Neil Munro, Russell King & Simon Beldon (tie)

06/07/08 – Not a huge amount of TT results to report on this weekend after many events were cancelled due to the bad weather; Rich Hembrough, Mike Kilgour, Phil Shaw and myself were all scuppered in one fell swoop at the team swift all sports 25 on Saturday. Still some good performances tio report on; Scott Westwood and Paul Greenhalgh recorded a 2:04 and a 2:06 respectively on a tough day in the North Notts Olympic 50, when many riders DNSd or packed. Jody Warrington scored his highest ever finish in an open with an excellent 6^th place in the North Shropshire Wheelers 25 behind winner Andy Bason who clocked an impressive 53 minute ride – we can safley say he aint no mug! Top ride Jody – plus you beat your Dad! Nige Goscinski was also in action taking an excellent 5^th place in the Otley CC 50 (which was actually a 25 due to bad weather).

Russell King finished the epic etape du tour in a fantastic 7:53 in heavy rain from start to finish. Like the marmotte this is an all time classic at 174km long with 3700m of climbing.

Having a breal from weekend warrioring Si Beldon has been living the life of a pro for the last 6 days in the welsh ras and despite a bad crash (he’s ok but the bike is very sick) has been holding his own by all accounts – no jokes please. I will ring him tomorrow for a full break down but like Russell King and Neil Munro he has achieved something a bit special just for taking part.

05/07/08 – La Marmotte is a classic cyclo sportive event based in the French Alps. It is held over a classic Alpine route that rivals the L’Etape du Tour. The 174km event starts in Bourg d’Oisans and climbs the Col de la Croix Fer, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier before returning to Bourg d’Oisans and finishes up the 21 hairpin bend climb to the ski station of L’Alpe d’Huez. Neil Munro fought his way round this in an impressive 7 hours 45, depsite nearly blowing on the galibier. To come back from a ride and say you nearly blew on the Galibier is much more impressive that saying you blew up on the A6 just shy of the Scorton café – awsome ride Neil!

29/06/08 – Not really race news, though there is a race in it. Here is a video that Colin Allanach’s boy Robbie made which won £100 worth of bike vouvhers from Aberdeen council few weeks ago. Scottish people don’t throw that kind of money around willy nilly which gives you an idea how good it is!

A fine effort by Phil Nudds today taking 8^th place in the Godric 50 champs with a superb 1:58:42 just 6 and hallf minutes behind the great Ian Cammish who is in great form as I can testify by my whupping by him (and a few others!) in the national 50 last week. Top ride Phil, you’re having a cracking season mate. Full results here.

Top ride by Steve Robinson today with a 1:04:34 in his club’s 25 which was a 3 minute 15 second improvement over last years time on what was a much tougher day this time and his fastest 25 since 2001! Top work!!

28/06/08 – Rich Hembrough, Jody Warrington and Scott Westwood all rode th CDLCA 25 today on the A1 and all 3 of them rpoduced excellent rides on a very hrad day. Rich posted a 58:03. By analyising his SRM power file we could see that this was an excellent, controlled and well paced effort – I can ask no more of that Rich – well done. Jody scored a 56:40 which although not a PB time wise I suspect was a PB on all other counts as last year this would have been a 59. You’ve turned into Mr consisteent this year Jody with the old training lark and it’s paying off – proud of you bud. Scott scored a 55:39, which by his standards is not really where he’d like to be but we know from his numbers in racing and training that all has not been well for a few weeks for reasons that are flumexing both of us for now. Anyone can sing when they’re winnning but the way Scott just keeps ploughing on in the face of this frustrating problem is awsome – still no mean ride either mate on the day. Well done to the 3 of you.

Paul Greenhalgh, Nigel Goscinski and Mike Kilgour all rode in the Brough Wheelers 10 in the V718 on a tough, windy day. Mike posted an excellent 24:30, Paul posted a 21:16, just 8 seconds off his PB and Nigel posted a superb 21:06 which when we looked at his power porfile for the day indiacted that h’ed blasted round here about 30 watts above his threshold power which says to coach that he got every last iota of effort out You can do no more than that boss!!

Mr Pengelley was in action again in the Bristol CDCLA 50. He seems to have developed a penchant for the old 50s which in my opinion is the hardest distance when ridden right. Every event he gets just a bit quicker and this time he paired another 1 minute 40 off his pb to score a 1:56:58. Top ride matey.

21/06/08 – Respect due to our very own Knight of the realm, Sir Adrian Pengelly. On a day that was so windy the Welsh weather forecasters said to stay inside and lock up your daughters and where Simon Beldon had a contact lense blow out while out training, Adrian knocked over 2 minutes off his PB to clock a superb 1:58:43 and take 6^th place overall in the Hirwaun Wheelers 50. I doth my forlock to you sir - top ride!

20/06/08 – An excellent ride in the national 50 in Yorkshire by Derek Parkinson today in horrible conditions with torrential rain from start to finish. Derek still clocked a PB 1:49:59 for 30^th place in a high class field. Derek would acknowledge that he is more a man for 10s and 25s so to PB on a day like this in a 50 is a superb performance. Also in action were Richard Hey and Ian Black with 2 very good ‘1:50’ rides. For my part I tried my very best and although I was hoping for top 10 I had to settle for 20^th, which when you consider how ‘pants’ I’ve been for the last few years and how classy the riders above and around me where (Mr Parkinson for example!), I have to say that I’m very happy with that, for this year anyway… Full results here.

