Earlier in the week I sought advice from the wise old sages of the club and decided to enter the C grade event as an introduction to racing. Four laps of the course around Pickering Brook, the Observatory and Carmel, a total of 56 km, seemed to be a good start. It was not ideal conditions to make a race debut with strong easterlies blowing, but I was determined to get started on a familiar course. I decided not to ride up, and having seen a few of the SPR Sunday riders struggling up Welshpool Rd I was satisfied with the approach. I arrived in plenty of time to register and start warm up – a short ride out to Pickering Brook to experience the headwind – and decided this would be the tough part of the course

Race time at 9.20 and a field of about 20 gathered, including 6 SPR riders – Nick, Simon, Des, Jamie and Morrison. We set off at brisk pace and I decided to stay in the pack and see how things went. A couple of riders tried to break away but once we headed into Pickering Brook everyone was packed together to avoid the wind. The first Observatory climb was steady with the group staying together and the fast down hill stretch was more about avoiding blue metal being kicked up from riders in front than setting a fast pace. One the climb back to the start the group thinned a little and I picked up a couple of places. Heading back out again the pack seemed to get a little bigger as those who were dropped on the hill got back on. It was pleasing to see all the SPR boys still involved.

There were less places to hide from the wind on the second lap and a couple more non SPR riders dropped back on the Observatory climb. I counted 11 in the group after the 2nd descent and then it really started to string out. Passing the half way make one rider was about 200 m off the front, with Simon, Freddy Landon and myself chasing. Freddy organised a chase and unfortunately we lost Simon in the process. I was struggling into Pickering Brook but after some encouraging words from Freddy we bridged the gap and the three of us did turns to keep going.

Passing through the finish with one lap to go it was great to hear the encouragement from the SPR team and I managed to hold on during the last head wind section. I was feeling pretty good on the last Observatory climb and it suddenly dawned on me that I was chance to win. I started to think about where to kick in the last section but my mind soon drifted back to holding on during the final descent. Turning for home I kept the pace up on the initial climb and we were still together with the finish line in sight. The guy who made the break on the second lap kicked away and I tried to chase but there wasn’t much left. I held on about 10 m behind and had enough left to take 2nd place. During the warm down there were congratulations all around and the pain I was in gave way to the realisation that I had survived my first race.

Back at the team tent, the obligatory Coke and Snickers bar was well appreciated and I enjoyed chatting away with the SPR team and watching the end of the other races – especially Mike Bonner’s great effort in B grade. I’m looking forward to a return to racing after a few weeks off on holiday.