Event One Little Weighton Course - 32 Miles - club City RC

An intense last lap effort from the thrid cat riders starting four minutes before the scratch group saw Paul Noton bet Marcus Smith by a tyre's width over the finish line. Marcus believed he'd overtaken Paul but his effort was timed a fraction too late and the overtaking bit came just after the finish line. John Galway also managed to keep ahead of the pack six seconds and the scratch group were another six seconds behind him.

Oohs and Aahs went around the group of spectators at the finish when they saw the riders scatter from a bottle allegedly thrown by Mike Moss at Steve Ward in the approach to the line. A dangerous practice that upset quite a few of the riders.

The novice 4th cats set off at 7 o'clock comprised of Mike Pickering (Hull Thurs), Carl Looker, (Hull Thurs), Andy Blanchard (Huddersfield Star), Nathan Wilson (Thurs), Gary Lamping (Thurs), Gary Sheriff (Thurs), Mark Best (Thurs), Tony Weston (Huddersfield), John Ulyatt (T Rex), Andrew Penny (Thurs), Derek Palmer (Thurs), Andrew Barnes (Thurs), Andrew Peers (Thurs). These were completely split up after the first lap which Mark Best led in after 20:06.

The rest of the 4th cats went of 3 minutes later were made up of Tristan Batch (T Rex), Terry Parker (Hull & East Riding), Norman Griffin (Knaresborough RT), Andrew Abbot (Bridlington CC), Rob Stones (Thurs), Chris Burton (Thurs), Barry Dixon (T Rex), Alan Stepod (Huddsfld), Alastair Watson (Knaresbro), Philip Bramham (brid CC), and John Lockwood (T Rex). They completed their first lap in 19:18, a compact working group led by Chris Burton.

Two minutes later the third cats went off. They were Steve Macklin (Thurs), John Galway (Keswick MTB), Tony Boynton (T Rex), Lewis Jackson (Brid CC), Nathan Chester (Thurs), John Galbraith (T Rex), Paul Noton (Cottingham Coureurs). A smaller but determined group completing the first lap in 18:05 led by Paul Noton, a pace that had Nathan and John struggling to stay there.

The second Cat group was even smaller, starting a further 2 minutes behind,comprised of Jon Dibble (Ride On), Dave Shackleton (Thurs), Neil Cleminshaw (Thurs), Stewart Pickard (Brid). They completed the first lap in 18:48 led by Jon Dibble but were, apparently hanging about for the scratch group and were caught early in the second lap.

The scratch group started 9 minutes after the first group and 2 minutes behind the second cats, a mix of 1st cat and elite riders, plus others who felt they should be there. They were Chris Daddy (Hierus Agiera), Dan Keena (Cott Coureurs), Steve Ward (Mirage), Paul Purdy (Mirage), Charlie Evans (Knaresbro), James Frith (Pete Read Racing), Mike Moss (Cott Coureurs) and Richard Moore (Cott Coureurs). This group powered round the 8 mile circuit in 17:20 taking no prisoners). Chris was showing off his new colours, on a short break from his Spanish team and Richard Moore came on the event unexpectedly and had to borrow a helmet to be allowed to ride.

It was soon clear that the two back groups were going to work together and that the first three groups would merge easily before the end. The question was whether the back group would make it to the front - they almost did.

The first of the Primes at the end of the second lap was taken by Andy Peers, and then on lap three the prime was taken by Marcus Smith.

The wind was south west making shelter a bit easier to get shelter on the main climb, but there were many who fell by the wayside. It was apparent that John Lockwood and Nathan Chester had not recovered from their Tour of Flanders ride, they both obviously had dead legs

The result is as follows and the next event is also on this same course, same time.