Also in action today was Paul Greenhalgh (and Jody Warrington, though I’ve yet to hear from him) in the Nova CC 25 on the legendary J2/9! On a tough day Paul clocked an excellent 58:59 for 10^th place overall.

Rich Hembrough turned in probably his best 25 on the year with an excellent 56:59 on a very rainy day in the Sherwood CC 25.

Scott Westwood took 7^th lace in the Hinckley CRC 10 with a 22:53, despite feeling a bit off colour and after a bit of a beasting in the BDCA 100 last week. Scott is a hell of a fighter and will come through this sticky patch flying.

Phil Nudds took a fantastic 2^nd place with a cracking 1:09:20 in the Herts Wheelers 30 to take 2^nd place overall! Phil is really turning into a real contender this year with an open win already under his belt and I feel that with just another winter of structured work he’ll be racking up the wins next year. Top work by all of you!!

15/06/08 – In sportive action this weekend were Pat Hercberg with an excellent 6:42 in the Northern Roads Cyclone Challenge and Colin Allanach with a 6:18 ride in a tough 100 miler in the Cairngorms. One of Neil Munro’s big targets was the now classic 110 mile Dragon ride which contains 4000m of climbing. Neil Whizzed round in a fantastic 5:30 – top ride!

14/06/08 – Simon Beldon and Scott Westwood were both in action today in the BDCA 100 in Uttoxeter. By all accounts it was a very, very hard day with lots of none finishers. Simon recorded a superb 3:56, despite being forced down to 14mph on some of the more exposed legs at times. By his own admission a few years ago he would have packed when but he is so mentally strong now it was never going to be an issue. Looking at the SRM file post ride I can see that this was a truly fantastic performance. Scott Westwood was going well up to the 50 mile point and then completely blew a gasket. The power went out of his legs and he was being sick but somehow he just kept going to finish with a 4:16:41. I have blown in a 100 before, and to keep going for 50 miles when you feel terrible and know you are going to do a time that does not reflect what you can really do but hang in there all the same is worthy of respect on a grand scale. Without a doubt this is the mark of a great sportsman and rider of the week material.

Derek Parkinson, Matt Stell and myself were in action in the VC Cumbria 25 on a warm but breezy afternoon, we all did really well with an excellent 56:58 for Matt (which with Paul Fleming’s 58:03 and my PB 52:57 helped Preston Wheelers to the team prize) and Derek with an excellent 54:04 to take 2^nd place, just hours after a 12 hour night shift, to finish 20 seconds clear of Junior national 25 champ Richard Handley.

08/06/08 – Win machine Derek Parkinson dragged himself off his sick bed to post win number 6 with a cheeky 52:42 in the Kent Valley 10 on Levens this morning, giving him a winning margin of over a minute over local fast man Robbie Brennan. 4^th place was that man Matt Stell again with a PB 54:59!! – Top work lads – go and have a beer – yes Stelly even you – it’s earned!

Si Beldon, Nigel Goscinski and myself all rode the Cleveland wheelers 50 this morning. It was very hot and there was a particular stretch of road between 30 and 40 miles which I can tell you was pergatory! Simon had a dodgy gut yet still posted an excellent 1:50:02, his 2^nd fastest 50 ever. Nigel posted an excellent 1:52:45 and by the power of his new ergomo and training peaks we can see that this was also an excellent ride - bang on the edge. For my part I was very pleased with a 1:44:30 to take 2^nd place behind Kevin Dawson who won with a 1:42:54.

Well done to Paul Greenhalgh who posted an excellent 1:00:58 in the national 25 on what was by all accounts a tough day and course. Paul like to do the national every year because he is motivated by knowing he can ride with the very best and hold is head up high in that company. Based on this ride Paul you an definitely do that – back to the grim reality of J2/9 next week mate!

07/06/08 – An excellent ride by Jody Warrington in the Lancaster CC 10 on Levens saw him post a pb 21:59, putting him only 10 seconds off the likes of Tim Lawson. It was tough day and the winning time was a relatively modest 20:41 by in form Jason Bateman on a day when only one other rider got under 21 minutes. One more winter Jody and it will be a wins all the day. Phil Shaw also posted an excellent 22:40 which put in context with the mark riders times was a very good ride.

Nigel Goscinski and Rich Hembrough rode the YCF 10 in Yorkshire strangely enough) posting excellent 20:50 and 21:49s respectively on a topsy turvy day weather wise. Also competing was gold rider Richard Hey, who I have worked with through the winter. Based on his last ramp test I told him that if he didn’t do a 20 minute 10 this season I would eat my bike. Well he did a 20:51, knocking a whopping 39 seconds off his PB – Looks like my pearly whites are safe!

In form Phil Nudds recorded a PB 19:44 with his Dad in the ECCA 10 tandem event, winning the ECCA tandem championship in the process. No victory pints though because Phil was in action in the ECCA 25 the next day where he slashed a whopping 2 minutes off his PB to post a 54:58. You can have a pint now boss!

06/06/08 – A big congrats to Richard Dunbabbin who took 6^th place in his age group in the world championship sprint triathalon in Vancouver. This is the end result of many months of work and a truly fantastic performance.

02/06/08 – Matt Stell finally got his 1^st win of the year in his clubs own Preston Wheelers 25, with a course PB 56:29, leaving the rest of the field trailing in his wake. Also in action today was Nigel Goscinski who took 5^th place in the Cleveland wheelers 25. Derek was due to ride this but had to pull out at the last minute with a very heavy cold. Phil Nudds consolidated his mid week win with an excellent 21:28 to take 7^th place in the EDCA 10 to cap off a fine weeks work.

