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Northern Dales Tourist Trials 2007
Many thanks to all who participated in this year’s Northern Dales tourist trials either as riders or as helpers at the various checkpoints during the events.
Congratulations to everyone who successfully completed one or other of the two routes within the time standard. I enclose your validated brevet cards.
I wrote a press report for the local paper and the text below is based upon this, with a few embellishments and also with some corrections of detail which, somewhat fortuitously, were cut by the Sports’ Editor of The Lancaster Guardian. Quite obviously PBP’s 1,200 kilometres meant nothing to him – not even when the riders had endured three nights of heavy rain.
My report.
As has been customary over the past 15 years for these two events, entries were received from riders from cycling clubs throughout Britain. On this occasion from Oxfordshire in the south to Falkirk in Scotland; and from Gwynedd on the Welsh coast to Redcar and North Eastern England.
After a reasonable spell of weather the conditions at the start were something of a disappointment. The longer of the two trials began in torrential rain at 8am. However, most of the riders seemed relatively unimpressed by the conditions. Five * had had recent experience of lots of rain having successfully completed the Paris-Brest-Paris’s 1,200km where it had rained on three out of four nights. The outward route towards Ravensclose, Ingleton and Hawes was mainly wind assisted but the rain continued well into Wensleydale. However, between Hawes and the second check at Leyburn, as they headed in an easterly direction, the rain started to clear. After 1,200km of the French trial Andy Southworth had made light work of the ride out to Leyburn and he arrived there before 11:15. By 12:00 almost half of the field had checked in at the Market Square. The next 50 kilometres proved especially difficult with a strong headwind. Ian Hellawell was first to Kirkby Stephen and the gap between the first four riders, the next group (Southport CC) and the rest grew as the distance took its toll. An unusually high proportion of the riders the course finished within 10 hours and everyone was back well within the time standard. All of the 30 riders who completed the trial can be congratulated on fine rides in hard conditions.
* Andy Corless, Julian Dyson, Damon Peacock, Andy Sinclair & Andrew Southworth
The “Populaire” had a slightly reduced field this year: with less entries and a fair number of non starters. However there were plenty of CTC riders participating and the Lancaster Section had 8 riders riding as well as marshals throughout both courses. This event had attracted entries from riders of all ages. Shaun Gregory was the youngest at 14 years and there were quite a few of veteran status riding.
The outward route of this event follows that of the longer ride until Newby Head Moss and, as the riders turned westwards towards the check at Dent there was little sign that the rain would clear here. The return route saw quite a few ‘24” gears’ in operation whilst ascending the steep climb of Barbondale. Even the ride down towards Kirkby Lonsdale seemed hard. Perhaps it is significant that young Shaun is the nephew of Andy Southworth? At any rate he put in a sterling performance finishing in the first half of the field. Most of the riders completed the course within the time standard maintaining average speeds of between 12.5kph and 20kph.
Congratulations to everyone who rode and thanks to all those who helped me with the marshalling arrangements: at Ravensclose (Dennis & Sylvia), Dent (Simeon), Leyburn (Don & Eileen) and the finish (Matt, Sheila & Dave) and, once again, many thanks to John Gibbs and his staff for providing their excellent food and accommodation.
After discussing dates for next year with the manager of the Youth Hostel – we have decided to hold the 2008 Northern Dales one week later: this time on Sunday 7th September [after the schools have reopened for the new academic year].
Also, our North Lancs Way & Bowland Forest 109km event will be returning to its original place in the calendar – during National Bike Week [Sunday 15th June].
I hope that you will be returning to ride our events next year – you never know – we might be enjoying wall to wall sunshine?
Mike Hutchinson
C.T.C. Lancaster Section