BUSA 3-up time trial, 6th April 2003
Results can be found here and photographs here
Yesterday's BUSA 3-up time-trial was held on a 30-mile course between Alcester and
Evesham in cool, overcast and slightly blowy conditons. Thanks to
everyone who came and rode, to make this a great event.
The result is provisional in that, according to our reckoning, our 'C'
team was 30 minutes faster than the 1-55:37 with which they were credited,
and the Cambridge Ladies were 10 minutes faster than their posted time of
1-47:34. There may be discrepancies in the times of other teams, too.
Full credit must go to the winning Oxford team, who pipped us by just 18s.
Calling up elite roadman Danny Axford has done their squad a power of good
- he was riding on the front each time that we crossed with them! Rob,
Alex and I worked well as a unit (only one touch of wheels, as Alex pulled
his foot out of the pedal!) - I took shorter turns on the front as the
fresh NE wind took its toll on my legs - and I said to Rob as we crossed
the line that, if Oxford had bettered our effort, they deserved the
medals.
Rachel was called up into the 'B' team to replace an ailing John Tuckett.
Along with Johns Barry and Earl, she put in a solid performance to finish
just out of the medals.
The 'C' team was troubled by "Pistol" Peter Allen's back - a rowing injury
was aggrevated 10 miles in. While Pete Leek and Andy Titman continued to
record a good time of about 1-15, Pistol soldiered around in a brave
1-25:37 - the time credited to the whole team.
Last but not least, the relative inexperience of the ladies' team was
compensated by fighting spirit. I think that all must have suffered with
the distance and the wind in the end, but a highly respectable 1-37 put
them well ahead of their Oxford rivals.
It is worth noting that, had the course been 1.25 miles longer, the club
50km records of 1-08:36 and 1-44:09 would undoubtedly have been smashed.
Many thanks to all who entered and rode, to Mr Titman and John Tuckett for
their support, and to Rob Campbell for waving his ugly posterior at us.
Tim Melville
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