Other Road Races 2006

9/5/06 Bob Jackson Training Race 2 - Race report by Carl Saint
I did the BJ race 2 on Tuesday night having missed the first. We were using the Aldborough course, the one which goes up the A168 and turns left just before you reach the Arkendale turn-off. Weather was good, just got a little nippy waiting for the start. Yorkie riders were; Steve Woodrup, James Atkinson, Mark Tilley and myself. There were 3 groups. Mark went off in the first group, Steve & James in 2nd (at 5 minutes), and for some reason me in the last (at 8 minutes). Simon Beldon is doing the handicapping. Our group included mainly elite and 1st cat riders. A couple of them had done Lincoln GP at the weekend. Our group set off very very fast! I managed to do one turn in the chain of about 12 riders, before I decided they didnt need me and my dodgy bike handling messing up the speed of the chain. So I went to back, and stayed there for nearly 2 of the 4 laps. This was when we caught the 2nd group containing Steve and James, on the climb back up towards Boro'. This big group then increased the pace once we hit the A168. This had the effect of taking about 20 riders away, James didn’t quite make it as we were strung out along the A168. Mark Tilleys first group as nowhere to be seen. We stayed together with me hanging off the back out of trouble until we turned onto the A168 for the penultimate time. Two riders were trying to getaway, G. Turnbull and a swiss rider, whose been doing a bit of racing in France. (Still no sign of Mark Tilley!!). This was where I decided to try to reach the two riders up the road. Using my considerable sprinting ability (max speed 12mph – Ed) I blasted (crawled – ed) off the front of a fast moving bunch (who had sat up and were merrily eating and drinking – ed) and caught two riders from the first group without dragging anyone with me (‘cause they couldn’t stop laughing at the slowness of the jump – ed) I went straight to the front and did a long turn, expecting them to come through... which did not happen for a considerable amount of time (because you’re road racing where the name of the game is to let others do the work – ed) I made my feelings known to them and they then started coming through to do some work (independent reports suggest that these 2 riders were under 12 year old). Our threesome was then joined by Alistar Kay (who’s a proper road racer - ed) who had done the same "Saint" manoeuvre to escape the bunch. This was when i thought we were away. Steve Woodrup said he had blocked for me, though Beldon said how could he do that from the back of the bunch! Still no Mark Tilley! Going up the hill for the last time just before Boro' we finally caught sight of the so called "slow" riders. This group had 4 extra riders just as we hit the finish straight going up the 168. The Swiss rider had made a jump, that none us could follow and took the overall win.. The remaining 3 fast riders then mixed in with the "slow" bunch for the next few places. I finally saw Tilley about 100 yards from the line! (so where did you all finish? - ed) Afterwards, Mark was looking remarkably fresh considering he had managed to fend off the so called "fast" riders.. It was then that he came clean and told us that their leading car had done a couple of shorter laps taking the first left turn on the A168! This is a good event and I'm glad its back on the calendar again after a couple of years break. Cliff Beldon is doing a great job, its an ideal introduction to road racing. Carl ‘Sluggish’ Saint
If anyone can work out final placings for Mark, Sluggish, Steve and James finished let me know. Sluggish seems to have forgotten to mention it - ed

I did the BJ race 2 on Tuesday night having missed the first. We were using the Aldborough course, the one which goes up the A168 and turns left just before you reach the Arkendale turn-off. Weather was good, just got a little nippy waiting for the start. Yorkie riders were; Steve Woodrup, James Atkinson, Mark Tilley and myself.

There were 3 groups. Mark went off in the first group, Steve & James in 2nd (at 5 minutes), and for some reason me in the last (at 8 minutes). Simon Beldon is doing the handicapping. Our group included mainly elite and 1st cat riders. A couple of them had done Lincoln GP at the weekend.

Our group set off very very fast! I managed to do one turn in the chain of about 12 riders, before I decided they didnt need me and my dodgy bike handling messing up the speed of the chain. So I went to back, and stayed there for nearly 2 of the 4 laps. This was when we caught the 2nd group containing Steve and James, on the climb back up towards Boro'. This big group then increased the pace once we hit the A168. This had the effect of taking about 20 riders away, James didn’t quite make it as we were strung out along the A168. Mark Tilleys first group as nowhere to be seen.

We stayed together with me hanging off the back out of trouble until we turned onto the A168 for the penultimate time. Two riders were trying to getaway, G. Turnbull and a swiss rider, whose been doing a bit of racing in France. (Still no sign of Mark Tilley!!). This was where I decided to try to reach the two riders up the road. Using my considerable sprinting ability (max speed 12mph – Ed) I blasted (crawled – ed) off the front of a fast moving bunch (who had sat up and were merrily eating and drinking – ed) and caught two riders from the first group without dragging anyone with me (‘cause they couldn’t stop laughing at the slowness of the jump – ed)

I went straight to the front and did a long turn, expecting them to come through... which did not happen for a considerable amount of time (because you’re road racing where the name of the game is to let others do the work – ed) I made my feelings known to them and they then started coming through to do some work (independent reports suggest that these 2 riders were under 12 year old). Our threesome was then joined by Alistar Kay (who’s a proper road racer - ed) who had done the same "Saint" manoeuvre to escape the bunch. This was when i thought we were away.

Steve Woodrup said he had blocked for me, though Beldon said how could he do that from the back of the bunch! Still no Mark Tilley! Going up the hill for the last time just before Boro' we finally caught sight of the so called "slow" riders. This group had 4 extra riders just as we hit the finish straight going up the 168. The Swiss rider had made a jump, that none us could follow and took the overall win.. The remaining 3 fast riders then mixed in with the "slow" bunch for the next few places. I finally saw Tilley about 100 yards from the line! (so where did you all finish? - ed)

Afterwards, Mark was looking remarkably fresh considering he had managed to fend off the so called "fast" riders.. It was then that he came clean and told us that their leading car had done a couple of shorter laps taking the first left turn on the A168!

This is a good event and I'm glad its back on the calendar again after a couple of years break. Cliff Beldon is doing a great job, its an ideal introduction to road racing.

Carl ‘Sluggish’ Saint

9/5/06 Bob Jackson Training Race 2 - Race report by Carl Saint