Medium gear league 2002.

First of all I would like to say a great big thankyou to the ME Association for donating the cash prizes. This has enabled me to offer a reasonable prize list, my intention is to keep the league free to enter so this kind of help is essential. Over the years this sport has given me a great deal of pleasure and there always seems to be someone there willing to help out when needed, I consider it a great privilege to be able to do my bit.

So once again the medium gear season is over, the overall league prizewinners can be seen below along with the full results of the individual events and the final league table. The highlight has to be Zak's record ride, 53.23 is by anyone's standard a great ride but to see this done in a medium gear event shocked many (a full report will appear soon). Congratulations to all the prizewinners and thankyou to all the riders for supporting the league. I am really pleased to report an increase in riders participating in the league with more people riding more events. I hope to see you all again next year, good luck with the rest of your season and remember, don't overgear..
Prizes.

1st team, Team Spirit (Steve Morris, Martin Trouse, Roger English) 1043 points. 3x medals.

First lady, Christine Willmets (Team Cambridge). More photo's will appear as soon as I can get them.

Here is the full list of qualifying events for the 2002 league

First of all let me apologise for a missing event, I had been advertising a Bournemouth Jubilee 10, unfortunately this event is not going ahead. Sorry for any inconvenience this has caused.

Event 1, Manchester + District TTA 10, Saturday March 2nd.

The event was run on an average early March afternoon, cool, grey and danp so no fast times were expected, Neil Rothwell came in with a stunning 23.12 but his time was not eligable for the MG event as his gear was found to be slightly over,. The organiser (Gordon Pickering) asked me for a second opinion and Neil's gear was over the line by around 1", fortunately he figured in the main event results so at least he still got a reward for his efforts. His ride should have made most of the big gear boys think again.
Congratulations go to Duncan Mackenzie for once again winning an MG event, and this time he was on fixed. Pauline Cooper left us all in no doubt who is going for the Ladies prizes this year even though Paul nicked her back wheel. Well done to all the riders and thankyou for supporting the medium gear event. Thank you to Gordon Pickering and the M+DTTA for running the event.
Team Hummingbird provided extra prizes in this event for diabetic riders.

Here is the full finishing order.

Event 2, Diss + District CC 25, Sunday March 10th.

This event was held on a windy, no VERY WINDY morning with a very hard return leg, Jim Burgess overcame this to win with a remarkable ride. Geoff Frost and Bobby De'ath also did super rides managing to beat Rick Laws. With only 2 non starters its a big well done to everone who rode on this extreemly tough day. Brian Stevenson has now taken an early overall lead in this years league, so he's the man to beat. Thanks to Mike Madgett and the Diss & District CC for running the event.

Here is the full finishing order.

Event 3, Altrincham Ravens CC 25, Saturday March 30th.

Here is the full result.

Event 4, Lea Valley CC 25, Saturday April 6th.

This event was held on a bright and sunny afternoon but a strong wind made it feel rather cold. This strong wind was also blowing across the sporting E1B/25 which made things very tough for the riders, well done to keith for winning and the rest for facing the timekeeper. Thanks to Ian Bailey and the Lea Valley for putting the event on.

Event 5 Bedfordshire Road CC 25, Sunday April 21st.

This event was held on a pleasant spring morning, the riders enjoying a nice fast outward leg but little did they know what was in store. The return leg was hard to say the least. Duncan Mackenzie managed to overcome this to finish with a rare sub hour ride but he paid the price, He was walking around the HQ like a duck. I managed second with a 1.1.22 with Tim Gill getting 3rd in 1.3.06, but things could well have been different if Tims chain had stayed on. Thanks to Terry Sykes and the Bedfordshire Road CC for putting the event on.

Event 6 Vegetarian C + AC 25, Sunday April 28th.

This event was held on a dry morning with ovenight rain leaving a wet roadsurface to test the riders on the roundabouts, but by far the biggest test was the stromg wind. Ray Hughes somehow managed to overcome this and turn in the fastest medium gear ride of the year. Thanks to Norman Beaumont and the Vegetarian C+AC for putting this event on, Here is the full result.

Event 7 Kent Valley RC 25, Sunday May 12th.

This event was held on a bright, sunny and calm morning, a little cool to start with but the sunshine soon took the chill away. I am delighted to report myself as the winner but I feel things would have been very different if duncan had completed the course, he was reported to be flying but missed a leg off the main course and only covered about 23 miles. Andy Cosgrove finished just 4 seconds behind in his first ever medium gear event, he said he will definitely be back for more, Adrian Thorpe finished a further 15 seconds down. A big thankyou to Fred Pickstone and the Kent Valley RC for putting on this great event. Here is the full result.

Event 8 Harp RC 25, Sunday May 12th.

This event was held on a warm, sunny and calm morning, Zac lived up to expectations and destroyed Ray's record, his time was 1min 40secs faster. Glen Taylor was next with a stunning ride and Tim Bayley was 3rd with another sub hour ride. Thankyou to Bryan Hutt and the Harp RC for putting the event on. Here is the provisional result.

Event 9 Wrekinsport CC 10, Saturday May 18th .

The last event in this years league was held on a breezy and slightly damp afternoon, the fast start and wind assisted leg out to the turn left riders expecting a struggle on the way back but there seemed to be plenty of shelter making the return almost as fast. Adrian Thorp pulled out all the stops and did a 22.50 to secure maximum points, Duncan was next with a 23.08 and shocked everyone by finding his way across the first island. I managed third with a 23.20 and Tim Gill was just a little further back with a 23.32. Thanks to Dave Poulter and the Wrekinsport CC for putting this event on. Here is the full result.

2002 medium gear league table.

*Adrian Thorp and Steve Morris tied with 475 points, both qualifying with a win, a second and two third places, however Steve had the fastest 25 time so he was awarded the overall win.
More on this years league will follow soon.