Eastern Cyclocross League 12 - Broome Heath Scramble Sun 17th December 2012

The 12th of 14 Eastern League races this season was the Broome Heath Scramble, just outside Bungay in deepest Norfolk. A two hour ride out for the North Road squadra comprising of Hannah Ormesher, John McDowalll, Bryan Holland, Dave Kiely and Steve James. Joe Kiely also making the journey for Welwyn Wheelers.

A really good course set on a picturesque heath at the edge of the Norfolk Broads was presented in chilly, bright and calm conditions. No weather related excuses were available to the riders today 

The course started with a fast ascending run up a gentle grassy climb and then a 180' turn back town the same hill which provided a degree of separation before entering a heath section where numerous tree roots laying a cross the path where the main hazard. The significant events on this course where a >30% rutted and holed climb exiting the first heath section (rideable but line had to be perfect and no fallen riders in front of you), a steep run up a 40m section of pure sand (definitely not rideable), a tricky section crossing a small ditch with a soft uphill exit (rideable with care), a fast grassy heath section providing all the overtaking possibilities you could want for and a nice ‘Yee Hah’, steep descent before a sharp right back to the start point. All agreed, probably one of the top three courses in the Eastern League calendar.

Bryan did the one hour senior event so had the benefit of the wise old heads of the Vets who had raced earlier. After discussion about the steep hill Bryan had a real quandary on how best to attack it, various advice had transpired: run it, run it first lap, run it on the left, ride it on right, ride it every time.  Lap one was the usual fast and furious stuff with elbows adjusted to fend off riders on the first corner. The initial hill and turn on the course caused the usual bottleneck as one rider got it wrong and didn’t make the climb and the other behind him ground to a halt. For once Bryan saw this coming and avoided the obstacles passing on the inside. After a few corners and bumpy tree routes and been passed the first lap decision was taken to run the hill up the left, good choice as rider on the right hit issues and again some passing was made possible (thanks John).  Bryan continued on with the next obstacle the sand climb (first of the season so new experience), this proved to be a slog first lap, and in fact just got progressively harder each of the seven laps then on.   Next came a tricky section through the woods and taking advice (thanks Dave) Bryan came into the section slowing down and took advantage of the right lines through.  Laps two and three saw a bold ride up on the right (thanks Steve / Dave) and lap four saw a tiring Bryan not quite make the top as his line judgement under stress disappeared.  Lap five saw him just over the top riding but from then on it was run up the left to remove the risk of recovering from a failed attempt on tired legs (Thanks John).  Bryan crossed the line in  32nd (13th Elite Vet) which equalled his second best result of the season.

The Vets/Womens event was the first event and here the mysteries of the gridding system were made all too apparent. John secured his normal third row spot. Steve was also called out on row three despite some dismal performances recently and a bemused looking Dave (off the back of a fine 11th place at Redgrave) was called fifth row! Nobody now understands the complex gridding system, we understand Stephen Hawking is going lead an investigation into how this works, it may well be the last piece of the Unified Theory of Everything.

With John, Steve and Dave all reporting no injuries or excuses and "feeling ok" the much hoped for and expected three way tear-up to the finish might have been on. These riders have raced together all season but there always seems to be one off form (normally Steve) leaving the other two battling it out, Mano-a-mano. However today John was to slip away at the start like a hunter-killer submarine never to be seen again. 

Steve had another nightmarish, failed to clip in start and was ridden into and nearly brought down by some un-gridded pack fodder and soon Dave was past him. He did manage to catch Dave after a while and when he had a small tangle and then dropped his chain Steve managed to pull out a significant lead which he held for couple of laps. Steve then had his customary moment and hit the deck, remounted OK and then spotted his Garmin on the floor, had to stop again, pick that up and lost the ten places he had patiently made up. The lurking ‘Kiely Dog’ was still behind but starting to close and eventually passed Steve just before the bell. Steve uttered some words of encouragement like "off you go Dave, I'm cooked" and then locked on to his wheel for the whole of the last lap hoping to psyche him out before the finish. They were joined by a Hackney CC rider for a tasty sprint in which he just prevailed and Dave held off Steve by a tire width only then to collapse like an empty husk, his energy spent but bragging rights secured. 

John meanwhile, seven paces or so in front of the others, rode a confident and composed race apart from small off with a particularly undignified rolling-round-like-a-beached-porpoise episode before he managed to re-engage with the Trek and be on his way.  Final places were slightly disappointing with John 21st, Dave 28th and Steve 29th -  but all agreed a great race.

Hannah started with the rest of the ladies a minute behind the Vets and proved how hardcore she is by lining up with no arm or leg warmers on what was still a pretty cold day. She was clearly in a rush to get back to Fidge her faithful border collie (sitting in the car dreaming of sheep) as she had one of her best finishes of the season coming in 6th from 13 ladies. Despite an uncertain start she scalped one of her nemesi on the sand hill early doors and rode strongly for the rest of the race, getting up the steep hill several times before one refusal and a fall blotted her copy book towards the end. On the final lap H regained sight of her nemesis majoris but the junction couldn't be made, but she did beat a girl who took third off her at Mistley for consolations. That's cross racing - little victories.

Joe Kiely had another strong race, climbed very well and came seventh from 33 in the Under 12s and second in his Under 10 Cat. He was just 40 seconds behind his CC Ashwell nemesis - next time Joe, next time...