his consistent progress. He was almost 2 minutes quicker than at the start of the season and only 15 seconds or so off his season’s best, which is good going for such a blustery night. Taff insists that circuits the night before is good for you and promptly proved his point by setting a time of 26:54, over a minute quicker than his previous ride; maybe he knows something that we don’t, or was it the tow behind the large tractor as he set off? Chasing down Taff was Dave Harwood who is getting quicker by the week, although he had to admit that he has lost almost 30 seconds or so on the Woodredding climb to last year.

Tony Price is certainly recovering from his early season trip under the knife, shaving 2 seconds off his PB and a further 2 minutes and 30 seconds off his season’s best time. Nigel Skyrme, riding all the way out from Ross, was extremely happy with his PB, so much so that he wasted all of that good effort down the pub later on that evening. Perhaps the blustery conditions suited more riders than not, as James Wilson also reduced his season’s best by 4 seconds.

Thanks go to Captain Steve Millard for marshalling everyone, Graham Carter for pushing off and for Bill and El President at the turn. Next week is the last Walford of the year. Be early for a handicap and watch out for those ringers, leaving their best times till the end.