Hull Thursday Paper Chase – Sunday 24th February 2013

Eleven riders met at Swiss Cottage pub car park wrapped up on a very cold February morning. We set off with our guide in a ‘neutralised zone’ to the start; the cross roads just before the start point of the club’s TT Sproatley circuit. Straight away Andy Cawley turned left and like sheep we all followed! No paint marks so it was back to the main road.

Passing through Lelley and on to Humbleton the pack split into about three groups. A few stray marks made it exciting before we got back on the correct trail and headed on a tour of Holdeness hamlets. Team Dean, who had opted to go right when we went left, caught us up during a comfort break and stormed off ahead, it was their ‘manor’ and local knowledge should have proved useful.

We eventually came to the obligatory old railway line section, the surface although a bit rough was fairly dry and no more filthy than the roads. After about three miles we were back on the road to Sigglesthorne, then following the yellow marks to Seaton before turning on a back road to Brandesburton. If still ‘on route’ we were about half way of the 45 mile route and a few guesses of finish location started to be voiced. After Brandesburton we continued to enjoy the back lanes riding towards the river Hull before looping round to Leven and on to Catwick.

Turning south and approximately 10 miles to go we kept up a good pace with the Northerly wind now on our backs. Two of our group ran out of steam leaving just Neil Dean, Andy Smith and me. Another short stint on the railway line and we were nearly in Coniston.

As everyone else had shot of ahead of us we presumed we were at the back but in the distance we could see a couple of cyclists. As we crossed straight over the main road we caught the two cyclists, it was Mark and Paul spraying the route! It turned out we were the leaders. Mark suggested we had a sprint for the Sproatley sign to sort out the final positions.

Of course, I would have won had it not been for an oncoming car allowing Neil ‘the missile’ Dean to take the victory with Andy Smith just behind in third.

It was great to get into the warm pub and wait for others to arrive. The two lads who had been with us rang to say they were heading straight home. Finally, the rest arrived full of thanks for a great tour of the east coast! Steve Coates had been to Aldbrough, twice!

Thanks to Mark Robinson and Paul Kilvington for organising the event and hopefully more will brave the weather next year for a good few hours on the bike.

Dave Millson