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NABC trip to the Cheshire Cat Sportive – 28th March 2010

(see gallery of photos)

This year’s Sportive opener the Cheshire Cat was well represented with 7 club members and Duncan's father in law Tom Elkins representing Diss CTC travelling up with us. The weather forecast on the Thursday was predicting heavy rain all day which lead to some members placing last minute orders for race blades! Fortunately the forecast changed to a dry but windy day. We travelled up on the Saturday morning on the minibus arriving around 2.00pm. The athlete's amongst us got changed and went out to recce some of the course whilst the rest retired to the hotel reception to catch up on the track cycling. Saturday evening started out in the pub with the new membership secretary Andy Blackwell generously footing the bill followed by a meal in the local Italian.

Sunday morning we arrived early at the start line and Rob London had his photo taken by the organisers which they used on their facebook site with the caption, ‘Rob London 1st across the start line’. The rest of the club and 2700 other cyclists followed. The first 15 miles were fairly flat with only a few short climbs but things changed suddenly on reaching the foot of the infamous Mow Cop hill which had us reaching quickly for the gear levers. First over for the club was Duncan followed by myself and Rob (just a side note – of the first 10 people over the top 6 were from Norfolk - 3 from NABC and 3 from Streetlife Cycles. Not bad for a bunch from the flatlands!). We had now entered the Peak District and in the next 20 miles the climbs were coming thick and fast before turning back towards Cheshire and a horrendous head wind. Shortly after the second feed station the routes split with the guys doing the slightly shorter but still tough course turning for home, whilst we continued on the 100m course. The last 25 miles were greeted with a tail wind and some fast times were recorded by club members on the last leg.

Finishing times by club members were as follows:-

100 miles

Duncan Lorne - 05.33.27 - 16th place overall out of 1019 starting the 100 course

Rob London - 05.44.53 - 63rd place

Dave Moore, who in true NABC style missed a turn and did an extra mile - 05.49.23 - 89th place.

Nicky Smith - 07.06.59 - 18th place overall in the ladies times

67 miles

Richard Dick Smith 04.45.31

Andy Blackwell 04.55.26

Tim Martins 05.13.03

I haven't recorded their finishing places as it wouldn't be a fair reflection on their effort, after both Andy and Dick having had to be scraped off the black stuff this year, and still a long way off being fully fit and Tim, by his own admission, doing most of his training in the Feathers this year.

And finally Tom Elkins from Diss CTC riding the 45 mile course in a time of 03.26.14. Not bad for a guy of 70!

Report by David Moore – Club Captain.