BUSA 10 mile time trial, Sat 26th April 2003



Results can be found here
What a result! The 10 was run yesterday in rather breezy conditions with the occasional spot of rain. A 45-degree headwind to the turn made for a tough outward leg, and a relatively fast, shorter, return.

Rachel Horn (23:59) won the individual women's title by a street and, with Rachel Fenton (30:15), took the team bronze medals behind good Lufbra and MURT squads.

Rob Driver came oh-so-close to the medals (and his pre-stated aim of beating ex-CUCCer Stu Lemanski!) with a superb 22:02, good enough for 4th place overall on a tough day. Backed up by Tim Melville (22:18, 7th) and Alex Higham (22:37, 8th=), both of whom had troubled rides, the CUCC 'A' team took team gold in the men's event.

Michael Watt (24:08), John Barry (24:22), Pete Leek (24:28), Andrew Titman (25:46) and Tom Botterill (25:59) completed the impressive Cambridge line-up. Unfortunately, John Earl was sidelined with a broken wrist after a bizarre handstanding incident.

Overall, top-flight tester Sam Barker (Luton) took the honours, his 21:01 a full 45 seconds clear of Ulsterman Gary McKeegan. Lemanski shaded Rob out of the medals by just three seconds. Manchester's Jon-Kris Mason had a 30s late-start penalty included in his 22:04 - let that be a lesson to you! Home favourite Danny Axford broke a crank, but would have had to have beaten 20:44 to have denied us the team win.

Oops, I forgot to mention how Alex and I had troubled rides... Al had an asthma attack halfway round, and I had various mechanical issues. On arriving at the start line, I noticed that I'd lost a chainring bolt. In fact, the other four progressively loosened, until it was very rattly at the finish (this must have slowed me down). Secondly, and perhaps even more worryingly, when I got off to investigate the rattle, my saddle came off in my hand! I rode back to the HQ standing!

Hmmmm...

Tim Melville