Eastern CX League 12 - Hempton Cross
Sun 13 Nov 2016
A two hour drive beyond Swaffham in Norfolk for the latest round of Eastern CX League. An all day tsunami of rain on the Saturday had spiced up the course that is always on the trickier spectrum of CX racing.
John McDowall was first off in the Vets 50 plus race. An early ‘course inspection’ cost valuable places and from then on errors crept in to John’s race with distressing regularity.
Not an utter disaster as close rivals in the League finished behind our man, but still John’s worst result this year coming home in 21st place at +4.29 down on Jimmy Piper of MS Society who won by managing four laps in 33.46 (75 starters with one DNF)
Bryan Holland was riding with great purpose in the Vets 40-49 event making steady progress through the field after a decent start on the closed road starting sprint. Sadly, with a lap to go he punctured a tub on on one of the bomb holes and that required a sapping lengthy run to the pits to change bikes.
Bryan having looked on for a low teens finishing position came home in an unlucky 32nd at +7.01 down on Shaun Aldous, of Renvale RT, who completed five laps in 42.16 (70 starters with five DNFs)