Still no “proper cross” conditions to report, even after heavy rain all week for round 7 of the Wessex League hosted by Newbury Velo and Velo Clinic who kindly sponsored a free bike fit for all 6th place finishers.

Just two NFCC members got between the tapes as a car puncture stopped regular attendee Catherine Pascoe from getting her fix! Both Matt Knight and Jay Tarrant in the Vet 40 category agreed on a brutal course due mainly to a double pronged attack on the legs and lungs in a long uphill grassy drag in one field and a strong headwind in the other.

Matt wasn’t the only one to go for a “full wets” tyre selection only to be greeted with pretty much bone dry and beautiful sunshine conditions which made struggling most of the day Saturday to set the tyres up all the more frustrating. He did however report a good race crossing the line in 58th. Jay got off to a good start running 3rd in category until a over zealous late braking manoeuvre late in the race concluded in a little spill and the loss a couple of places so hung on for another extended podium finish in 5th.

A little break now until the next round at Dalton Barracks on the 26th of November. Hopefully it won’t be frozen solid like last year!?