Racing with Jimmy Froggatt, CDNW and Premier Calendar.

Tour of Pendle 10^th August

This was run in standard August weather of heavy showers, drizzle and bits of sunshine. On the second time up the long climb past Blacko village I got dropped but managed to work my way back through the convoy as the bunch had come to almost a standstill in the headwind on the A59. By the next lap my luck ran out and I was well and truly dropped and could barely see on the descent in another heavy shower. I occupied my time on my own trying to work out whether it was hail or just very painful raindrops. I thought I needed to toughen up my legs over winter but I now think I need to toughen up my eyeballs as well. One of the many joys of doing outdoor sport in the summer. For the record Rob Hayles won (if you are not Rob Hayles or Russell Downing you can’t win a Premier Calendar race) and Jim Williamson finished in the bunch.

CDNW League race at Scorton

This used the very hilly Dolphinholme circuit. The race started off in warm and sunny conditions and deteriorated into more usual August weather of torrential rain and cold. The two Rapha stars, House and Greenwood did one after a lap or so and the rest of us could get down to pretending to try and catch them. On the 2^nd last lap a Pearl Izumi lad had a dig up the hill and I thought I could go with him which was a big mistake as most of our group came past. In the monsoon on the climb to the finish I could hardly see anything but got past Andy Guy in the “sprint” for the line. I got 13^th, Manny was 22^nd and a very tanned Mark Hammersley was 29^th. Mark Burton didn’t finish but parked up close to the line so I got a dry ride back to the HQ which was much appreciated. “Mrs Guitton”, Ula was chief commissaire for the race, or was helping out in some capacity, well done Ula.

Jimmy Froggatt.