Paul Simon Homes/Finchley RT Road Race - Sun 5th July 2009

Simon Checkley, Tristan Emptage and Jamie Anderson lined up for this years edition of the Paul Simon Homes RR, run on a revised circuit taking in the scenic delights of the A414 and the B1000 between Hertford and Welwyn Garden CIty - not to mention four or five roundabouts. Despite initial reservations, the course proved to be both fast and safe, although some errant marshalling (coupled with some riders lack of local knowledge) saw the field split on the first lap as one half of the bunch missed the slip road onto the A414.

Once reconvened, the race set of briskly, although attempted brakes struggled to make any headway initially. Jamie launched an audacious but ill-feted solo break / ego trip on lap two, managing to stay clear of the bunch for the entire A414 stretch before being reeled in on the Thieves Lane hill. Tristan was his usual effervescent self, jumping off the front and chasing down breaks. Simon worked very hard to chase down a dangerous break on the fourth lap. Thereafter all three North Roaders kept something of a low profile until the final lap, by which point a few riders had escaped off the front, including a very impressive solo effort by Graham Galvin of the ELV. 4th place and onwards were decided by a bunch sprint in which Jamie and Tristan (in particular) took an active part. Simon, perhaps wisely, decided to sit up and not take part on the sprint, thus avoiding one or two comings together in the final 500m. Unfortunately their efforts were not enough to warrant a top 15 place. An honourable mention goes to second claim member George Olive who rode a tactically astute race and used his powerful sprint to take 6th.