It Couldn’t Be Closer at Event 5!

Event 5 of the Beech House Dental Practice TT League was played out in warm sunshine along 15 miles of the A168 between Boroughbridge and Walshford. Such out and back courses ensure the rider must output constant power, which tends to favour the smoother and more powerful riders. All categories saw astonishingly close racing. MoonGlu’s Abi Smith took her second victory in her second start, along with a Junior Women’s record, with 37:21 and a narrow 31 seconds ahead of Ele Haresign, a new women’s veteran record by a single second, who was in turn only 8 seconds ahead of reigning champion Corinne Mitchell. Nova’s Alexia Rushton-Earl won the women’s road bike category. The men’s competition was even closer. Champion Pete Watson of Nova was pre race favourite, having a personal best almost a minute faster than club mate Duncan Mullier on this course. Watson ended up breaking his personal best with 32:44, but moments later, despite yet again being slower out, Mullier shattered his own PB to beat Watson by a single second and claim his fourth win of the season, with Ben Wimpory occupying the final step on the podium 50 seconds further back. It was a similar story in the men’s road competition with 2017 Champion, Edwin Stokes, pipping series leader, Rob Senior, to grab his second win in a row and put pressure on series leader Senior. Matt Newton was a mere four seconds adrift in third place. Only three riders improved their PBs on the night, with Mark Morris winning the most improved rider competition yet again with an improvement of 48 seconds, Mullier improved by 43 and Watson by 2. The riders have a week off next week but will return to the challenging “Hilly 19” which takes in the savage climbs of Bedlam Bank and Darley Head. www.harrogatenova.cc http://www.harrogatenova.cc/leaguenovattleagueii-php/

Abi Smith pictured.