Yorkshire Points Round 4 Wakefield

Round 4 of the Yorkshire Points was a complete weather contrast to Round 3 - lovely warm hot sunshine and a bone dry course. The course had been altered slightly from previous editions to eliminate the lap of the fields where the football was in progress, no great loss but I used to like the 'full gas' straights that the old route offered. Signing on I drew the jinxed number 13 - I'm not superstitious but I do like the tradition of inverting the number so it was duly pinned on upside down. A big turn out in the Vets for the Belgians with a 'Magnificent Seven'.



A fast course meant that errors and crashes would be punished and I was pleased with my start and enjoyed battling away with a small group including Nick Elder for the first five laps and I could see Nick Wagett and Paul Nutton just behind on the switchbacks both riding well. Three of the first five laps clocked exactly 5.28.3 which is nicely consistent. Unfortunately on lap six I felt the that horrible rolling on rim feeling coming into the the log hurdle/jump. A quick check revealed a rapidly deflating tub so I was forced to gently ride down and up the grassy sections whilst running the single track and any tight turns for fear of rolling it off the rim. Time to chill out and shout on Nick, Paul and Nick as they zipped past and trot along to the pits 3/4 of a lap away. The luxury of a spare bike kitted up for the 'Peaks with rock hard clinchers and even a rear light (!) from Wednesday nights training allowed a relaxed finish. John P being on hand with a Leffe and the glorious sunshine made it a great day out all the same :-)

Vets
Paul Nutton 28th
Nick Waggett 30th
Rich Allen 46th
Keith Brealey 63rd
John Parkinson 71st
John Hardiman 73rd

Women/Vet 50s
Laura Jolly 48th (6th FS)

Seniors
Adam Cooper 52nd