Three Yorkies headed off down south on Saturday 24th may, I took Ian and his bike in my vehicle and Carl went in his own car. we met up with Carl on the m1 at services in Leicester and had coffee and cake and to stretch the legs stopped for approx 20 mins, services were crowded with Hull football fans heading down to Wembley.
We set off again with the intention of stopping after we got off the m 25 for some dinner. Well this next stretch of the journey was slow with road works and volume of traffic so we ended up stopping wisely at Watford gap for some food. boy am I glad we did stop as for the next leg of the journey was a right chore, 2 hrs on the m25. stop and start, leg starting to ache after so much clutch operation .plenty of musical entertainment and banter in Colman’s vehicle. Ian and I had great fun some of which was at Carl’s expense, soon to backfire. thank heavens for sat nav recently purchased as we found our way quite easily to the Travelodge Alton four marks. We checked in to a family room. Unloaded bags and spare wheels and then went off for some food as it was nearly 6pm by this time. We found the links pub and from the outside looked great and the inside even better. With an attractive and helpful barmaid. I asked if it would be ok after having a meal if they would mind us leaving our cars in the car park whilst we went out in search of the 10 courses on our bikes. I ordered an Aberdeen Angus burger chips and salad and a coke .Ian and Carl had beef pie and orange juice. We went and sat outside in the warm sunshine, the food arrived and we tucked in I must say we found it excellent.
Back to car and set bikes up and set off in search of courses, I say course because there was a contingency plan had the weather been real bad it would have been moved off the a3. We found the HQ after asking a local taxi driver for directions. From there we followed our start sheets directions down to slip road of a3. We saw the start line painted on road so then set off down the course. quite sheltered by trees and decent dual carriageway interrupted by a roundabout then at 5 miles slip road then mini roundabout to go straight ahead sweeping round over flyover for return up a3after checking the first leg of the course we then decided to check out the emergency course as it wasn’t far from the turn of the a 3.this was a quite lumpy course with a small bit of dc probably put in to let vehicles pass slower vehicles as it was steep in places. Very sheltered and even though we were going uphill it seemed ok and we thought it would suit us all. We arrived back at the pub, stripped bikes down and went in for 3 coffees, discussed next item on agenda, preparation for breakfast as we would have to be up early. Decided to call at a convenience store near Travelodge to stock up with supplies of bread, honey and oat cakes. Back to Travelodge where little lad Carl laid claim to double bed leaving couch for me and Ian the pull out bed. Telly put on more coffee made and all took a shower .I was made to go last as I needed to shave my legs, think they were worried I would block the plug hole .by the time I got out of the shower the telly was off and I was more than surprised to see Ian tucking into a mug of pasta at 10.30.
Little lad was the brunt of Ian and my jokes as he tried to get some sleep then he quipped night john boy. We were all awoken at 4.30 with rain bouncing off the roof onto the path outside. Funny sound of water always makes you want to pee. We all ended getting up and going to toilet. We got off back to sleep then awoken at 6 am with alarm clocks. Poor Carl tried to put his head under covers as the light went on Ian and I made our breakfast and got all our gear and bags together because Ian had an early start. Boy was he glad when we left the room for a bit of piece and quiet. We set off to the HQ, it was raining at this time and we were convinced there would be a change of course from the a3.evnt HQ was well organised people directing cars to various areas of the school signs directing us to signing on area and a canteen was available too. Numbers claimed and signed for we then set Ian's bike up as he was off earlier than me .I got my turbo out and Ian warmed up on it whilst I went for news of start as there were many conversations overheard earlier about change of course. Found out that event had been delayed for half an hour due to weather and the course would be the A3. This meant Ian’s start time would be at 9.39. Called Carl to let him know it was down on original course and inform of delayed start time. We were surrounded by a lot of top riders and team vehicles. Some riders were quite around us were quite chatty and I think this helped take pressure off. The Colman service vehicle came in handy as some one needed to borrow a cassette tool and then my track pump. Then it was time for Ian to head off, checked numbers were fitted correctly and I wished him luck then set about building my bike. My bike set up put in the turbo and proceeded to warm up. I had a little over an hour to my start time weather was still cool and damp. Never had to go to toilet so many times twice I had to get of turbo during that hour, think the nerves were kicking in. Carl arrived and said he was going ride down to watch Ian at the turn. Ian arrived back at the car and said he had done a long 21, then gave details of how the course was and said spectators were lined out on flyover and lay-bys. Another few minutes went by and it was my turn to head off, Ian and Carl wished me luck and I set off. Going through the car park passing riders with the some of the best bikes I have ever seen. Short ride down the road to the start. Only 3 riders at the start area allowed at any time so orderly queue was formed at top of slip road and riders awaited to be waved down. I pulled to start area bike was looked over by a official with clip board meanwhile man in front of me actually on start line fell off before getting ready go . He was ok though and got set off on time apparently unaffected by his mishap.
Well it was my turn, 3 2 1 go and on the way I went. Going fairly well then negotiate a roundabout ,straight ahead then to a slip road with mini roundabout had to sit up car coming across from right marshal waved car on to speed it up ,straight ahead round to right over flyover and back onto a3 . to a roundabout again straight through, quite a busy section though with vehicles crossing onwards and upwards and upwards about a mile to go or less 92 came past me I gave him a shout to go go go ,he gave me a shout back ,I eased slightly so as not to draft. then carried on the finish board appeared on slip road ,it was over .met up with no 92 Chris birch on top of flyover who passed me gave him a pat on back . By the way this man makes exceedingly good cakes. As I found out later he baked cakes for the event and boy they were good.
I knew I had done a longish 20 so when I got back to car Ian had put my turbo away for me an I proceeded to tell him and Carl of my ride and how no 92 put over a minute into me. Grabbed recovery drink and I went to see if results were up. There were quite a few but not mine yet so went back to car stripped bikes and packed them away. Wished Carl a good ride and off he went, went for a quick shower, that’s a first at an event for me .facilities were fantastic. It wasn’t long before he was back. 19mins and 40 sec ride wow.
Back to see results come in and my time was up I had done 20.53 very pleased as this was my fastest time this year. All the times were now up and winner hutch had done 18.07 a 33 mph ride, awesome.
Had a chat with Ruth Eyles my coach before presentations then we went for coffee and cakes had a good chat with Charles McCulloch who came 3rd with 19.11 he told me about his come back after serious accident breaking his pelvis. These guys at the top are super human. Carl isn’t that far behind them 12th place
This is the best marshalled and signed event I have ever taken part in and was a credit to a3 crg
The nationals are something many more of you Yorkies should have a go at, great atmosphere and mixing with the best of the country.

Men’s results