31/05/08 – Paul Greenhalgh turned in an excellent 58:37 on the J2/9 course in the Team Westmead 25 on Saturday evening. It was a very warm but grippy evening and not super fast yet this was Paul’s 2^nd fastest ever ride on this course and being a local rider he has ridden it many times. Big Charles Mcchulloch, warming up for the national 25 won with a fantastic 52:33 and I was 2^nd with a 54:16.

In the city RC Hull Middle markers event Mike Kilgour smashed his 10 mile PB to record a 23:42. 2^nd overall on the day was gold rider Andrew Shore recording a 21:37 which is just 27 seconds off his all time PB set in 1992 when he was a 1^st cat rider.

30/05/08 – Well done to Simon Beldon recording an all time PB 10 of 20:17 on a wet night in the Team Swift 10. Most encouraging were the powers from his SRMs which were also a PB for this distance and high enough to possibley snap my skinny legs after about 5 minutes. Another one of my riders I need to avoid in competition this season!

29/05/08 – Congrats to Phil Nudds who WON the CC Breckland 10 last night with a cracking 21:26. Yet another 21 minute ride for Phil this season and his first open win for 9 years! Phil is getting his just deserts now for the hard, consistent work he has done all through the winter and spring – a richly deserved win.

25/05/08 – Congrats to Derek P with a storming 19:53 to take 22^nd place in the national 10. The quality of the field was outstanding and Derek has taken some major scalps to do this. Absolute class. One more winter buddy and we’ll be knocking on the door or Mr national medal! Full result here

25/05/08 – Two excellent rides by Adrian Pengelley with a 57:22 and Gareth Evans with a 58:38 in cold, wet and windy conditions in the Ogmore 25 on Sunday. For Gareth this is yet another mauling of his PB, which he seems to be updating every week at the moment. To think he laughed when I said we should be aiming at a 56 this year. He didn’t laugh actually, he merely said ok, but for drama and tension we’ll pretend he did. Top rides lads.

24/05/08 – It was a good day for Dave Jones, Steve Hodgson and myself in the Duckinfield CC 25 in Cheshire. This was held on the notoriously tough J2/9 circuit on a very windy day. Despite this Dave and Steve did 58 and 64 minute rides both just seconds off their PBs. Steve would have struggled to have got under 70 minutes this time last year on here so it’s a clear testament to the graft he’s put in this winter. I did a 53:46 which won the event but most significantly is also an all time PB for me, my previous best having been set in 2002 with a 54:05 on this course on a much better day.

The morganites were also strongly represented on a tough, windy day in the Holme Valley Wheelers 25 in Yorkshire. This was a class field and the event was heavily oversubscribed so a top 10 finish with 54 minute ride from Simon Beldon was an excellent ride. Dave Hilton was just a few seconds down on this and Nigel Goskinski posted a battling 57. Rich Hembrough was also in the event and although I don’t yet know his time his SRM powers which he has downloaded in Training Peaks look like a seasons best to me.

22/05/08 – Well done to Scott Westwood who posted a 21:04 in a club 10 on the A10/19 last night which is PB and a massive 41 second improvement on his previous best set on Levens in April.

19/05/08 – Very edited highlights this week as I’ve been away fro the weekend and am behind on my work, there are sessions to be reviewed and training to be written, so apologies to all Morganites who don’t get a mention. I’ll start with the Lancaster CC 50 on Sunday and a superb 1:55 ride by Matt Stell to take 4^th place in an excellent field. Phild shaw also recorded yet another massive PB here with a superb 2:04:49 to take 15^th place. Full results here. Good rides by Paul Greenhalgh taking 4^th and Jody Warrington taking 7^th in there club’s 10 mile TT on a cold and blustery J course on Saturday – full result here.

In the Stone Wheelers 25 on Saturday Scott Westwood did an excellent 54:21 minute ride. His power was al little down on his 52:55 the previous week but still a good ride that compared well with the riders who also competed last week. Also in this event was Derek Parkinson. Now winning a race doesn’t guarantee rider of the week, especially when you win as many as Derek Parkinson. When however you record a 51:44 which is over a minute off his PB (set just a few weeks ago) and it is a club record and when the second place rider was Sam Barker. Well what can I do??

11/05/08 – My Boy Matt Stell persuaded me and Paul Fleming to ride the Yorkshire VTTA 30 today to try and get our club team record for the 30. This is what we did with Matt recording a 1:08:13 – you guessed it a PB! I was also aiming for Gethin Butlers club record of a 1:01:58 but fell well short with a 1:03:27, to take 2^nd place, 24 seconds down on winner Andy Jackson. Still a PB for me and considering he was whupping me by over 2 minutes at this distance last year I’m a happy bunny.

In the Welsh CA national 25 Adrian Pengelley recorded a 56:14 on a hot, sticky day which although not a pb is his fastest at this distance for 2 years so he’s rightly chuffed!

10/05/08 – 71 years young John Lovell had a season’s goal of a 25:59 minute 10, which I told him was aiming too low for a man who had trained as consistently as him all winter. I’m pleased to say I was right because in his first event of the year, the Crabwood CC 10 he posted a PB tastic 25:56 blowing his previous best of 27:35 set in 2006 right out the water. What do want now boss?

