Beverley Grand Prix 26.7 2024 
Support Race – Lee Coulson.

Coming into the race I was slightly encouraged by the thought I’d ridden it 3 times before and whilst always being very tough racing, I had always finished top 10.

Lee 3rd man Photo Dave Milson

I also thought it must be 4 or 5 years since it was last on, I didn’t check exactly but knew I was older! ?
Some good advice said ‘be near the front on the sighting laps’ to be ready for the start as it will be fast a furious. No kidding! I was well placed at the start line, about 10-15th, family lining the barriers all along Toll Gavel and Saturday Market, so was going to be well cheered on!

The first 10 minutes, I thought ‘what the hell?’ I was holding on, just! In around 15th wheel. Another 5minutes passed, still faster than I remembered but just holding and just levelling out a little.
Blasting along Walkergate another rider clashed pedals/legs with me while I was tight to the barriers, I leant out a little to try and stay upright. He didn’t like it, gave me a mouthful as I held my ground and position in front of him. Next corner he then dived down the inside at the turn in Wednesday Market and forced me out onto the manhole cover. Feeling my front wheel slip slightly I unclipped the right foot and swung a leg out. Just staying upright and only just out of the barriers on the exit.

As everyone sprinted out of the corner I tried the same but wasn’t clipped in! I wasted 3 or 4 seconds when I should have just clipped in then sprinted.
The gap had been made, 10 metres or more. I sprinted really deep and caught them but a 20metre gap had happened in front of them too, so I went straight by and chased the leading bunch, going too deep, the full length of Toll gavel. It wasn’t enough and those behind were too deep to come through at Sow Hill so the break had been made and we settled in to our group.

At this point I was unsure where we were in the field but our group of 6 or 7 was still being driven along really hard. Not by me at this point I must admit, I was now hanging on! Lap after lap, I kept looking over my shoulder thinking the leaders would appear but didn’t. We kept lapping others too, until it began to slow when I spotted 5 laps to go.

Thank God I thought! Did I have anything left to contest anything? I wasn’t even sure how many were away in front of us… Anyway, last lap and leaving Wednesday Market the speed built up but as others eased up and waited to get onto Toll Gavel I continued to ramp and hit the front as we turned onto the home straight. I waited a second too long before opening up the sprint and it messed me up a little but went full gas anyway. By the cobbles I had been passed by a couple of riders and one more just before the line as I was fading badly.

Great crowds, great vocal support and lovely having lots of family encouragement for me to continue the pain! ? I was happy, weirdly, but it was over and was great to have been racing at Beverley again. Looking at some stats afterwards, turns out it was 7years since it was last on in 2017! When I was still a 38 year old ‘pup’!? 2024 wasn’t as quick as 2017 so there goes that excuse ? I’m just older and slower.
Father Time… tick tock…

Eventual winner Graham Briggs 3rd from front. 

Managed 20th place, pretty happy… and it was won by Graham Briggs to round off all four wins in the series for him!  Chapeau Sir ?