Brighton Mitre CC Hilly 25m 2008

By Paul J Wright

Brighton Mitre CC Hilly 25m TT held at Devil’s Dyke – Shoreham on March 25

Paul writes; The Brighton Mitre CC Hilly 25m TT was as much about the DNS’s as the winners time. With a listed field of forty three starters of which eighteen DNS’d. At the stary on the top of the Downs on the “Devil’s Dyke” road the wind was bitter, to say the least, and with a dusting of snow it looked more like the kind of landscape for a “New Years Day Cross” rather than an early season time trial. Once you got off the tops and down into the lanes it appeared to get a little warmer, but not much.

First man off was event organiser Robin Johnson (Brighton Mitre CC) followed by a steady stream of hardy souls until number sixteen Stephen Morgan (Tooting BC) who was the last of the “first” group of riders.! Then a seven minute gap until David Eccles (Redmon CC) appeared. David has finally been dragged, screaming and kicking, into the twenty first century and had front and rear deraillieur gears fitted to his customary black Witcomb frame to replace the hub-gear unit that he has used for many years. He credits team mate Jon Frost as the man who brought about this dramatic change.

David lead the “second” half of the field through and it was number 30, Steve Dennis (East Grinstead CC) who set the fastest time so far with a 1.05.53 which, on a morning such as this, was not only very creditable, but also a possible winning time.

But it was not to be as ten minutes later VC Etoile’s Mike Coyle posted what was to be the race winning time of 1.02.14 over three and a half minutes quicker than that of Steve Dennis.

Dennis looked set for second place but it was his East Grinstead CC team mate Paul Blackmore starting as last man at 42 (43 was another DNS) who finished sixteen seconds faster to snatch second place at the last.!

A mention for Stuart Payne (Central Sussex CC) and Peter Rowe (Southborough and District Whls) who chose to start the event wearing shorts.!! Respect.!!

Also seen out at the event, as a spectator, was GS Stella’s Tony Reeves who is just on the mend after damaging his hip and knee after crashing during an early season training ride. He hopes to be riding his first event in a few weeks time.

Pictures
44905. David Eccles – Redmon CC 15th Place – 1.17.58
44907. Geoff Smith – VC Etoile 10th Place – 1.09.43
44910. Bob Smith – Iron Head Racing 16th Place – 1.18.23
44911. Grant Braden – Brighton Mitre CC 19th Place – 1.22.00
44914. Steve Dennis – East Grinstead CC 3rd Place – 1.05.53
44916. Peter Rowe – Southborough & Dist Wheelers 7th Place – 1.08.34
44917. Ishmael Burdeau - Brighton Mitre CC D.N.F. – Puncture
44921. Paul Carruthers – GS Stella 13th Place – 1.12.57
44923. Daniel Henchy – Hastings & St Leonards CC 4th Place – 1.07.07
44924. Michael Coyle – VC Etoile 1st Place – 1.02.14
44926. Paul Blackmore – East Grinstead CC 2nd Place – 1.05.37
44930. Karl Roberton – Worthing Excelsior CC 11th Place – 1.11.21
44933. Mike Anton – East Grinstead CC 8th Place – 1.08.51
44936. Nick Kinsey – Team Tri UK 6th Place – 1.08.22
44942. Robert Coleman – Epsom CC 18th Place – 1.19.22
44946. Stephen Morgan – Tooting BC 5th Place – 1.08.08
44950. Richard Guy – Iron Head Racing 12th Place – 1.12.25
44952. Stuart Payne – Central Sussex CC 17th Place – 1.18.40
44955. Jon Frost – Redmon CC 22nd Place – 1.24.37
44956. Mark Winton – Lewes Wanderers 14th Place – 1.13.08
44959. Peter Moon – Eastbourne Rovers CC 20th Place – 1.22.37
44964. Robin Johnson – Brighton Mitre CC 23rd Place – 1.28.32
44966. Robin Johnson – Brighton Mitre CC 23rd Place – 1.28.32
44972. Spencer Coleman – Lewes Wanderers CC 21st Place – 1.24.07
44974. Geoff Smith – VC Etoile 10th Place – 1.09.43
44977. Steve Dennis – East Grinstead CC 3rd Place – 1.05.53
44979. Steve Dennis – East Grinstead CC 3rd Place – 1.05.53
44982. Peter Rowe – Southborough & Dist Wheelers 7th Place – 1.08.34
44985. David Eccles – Redmon CC 15th Place – 1.17.58
44988. Michael Coyle – VC Etoile 1st Place – 1.02.14
44991. David Eccles – Redmon CC 15th Place – 1.17.58
44994. Bob Smith – Iron Head Racing 16th Place – 1.18.23
44997. Daniel Henchy – Hastings & St Leonards CC 4th Place – 1.07.07
45001. Paul Blackmore – East Grinstead CC 2nd Place – 1.05.37
45002. Paul Blackmore – East Grinstead CC 2nd Place – 1.05.37
45005. Paul Carruthers – GS Stella 13th Place – 1.12.57
45008. Grant Braden – Brighton Mitre CC 19th Place – 1.22.00
45009. And finally…..This “old boy” was out for a ride during the event. Apparently he used to love running up on the downs, through the mud etc. in his younger days, but likes the luxury of his buggy these days.!!