Proving I’m not just a coach for the veteran rider 23 year old Jody Warrington sliced a cheeky 4 MINUTES!! Off his 25 mile PB set in the same event last year when he knocked out a storming ride in a very hot South Pennine CC 25. Somewhere in the middle of these 2 age wise is Steve Robinson who posted a storming 23:12 in the Shaftsbury CC 10, again a nice slice of his previous best and yet another PB. Top work.

Scott Westwood also posted a new PB, also in the South Pennine event to knock a whopping 2 and half minutes off last years time to post an impressive 52:55 which must put him up there on the leader board.

Also in the Crabwood CC event was Phil Nudds, who has been a bit f colour of late with a bit of something nasty in his system, well it’s gone now because he recorded a 21:16 which is a lifetime PB and then went and whupped 3 x 10 minutes at a PB power this morning. Back on track!

Yet another PB in the Drighlington CC 25 in Yorkshire where Mike Kilgour whupped his previous best to post a tidy 1:01:09. A sub hour ride is looking on the cards now this year. Not quite a PB but an impressive ride all the same Simon Beldon posted a rapid 53:04 in the same event, again I’m not sure of his overall placing but it must be up there.

In the evening the Clevelys RC 10 on Levens saw more PBs – Phil shaw sliced the best part off a minute off his for a 22:19 (PB), Steve Hodgson took 19 secs of his for a 23:30 (PB) and Derek Parkinson did a 19:37 to take 2^nd place, just 6 seconds down on the great Charles Mchullock – not a PB just a bit frightening.

05/05/08 – Double celebration in the Shaw household this bank holiday weekend. I have also been training Phil’s wife Kerry with regular ramp tests and plans which she has stuck to commendably. Today she posted a 26:41 in her club’s event on Levens in only her 2^nd ever 10 and a massive 3 minute 58 second beating of her previous PB. Keep looking over your shoulder Phil….

04/05/08 – Well done to gold rider Martin Phillips who smashed his 10 mile PB by a massive 1 minute 14 seconds in the Sussex CA 10 mile event on Saturday. Just 5 seconds off our season goal of a 25.

Breaking the hour for a tester is the most wonderful feeling in the world and the longer it takes to achieve it the more special it is. That is why we have a tie for rider of the week. Gareth Evans took 1 minute 14 seconds out of his in the Icknield RC 25 with a 59:12 and in the Nelson Wheelers 25 Phil Shaw also got under for the 1^st time with a 59:46 on a far from perfect day and at the same time became the Lancaster CC 25 mile Champ. The event also incorporated the North Lance time trial association championship and it was hotly contested. Big bad Derek Parkinson won the event overall and took the championship crown with what I can only describe as an awesome 52:48; a massive beating of his 25 mile PB. Derek had a massive winning margin of 2 minutes over the second place rider. Some guy called Keith Murray, the name vaguely rings a bell!

01/05/08 – Congrats to Pat Hercberg. Last week she rode her fastest 10 since 2006 and on Wednesday night she smashed her PB for her club’s hilly 17 mile Circuit of Conniston to record an all time PB of 51:56 which is a massive 1 minute 37 beating of her previous figures. Cracking stuff. Everything is coming together for her annual tussle with the pure evil that us the Fred Whitton!

28/04/08 – Gold riders don’t normally get rider of the week as this is an accolade reserved for their more illustrious platinum morganite cousins. However an exception has to be made for Andrew Shore. Andrew approached me at the start of the year as he felt his ‘training’ had been going nowhere for years and his weight was also an issue. Through the gold plans we addressed both these issues sorting out his diet and putting some zing into his training. Andrew has stuck to it fantastically with no excuses or missed sessions, he’s just got on with it. His season’s goal was beating the hour in a 25 and on Sunday in a VTTA event he did it with a 59:10 in his first 25 for 14 years! This is why I love this job. Respect due Andrew.

27/04/08 – 3 opens and 3 2^nd places for Matt Stell, this time in the West Cheshire 30, beaten by just 23 seconds by Dave Birch. Matt is the Raymond Poullidor of the Preston Wheelers!

26/04/08 – I’ve just got back in from riding the wigan wheelers 10 on the lumpy L101 Garstang course. Morganites in action where Derek, Jody and Paul Greenhalgh. They have all ridden this course many times and today was a far from fast day. So how good is this then? Jody Warrington – 22:58 – course PB (and beat his Dad – Rick), Paul – 22:28 – course PB, Derek – 20:58 (and 3^rd from a field of 130) and 1 second of course PB. Oh yeah and I did a course PB too – 20:38, which won. I’m putting it down to my new embrocation. I followed a tip I got from George Nowland and squirted it down my shorts, the pain was excruciating and I needed to motor to wash it off. Also in action today was Si Beldon taking an excellent 5^th place in a class field in the Otley CC 10.

21/04/08 – I was away at a very posh wedding do in South Wales this weekend and much drinking and not much training or coaching work was done so I’m now desperately trying to get back up to speed. Here are the edited highlights. Derek ‘win machine’ Parkinson was at it again in the Ribble Valley 25 on Sunday with an impressive 56 minute ride. 2^nd place was Matt Stell, with a 59, 2 events and 2 second places for Matt. That win is on the cards! Scott Westwood took 10^th spot in the Wyre Forest 10 in a high quality field less than a minute down on the winner. Full result here. Colin Allanach had a double PB weekend on the Saturday smashing his 25 pb with a 1:08:36, a massive 2 minute improvement on his previous best. This was done on the tough Carlegie course on a windy day. On the Sunday he was in action again this time recording a 26:11 second 10, another half a minute off his PB. Top work Col – as you say this training lark works. Apologies for those of you I haven’t had chance to mention but ‘blue arsed fly’ sums me up quite well today!

