Mark Lawrence 9th in Abberton Reservior Road Race

Abberton Reservior Road Race - 3/4cat, 88km - Sunday 10th June 

Report from Mark Lawrence
 
After getting a bit carried away in my first ever road race, the Ashwell CC Primavera, and spending too long on the front on my own I decided to take a more sensible approach for my next race and keep away from the front until the end.
  As the race started it was quite cold and I took a couple of laps to warm up and find my legs.
  By the third lap I was feeling good but held my place near the rear of the bunch trying not to get carried away as in my previous race.
  As the sixth lap started the pace picked up as some lone riders tired to break away but the group was constantly reeling them in. I started to move up the pack with two laps to go.
  The last lap began and there was a mad dash as the front tried to pull away but the group stayed together.
  With about a mile to go the race almost came to a stop as many riders were saving themselves for a sprint finish. We came to the last hill about 500 meters from the finish and the pace picked up again. Then the commisaire shouted that the road was clear ahead and we could use both sides of the road, so I dug in and started overtaking people on the hill. By now I was in about fifth place and on the home straight and riding flat out. I could see some riders coming up beside me but could not hold them off and finished in ninth position.

Jonathan Appelby came twelth

Full result from ERRL forum here