The Etton course is a bit like Scotland ; you have to expect rain. Heavy downpours were forecast but fortunately they didn’t materialise. Unfortunately it was harvest time again with farmers slogging their robotic monster machines to get their crops in before the next onslaught of flooding, laying great clods of mud over the narrow roads; and in particular along the finishing straight. The extra wide vehicles were a cause for worry but everyone was patient and it worked out evenly for everyone – except, of course, for those who punctured.
With eight circuits to complete, the handicap allowances were increased from the last event when everyone arrived together, once more enough for four separate groups.

In the first, off at 7 o’clock, were Dave Millson, Jason Shipton, Andrew Askwith, Colin Baldwin, Matthew Enticknap, Jeff Thorley, Gareth Taylor, Digby Rusling, Daniel Wright, Jordan and Sam Dyason; eleven in all.

Group two, off five minutes later, comprised Steve Macklin, Mark Walker, Matt Barratt, Mark Ollerenshaw, John Askew, Paul Hickman, Paul Noton, Peter Fielding-Smith, Paul Cutsforth, John Brearley, Kyle Byers and Anthony Pearson; a nice round dozen.

Two minutes later group three went off and they were Dave Compston, Nathan Wilson, Richard Moore, Matthew Fenton and Adam Duggleby, followed 2½ minutes later by the scratch group of Richard Lambert, Chris Daddy, Liam Holohan, Kit Gilham, Philip Holwell, Dave Shackleton and Alastair Kay.

Lap One saw the first group puship up their pace with Chris Jordan, not feeling well, having to abandon. Group two, instead of gaining, lost another half minute to the leading bunch – maybe they were baulked somewhere around the circuit – or maybe there wasn’t anyone prepared to take over the leadership and get the group organised. Racing isn’t just about being strong, it’s about establishing yourself and making sure everone does a fair share of work – difficult when the numbers in a group are into double figures. Nathan Wilson was another unable to keep the pace of his group and spent the rest of the race sitting on the back of group one when they caught him – I hope he wasn’t contributing.

Although group one wasn’t storming around, they were doing enough to start to whittle down their numbers, first was puncture victim Dave Millson, and Jeff Thorley and Daniel Wright were unable to stay the pace. Colin Baldwin and Digby Rusling slipped off the back during the next lap. Also at the end of lap three groups two and three merged, Dave Compston, Richard Moore and Adam Duggleby were doing a fine job.

On lap four, Anthony Pearson punctured and Richard Lambert and Matthew Fenton went off the back of the scratch group who were making great inroads into catching the groups in front. At the half way mark the front group had a lead of 4′ 40”, and the scratch group were training 1′ 15”.

This is not a lucky course for Chris Daddy, another puncture and he had to retire and on lap 5, Sam Dyason punctured also (I don’t think it was his legs that lost him 2½ minutes). On lap 6 Kyle Byers punctured and with two laps to go there were only two groups, four riders leading (Matthew Enticknap, Jason Shipton, Gareth Taylor and Andrew Askwith) and the rest at two and a quarter minutes. It seemed likely that the fast lads could come out on top once more.

The four lads out front thought otherwise and applied a bit more pressure on the pedals, they obviously had something in hand. It may be that Jason Shipman had gained a lot more experience since the series started but these are the first points he’s earned. No matter, he had a good win here.

Next one, the 2 nd August, is the last one. It’s on Little Weighton (Whoops! – NOT Walkington) and expect the prizegiving to take place after the event.

Lap Times

Result