13/04/08 – Well done to Colin Allanach who posted a 26:43 on a cold and wet day north of the border. 1^st 10 of the year and a cool 43 seconds off his PB!!

Many morganites were in action in the Lancs RC 10 on Levens yesterday with a field of 171 riders. It was a cold, wet and blustery day and conditions were certainly not even throughout the event with the riders in the first half of the field having the worst of it with a mega strong head / cross out to the turn.

James Stewart won with an outstanding 19:57. Derek Parkinson was 3^rd with a 20:16 and I nipped in for 2^nd with a 20:15, though as I say I feel I had the best of the weather. The rest of the Morganites went in the first half of the field when the weather was at it’s worse. Scott Westwood still managed a 21:51, only 6 secs off his PB though and that after 2 weeks away on business with no bike. Other times;

Sir Adrian Pengelley – 22:34
Phil Shaw – 23:37
Mark Good child – 24:04

All good rides in the conditions.

Derek went out the day after and won the VC Cumbria 25 with a 53:28 by 2 minutes from Brian Payton. A win and a PB on a not too quick course. Considering his performance the day before and the fact he became a father for the 2^nd time on the Friday I reckon seals his status of rider of the week!

Also in the VC Cumbria event was Steve Hodgson posting a PB!!! In his 2^nd event of the season. Can’t tell you what it is yet because he hasn’t even told me yet – must be impressive!! Watch this space.

06/04/08 – A sleet and snow battered weekend’s racing. Amongst the many highlights were John Golder’s excellent 9^th place in the EAVTTA 25, top rides by Simon Beldon and Doug Hart in the circuit of the dales (we’re still not sure of final times, due to timing jiggery pokery at some temporary traffic lights), I was in this too but punctured. Full results will be out soon at wwwcyclingtimetrials.org.uk.

Matt Stell took an excellent 2^nd place with a 59 minute ride in the Withington Wheelers 25, only beaten by in form morganite alumni Jimmy Wright with a fearsome 56 minute effort.

Derek Parkinson took the field apart with a fearsome 20:46 in the Barrow Central Wheelers 10 on Levens, notching his 1^st ever open win on a tough day against class opposition. Rider of the week though goes to Steve Hodgson with his 24:32 in the same event. This is only seconds off his best set last year in far better conditions. Steve has been one of my most consistent riders this winter and I feel sure that his 23 minute 10 and sub hour 25 are now in his grasp. There were also good supporting rides from Phil Shaw and Pat Hercberg – full result here.

Well done to all Morganites for your endeavors this weekend.

31/03/08 – News just in! Dave Jones was 3^rd in the Merseyside Ladies 10 – his highest ever finish in an open and it was a class field too! Result here.

30/03/08 – Some very good performances this weekend in what was another bad couple of days for weather. Neil Munro picked up his first points of the season taking 8^th place in the NCRA Spring Handicap RR. Dave Jones recorded an excellent 22:19 in the Mersey side Ladies 10 mile TT (It would have been quicker but Dave was hampered by the long dress and heels – ho, ho, ho) which was putting him is 2^nd place with 50 riders gone. Final score will be updated when we know. Scott Westwood took an excellent 5^th place in the Elizabethan 21 mile hilly TT with a creditable 53 minute ride. This has come after a very hard block of training with very little rest before an enforced lay off next week when he is sent away on business. Rider of the week goes to John Golder with his 23:44 on a crap day in the ECCA 10. John had been getting a bit tense of late wondering if the winter’s training has worked. Well it has as John got lots of pats on the back for an excellent ride, turning over lots of riders who he’s never got close to in the past. How the tables have turned with a bit of structured graft - well done John!

22/03/08 – Mark ‘Masher’ Marsland has emerged out of the winter in awesome form taking 10^th place in the Sleaford Wheelers 10 with a 25 minute ride that was a course PB by 12 seconds. That previous PB was set last year in perfect conditions and this year there were gale force winds and driving sleet. Only 2 riders got inside 23 minutes; winner Nick Bowdler in 22:28 and Jim Boyle with 22:56. Double cause for celebration for Mark as I coach a coach and Jim is Mark’s lad. Proud of you Mark

Very proud too of Derek Parkinson. Derek and myself were competing in the North Lancs RC 10. The conditions for the later starters were pretty horrific with driving snow and cross winds. I was off at number 70 and I could hardly see anything and conditions were even worse for Derek off 10 minutes later, so much so that everyone else after Derek DNS’d. The event was won by Alf Hilton with a 22:11. An excellent ride but set in the first half of the event when conditions were reasonable. I was 3^rd 8 seconds back with 22:19. Big Derek was second with a 22:12, just 1 second off the winner, which considering the conditions and the immense amount of non cycling induced stress he’s been under over the last month was awesome. Derek will be celebrating by getting up at 3AM to ride from Blackpool to Liverpool to start a 12 hour shift at work. Derek – you are absolute nails – mucho respecto!! Mucho Respecto for Morgnaite Mark Goodchild too who organised the event, his first one and I have to say he did a superb job. I will of course be punishing him though with some horrible intervals for not fixing the weather for me!

