Champions Night Celebrates TT League Winners

The Beech House Dental Practice TT League Prize presentations took place last week. The Women’s title was retained by Nova’s Corinne Mitchell with eight wins out of nine in the best on nine series, she also claimed the Women’s veteran’s title, both for the fourth consecutive year. Second place was taken by long distance expert TTer Gill Crane. The men’s title was Pete Watson’s first championship after a season long battle with four times champion Duncan Mullier. Only seconds separated the two for most of the season, with the lead swinging from one to other other several times. In the end Pete had taken a decisive lead when Mullier’s season was ended by a hit and run driver at event 14, leaving Mullier with 8 broken bones and out for the season. Watson went on to put his tally up to eight wins, taking several course records in the process. Mullier was left with second place overall and a seventh veteran’s title. He also claimed the club’s blue riband 25 mile TT record with 49:50, again a close battle with Watson who recorded a best of 49:56. Hopefully the two will resume entertaining hostilities next season! Third place in the league was taken by Rob Senior, ahead of Stu Wood in fourth. Stewart Newton took first in the over 50s competition and Walter Wilkinson first on the over 60s and 70s. The road title was won for the first time by Huw Spacey. Huw has come back from a serious injury to put in some blistering performances on a road bike which not only won the road title but was fifth overall.  The most Improved rider competition was won by road bike category rider Stuart Newton. This category rewards the riders who improve the most over their own time from previous years. While dad Duncan had fewer trophies to collect this year, son Matthew more than made up for it by collecting the Jowett Cup for fastest 10 mile TT on handicap, the Clarke Cup for fastest school-boy 10 mile TT, the Scarhouse Dam trophy for fastest school-boy on the 4 mile hill climb event and the John Megson shield for combined fastest times over 10 and 25 miles! Thanks to Vaughan and Margaret Caswell who have run the league since the 90s and are stepping down. They have done a magnificent job of running much of Harrogate Nova for many years and all Nova members would like to thank them!