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Again over 20 out over the three rides.  With about a dozen on the medium, nine on the easy and three more doing the medium\fast, all managed to get caught in the torrential downpour that arrived just before midday.  The easy pacers dealt with this setback the best by remaining in the cafe, re-entering the outside world when the worst had passed over.  The mediums also suffered a couple of punctures, but apart from that there were no major problems.

To cap an exceptional season, Tony broke through the hour barrier for the first time with a 59:07.  Merv's time in this event was 1:06:21.

A dozen turned out for a tour of the wilds.  Due to a good southerly wind, the route from Ware to Furneaux Pelham via Stanstead Abbotts was accomplished in good speed and the group was back at Ware by 9 pm, a distance of 26 miles.

Merv rode in the Eastern Counties 10 on a course near Leaden Roding. This was an an alternative course due to roadworks on the intended course. He recorded a 27:00.

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A reasonable evening on the E64 (A414 to Harlow).  Great ride by Tony to go under 23 minutes.

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A reasonable evening on the E64 (A414 to Harlow).  Great ride by Tony to go under 23 minutes.

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After a 22 year interlude Tony Marriott returned to bunch racing in a Ford Cycling Club event on 26th July. The race was one of a series of 1 hour Cat 4 and Novice races on the Ford Test Track at Dunton near Basildon.
Tony thought he had won a prime only to find out at the end that someone had been off the front! At the finish he contested the sprint until about 200 metres to go then "POP". Maybe he had a crystal ball as two riders collided at the front and he managed to swerve round them to finish 14th out of 38 starters.
The race was won by Mick Bath of API-Metrow.

Sixteen met in Hertford and split into two equal groups in order to do the medium\fast and the easy pacer.  The faster group did a nonstop tour whilst the easiers took a more sedate pace and smelled the roses.  A stop at Emily's proved to be a welcome break and all returned safely.  Meanwhile the four on the Ely tour did not have any problems until about 2 miles from the end when the heavens opened.  Probably saved having a shower later.

Eighteen set off from Ware, soon to be joined by the speeding RichardH.  After heading out via Fanhams Hall the group took in Much Hadham and Puckeridge before blasting back down the old A10.

Again decent weather.  Again an excellent turnout.  Again a warm welcome to all those out on their first ride with the club.  After the Old Skool TT fourteen riders took off for a slightly roundabout route to Wandon End.  Away from the race Danny led about ten on the easy pacer to Buntingford.  Neither group encountered any major difficulties and all benefitted from the good rides and good company.

  
     
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Lovely sunshine, but a bit windy going up the A414.  Nick Cramer was head and shoulders above everyone else!!
  

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Lovely sunshine, but a bit windy going up the A414.  Nick Cramer was head and shoulders above everyone else!!
  

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Merv and Phil rode the Verulam 25 on the F1 course. A rising wind from the south made things difficult on the final 10 miles. Times Phil 1:0:23 Merv 1:6:48.

An incredibly fast course with the right conditions.  And these were the right conditions.  Sadly, Peter wasn't.  Did 2:07:29.  Should have got in faster than two hours.

Nineteen took to the hills on an occasion when it did not rain.  From Ware to Hertford, Bayford, Tylers Causeway, Essendon and back to Ware.  Twas a good ride on a good evening.

Merv rode this event at Leighton Buzzard in torrential rain and recorded 26:48.

No roadworks, no rain - so we have a result!

Wheelers

A decent day.  It didn't rain!  Not too windy!  Big yellow thing in the sky!  Can't last?  And so HWCC took full advantage with over 30 riders out on the roads either on one of the clubruns or a charity ride.  Ten rode from Ware to Hatfield Heath on a fairly painless journey whilst nearly twenty met at Hertford.  Fortunately this group split with a dozen off to Hudnall Corner and the rest on the medium\fast trainer.  The Hudnall Corner group only suffered two punctures and most had a good day out although there were still some major "lakes" to negotiate especially on the 250 yard off road b

On a circuit just north of Holmes Chapel, Peter started the 100 in good spirits and full of hope.  And for the first 40 miles everything went well.  Sadly in his preparations he had forgotten to eat and he had no food with him.  So he "hit the wall".  He struggled on to the 75 mile mark where for the first time in a race he stopped due to exhaustion.  A rider passed him and offered some food - gratefully accepted.  This got him through the next 10 miles when he stopped again - totally spent.  A spectator took pity on him and fed him with enough to get him to the finish.  With about 14 miles

This event was on the E2 course near Newmarket. The first half of field had torrential rain and most did not ride. The other half had no rain and good oxygen levels, seven riders were inside 50mins and one of these was 60 years old!
Phil rode in the first half but still managed to record a personal best and club age record of 54:49. This time bettered his 55:12 recorded 20 years ago!