17/03/08 – Not a huge amount to report on from this weekend with a fairly quiet weekend racing wise. Steve Robinson clocked a winning 1:12:58 in his clubs hilly 2 up 25 giving his team a winning margin of 1:04 over the opposition. Performance of the week goes to Simon Beldon though, 3^rd team with his club mate Joel Wainman in the Hull RC 2 up 25 on Saturday with a rapid 51:42. Thirds schmird I hear you cry, well it’s not so shabby when you look at the 2 teams in front of them, i.e. pros comprising of such talent as Russ Downing. The gap wasn’t particularly big either. Simon and Joel put some top opposition to the sword and for once it looks like Simon was causing Joel a bit more pain than the other way round. You watch Simon this year, for once you’ll see what this lad is really capable of!

Jody Warrington set a new course pb of a 24 minute ride on the J2/3 10 course in Cheshire on Saturday. Here he is in action. Check out the cars – scary!!

11/03/08 – We’ve just discovered that Dave Jones was 5^th in Chester RC 28 – his best ever result in an open!!! Superb stuff Dave,

09/03/08 – Simon Beldon had both a good and a bad day at the office in the Featherstone RC hilly, finishing just 13 seconds down on (consultation and plan rider) Doug Hart. Simon lost a fair chunk of time when he slipped his chain so it may well have been a win. A good Basil Faulty style thrashing of the bike is in order Simon. Simon and Doug are good buddies anyway so I’m sure Simon took nothing but pleasure from Doug’s win (yeah right!) – Nice one Doug, top ride. Steve Robinson just failed to take top spot in his club’s hilly 10 mile TT, just missing out by 2 seconds. Well done Steve, we’ve fought our way through various lurgies and a huge amount of work stress and limited training time this winter and now you’re getting the rewards.

I kept up my good run of form with a convincing win in the Lancaster CC hilly, the first hilly event I’ve ever won. I’m now convinced this training lark has legs!

02/03/08 – 2 Morganites were in the Kettering hilly 20 on Sunday in incredibly blowy conditions. Big Griff Evans posted a time of bang on 54 minutes which he was well pleased with as it is a clear improvement that he has improved massively this winter and Phil Nudds posted a rapid 50 minute ride less than 4 minutes down on winner Sam Barker and good enough for top 10 in a high class field. THE MORGANITES ARE ON THE MARCH AGAIN!!!

01/03/08 – Also emerging out of the winter in fighting form is Steve Robinson posting a 58:30 in the Maldon CC Hilly 20 on a horrible, windy day compared with 1:00:44 on a float day in the same event last year. Told you that ‘orrible training would do you good Steve!

01/03/08 – Three of my power house riders were in action today; Scott Westwood, Simon Beldon and Dave Jones in the Wrekin Sport hilly 18, City RC 3-up and Chester RC 28 respectively. Scott placed 5^th with a 44:42 from a field of 65, we think Dave got top 8 but his 1:09:55 was well up on his 1:11:19 last year, this time on a minging, windy day and Simon took 2^nd place with team swift team mates Ruebotham and Wainman. Last year Carl Ruebotham was causing Simon to be in a world of pain, not this time with Simon putting in some fearsome turns on the front at 400 watts plus. With my training peaks software I can now see the ‘numbers’ from the races at a glance. Be warned when these lads hit the flat roads the opposition better be scared. I wouldn’t want to race against them because I like winning things! Speaking of which I managed a win in my first outing on my new planet x stealth on a windy day in the M&DTTA 10 in Cheshire, beating Adrian Lawrence by a few seconds who has had a good start to the season. Although I won the open event talented 3 year old Richard Handley posted a time 9 seconds quicker than me in the junior event so for now I’ll stick to coaching rather than turning pro. I know my limits J

24/02/08 – Derek Parkinson started his campaign in the Rossendale RC hilly on Saturday with an excellent 7^th place, despite having spent the last 2 weeks ‘lurgified’. Derek was just pipped by consultation and plan rider Doug Hart. Full result here.

02/02/08 – All my riders are special to me but when someone comes along who is young, talented and with a passion to make it to the top as a coach your heart pumps a bit quicker. That’s what happened to me when I was approached by Steven Quinn. Luckily I had a vacancy as Ed Cox has decided that he’d like to take what he’s learnt and strike out on his own. I think coaching is as much about passing on your knowledge as anything else and I think Ed will be a much better rider for what he has learnt, as will super vet George Nowland who was the first rider I ever coached. George is now striking out alone but sadly for me he’ll still be hurting my turbo trainer at regular intervals! Anyway the journey is just beginning with Steven – check out his racing pedigree on the current riders page.

18/01/08 – This is not really news but it brightened up my morning. I was just meant to be looking at Colin Allanach’s position on his TT bike but the whole experience of a training session Allanach style was brought vividly to life! Col is no looking like a mean lean time trialling machine. No more rocking and rolling. The only movement is to wipe the honest sweat of grafting out of his eyes. It makes a coach proud! Turbo Tastic!

02/01/08 – New recruit Adrian Pengelly has scored 2 5^th places in open 10s over the festive period in the Farnborough and district and the Cardiff 100 miles RCC events. It’s all a bit of ‘fun’ and just good training (only racing when it’s warm enough for shorts!) but all the same encouraging. Watch Adrian this season, he’s going to be going on to bigger and better things in 2008. You’ve been warned!! Well done to evergreen George Nowland who won the PETTS boxing day 10. George seems to get younger every year, though sadly not better looking – never mind George you can’t have everythingJ

Also in action over the festive period was Mark Masher Marsland in his club’s new years day 6 mile ‘lumpy’ TT. Mark rides it every year and it’s his dream to get under 16 minutes. Well this time he did a 16:01 and came 2^nd – painfully close but this was a 30 second pb! 30 seconds over 6 miles is immense, roll on the new season so Masher can show us what can be done after a proper structured winter. I’ve never had chance to take him through one before till now. Watch this space….

