Epic weekend of racing & riding

Epic weekend of racing & riding
Rainbow over Nidderdale

Under wet skies, with a hint of a rainbow, nine Harrogate Nova members lined up to take part in the 2015 Nidderdale Sportive. Organised by locally based Functional Fitness Events, the event offered two challenging routes of either 85miles (and over 8,000 feet of climbing) or 65miles (and 6,000 feet of climbing). With the clocks moving to British Summer Time, it felt like really early roll out from Dacre Banks towards Pateley Bridge before tackling the climb up Tapping Hill from Lofthouse.  The route then went through Middleham, Gammersgill, up the steep climb to the top of Woodale, before plunging down into Kettlewell; then a stiff climb from Arncliffe up to Malham Moor.

The Nova Train (photo via SportSunday)

With no time to enjoy the stunning views across the Yorksire Dales, the classic return leg of Linton, Burnsall, Appletreewick, Greenhow Village and Padside brought riders dropping back into the finish at Dacre Banks and a promise of pork pies and mushy peas. Riders battled not only the parcours, but also the weather with wind and rain playing their part in an epic ride.

Official times for completing the event were:

Robin Beagley 5:16:14; Thomas Denwood 5:02:28; Ben Hotham 5:23:41; Simon Ketteringham 5:16:24; Gary Marks 5:56:56; David Sanderson 4:12:42; Martin Shaw 4:40:56; Kenneth Wood 5:12:31; Mike Worden 5:16:22.

Duncan Mullier (photo via Mike Howells)

In open time trials, Duncan Mullier recorded a time of 20:36, finishing 13th in very windy conditions at the Team Swift 10mile event on the fast V718 course near Hull.  The event saw nearly a hundred riders take to the start line, with Nova’s Richard Hamilton stopping the clock at 22:07 to finish in 46th.