The morning started cool and overcast with seemingly very little wind, excellent conditions. The first riders had been going roughly 3 hours when the sun broke through and then it began to get really warm. Many riders suffered as the temperature headed for 30 degrees. Additionally the slight balmy breeze worked itself into a sticky southerly wind by the finish. The course was quite a tough one too, though it was rather a scenic one.
Mark had threatened not to finish and he was true to his word, going AWOL sometime before the 50 mile time check. Ann put in an early bid for the "Most Unfortunate Club Member" trophy by missing the marshal at the Findon roundabout and continuing down to the Worthing town sign before it registered that something was amiss, adding a couple of miles to the race total. She was disappointed at missing out on the Vet's record on actual time, but will have the consolation of having beaten the Old Age Standard Record by nearly 15 minutes, when she realises.
By 80 miles all our riders were tiring significantly, and Joe put in a stronger challenge for the Unfortunates trophy when he didn't quite receive a bottle properly at the feed and, as he tried to secure it in his hand wobbled off the road, narrowly missed a signpost and did an almost perfect impression of Jan Ullrich - ending up upside down in the hedge. Fortunately the hedge was none too solid, just full of brambley type things that scratched him to pieces, and he was not seriously hurt. Even more important his bike seemed unscathed. Somewhat dazed, in addition to his fatigue he remounted and continued on his way!
I'm only sorry that I wasn't videoing him at the time - but he isn't.
Grant was the next to suffer misfortune cramping quite badly in the calf as he staggered up the hill to the feed and having to stop briefly until it had passed.
And while all this was happening a right royal battle was taking place between Ray - off No. 39 - and Brian - 5 minutes behind him on the road and struggling valiantly to reduce the gap even slightly. Ultimately it was not to be and I think Ray can claim the record of being the oldest ever Phoenix member to win a club event, at the age of 75.
Fastest on the day was Keith Coffey of the Bec CC with a storming ride of 3:57:23.
50 mile times:
Grant 2:40:39
Joe 2:25:54
Ann 2:39:55 inc approx 2 miles off course
Ray 2:22:22:
Brian 2:22:50
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