16/12/07 – News at last!! In the M&DTTA Christmas 10 on a very cold but still day George Nowland clocked a rapid 24:30 to take 5^th overall and 4^th on standard (not sure about that). Dave Hilton was a minute slower in 25:30 but that was on a standard road bike, to take 2^nd place in that category. Oli Lougheed was a further minute back. In very cold conditions in the middle of winter times are never quick, as it’s like riding through cold treacle, so these were all good rides. I just nipped the win by 4 seconds with a 23:54 from winner on the previous 4 occasions Jon Surtees. Which was nice.

11/12/07 – I’ve put so little on here in recent weeks but I really have been too busy. This is a hectic and exciting time because it is now that we are laying the foundations for next season and all my riders are hard at work. All the team is now complete for the 2007 winter period. Check out the current riders page to read about all the new additions. There are a few Christmas 10s on the horizon so a bit more to write on here soon I think.

08/11/07 – If you have 10 minutes to kill check out the video that Jody Warrington made with his brother. Jody is the one with a stocking on his head in the advert near the start. As you can see he’s a scary character so I’m making every effort to ensure he starts winning races next year or I’m dead. See it here.

28/10/07 – Rider of the week has been brought back this week for Colin Allanach. Colin is a professional engineer and a family man in his early 40s and yet has managed to get a week off training because he has bust his ankle while skate boarding, a sport new to him, which he is unlikely to excel in. It just goes to show that when it comes to muppetry age is no barrier. Well done Col!

26/10/07 – To keep quality of service high I have re structured my coaching services. Due to demand there is now a waiting list for weekly training (unless we have agreed that you are coming on board already) but I have restructured the gold training package to offer something not as time consuming for me but cost effective and high quality for new clients. Check out the current riders page to see the squad to go through winter 2007; Mark Goodchild and John Golder will be signing up later this week and Craig Campion will also be going up there when he finally gives me something for his pop up page. (Are you reading this Craig?). I’m off to psyche myself up for tomorrows training ride with Jimmy Wright – will I survive it?

14/10/07 – Well done to Paul Greenhalgh, you powered up the famous Ramsbottom Rake is the Lancs RC hill climb in 3:40, a massive 50 second quicker than the 20 odd times he’s climbed it in training. Paul is built for sustained strength and power so it may not be a top 10 time (results not out yet) but on a power to weight basis I bet it easily is. Good work.

13/10/07 – Sadly due to reasons outside the world of cycling I’ve had to lose a couple of riders for the upcoming winter, which is always sad as it’s hard not to become friends through the coaching process. The plus side is the gap has been filled by a couple of new recruits; Phil Nudds and Peter Collins, who I am really going to enjoy working with. I have also written training plans for a couple of new guys who I will be seeing regularly over the coming winter. I’m really excited by the work that is going to happen over the coming months. Never forget – summer races are won in winter. Make a note of every rider on the current riders page and watch them fly next year!

06/10/07 – In the Warrington RC 2 up on the tough J2/9 course in Cheshire Dave Jones, riding is first ever 2-up at the end of his first proper season of time trialling recorded an excellent 56:16 with partner Mark Staden. They were currently in 7^th place when they left in an extremely high class field. Good work!

30/09/07 – Well done to Jimmy Wright taking 7^th place in the seniors (results here) event in the latest round of the Rudy Project series. Jim admitted it wasn’t his best ride of the year but that’s understandable after a long, successful season. In the rescheduled Team Swift 10 on the fast cave course Mark Marsland exactly equaled his 10 mile PB with a 22:25 on a day where most riders went backwards. I now get the chance to work with Mark for a full winter – watch this space!

22/09/07 – There’s less and less on the racing front to report at this time of the season as riders start to hang up the race wheels. Still some good end of season performances however. Not least Simon Beldon’s 1:52 minute 50 in the Yorkshire Cycling Club event. The event looked more like a national than a club event with an uber quality field. Simon managed 18^th but was only about a minute down on the likes of Joel Wainman, who was only good for the top 15 himself. This should now be enough to secure all the team spoils for team swift allsports at Derby this winter.

There were also good rides by Derek Parkinson who took 3^rd in the North Lancs 10 on an awful day in Garstang (aren’t they always), just 10 seconds behind the winner (can’t remember who that was but he was fast as he also beat Mark Holton into 2^nd place) and Phil Shaw and Steve Hodgson both recording course personals in the same event, the former by 50 seconds!

Jody Warrington finished on a high with 1:01 to take 8^th in the hotly contested combined clubs 25 on similar roads the next day, closing the gap on his Dad, Rick to a mere 30 seconds. His Dad is in tremendous form and as anyone from these parts will testify – he’s pretty rapid!

15/09/07 - John Lovell has improved yet again taking yet another 20 seconds out of last week’s time on the same course in his clubs’ ‘President’s 10’ to record a 27:59, his 2^nd fastest 10 for 3 seasons since his come back. A very windy day on Levens in the Wigan wheelers 10 saw most riders go back at least 1 minute on their normal times. Still some good rides done, Masher Marsland was elated with his 23:13, Jody Warrington did a more than respectable 23:43 and Paul Greenhalgh clocked a 22:20, on the day an excellent ride. Jimmy Wright doesn’t really notice wind though, he clocked 20:40 (PB) in the seniors event. He was 3^rd on the board when he left, one of the riders in front of him being Jason McIntyre! Jim’s ride was done with a standard road bike with clip on bars, which were then unclipped in time for Sunday’s road race around Bashall eaves in the company of riders such as Mark Lovatt. Jim took 9^th place and another fistful of points in pursuit of his 1^st cat license, which is now tantalizingly close.

16/09/07 – A very windy morning in the Lancaster CC 25, saw most riders back 3 or 4 minutes on their normal times so George Nowland’s 59 minute ride to crack the top 10 in a class field was something special. Derek Parkinson took 5th place with an impressive 57 minute ride, just over a minute down on winner Mark Holton. Dave Jones was lying 2^nd fastest in the West Cheshire 25 on the Prees course when he left with a 59:46. Dave is quietly consistent and improving every week. Watch out for him next season!

In a ride which he classes as his best of the season Steve Robinson clocked a brilliant 39:22 in his inter clubs hilly 15 miler (which contains a 1 in 10 climb), taking 8^th overall. This was 2 and half minutes quicker than his ride last year, which is brilliant!

09/09/07 – Well done to Russell King finishing the hard 155km Southern Sportive in 5:39:53 to claim Gold standard and to Jimmy Wright winning the 5km prologue in a 2 stage race in Cheshire and finishing 6^th overall – just a few more points now Jim for that 1^st cat licence!

I don’t know much about gold except that Mark Masher Marsland’s son Connor is damned good. Mark shipped racing this weekend to watch Connor win his club’s senior championship with the best EVER score for a junior with 140 gross (not sure what this means exactly but it’s good)! Well done lads!! See here for father and son with the spoils of victory!

08/09/07 – I have hung up my race wheels for the season so yesterday I was cheering on my future father in law and current pupil, Harry Gee in his first TT for 15 years in the Mersey side Ladies 10 on a tough windy day (as always) on the Rainford course. Also there, being cheered on were Dave Jones and Miles Jenkins. Dave punctured after about 3 miles but he looked to be going well before this and Miles looked good to post a more than respectable ‘25’. Harry did the ride of the day though with a 27:05, easily worth a 25 on Levens, but not a 20:22, which is what Derek Parkinson did in the Kent Valley 10 (how good a link was that?), yet another 20 minute ride in the bag, for 7^th place overall. Paul Greenhalgh added another ‘21’ to his bag with a quality 21:20 as did Derek Reilly with yet another 21 (21:36) and yet another PB!! Well done lads!

Vying for rider of the week was John Lovell, taking 20 seconds of last week’s time, on a harder day on the same course in the Addiscombe CC 10, when most riders went back by the same amount. George Nowland clocked a 1:09:09 in the VTTA national 30, despite going off course George is still a National champion, taking victory in the hotly fought 50-59 age category.

My rider of the week though is Simon Beldon, who clocked a 3:54 in the Swift Allsports 100 on a windy day when a third of the field packed. Simon took 19 minutes of his season’s best and has all but secured the team BBAR prize with Joel Wainman and Carl Ruebotham. This was done on his new Cervelo, which although it looks a damned sexy machine I reckon it was the engine which made the difference today

02/09/07 - On a horrible day in the VTTA 50 at cockermouth George Nowland continued his amazing peak season form clocking 2:01:00 to win his age group and finish high up overall on a day when many riders, including my mate Paul Fleming packed. Despite the atrocious conditions Phil Shaw took 3 minutes of his PB to clock 2:09:37.

Again in awful conditions Pat Hercberg battled her way to a brilliant 7:59:18 in the 103 mile Cumberland Challenge. The rain was so bad she had to take her glasses off, despite hardly being able to see much without them. Determined to get under 8 hours she battled over the last uphill 10 miles as quick as she has been 10 mile TT'ing this year and she did it, having to be helped off her bike as she crossed the line. Sheer guts and determination! Fantastic!!

Well done to Jimmy Wright and Jody Warrington for their excellent rides in the British Time Trial Champs taking 13th and 26th places respectively. Jody should not have even been riding the men's event as he is 22 and still an espoir and not 23 for a while yet so 28 miles was a bridge too far but still an excellent ride. Jim was slowed down by crashing on the first corner. He posted a fantastic time despite being battered and bruised. Don't bet against him being in the medals next year - trust me, he's that good! Full result here.

I've just got a text of John Teear, telling me that he was 7th out of a break of 10 in his latest Darley Moor Crit. The text ended with the words 'The Teear is back'!

01/09/07 - It was tight at the top in the Barrow central wheelers 10 on Levens with a raft of long 20s, on a day with a tough westerly wind.  Derek Parkinson on his first ride back after a bad dose of proper lurgy (not man flu!) clocked 21:01, Paul Greenhalgh felt good and clocked an excellent 21:56 and Derek Reilly, consistent as ever came in with a 22:06. I was well pleased with my 20:56. The race wheels are now hung up till next year. The race was won in jaw dropping 20:09 by 12 hour bronze medallist Nick Bowdler

On another tough day in the Redmon CC 10 new recruit John Lovell clocked 28:46, which he was really pleased with. John said he felt super smooth and more focused than ever before. Lets see what he's doing next year when we give his engine a bit more 'grunt' through the winter. Rival veterans beware - your 'on standard' prizes are in serious jeopardy!

In the Bealach Ba Na, Scotland's premiere cyclo sportive of 90 miles with 2935 meteres of ascent Colin Alanach, survived being blown of his bike in near gale force winds to record 6 hours 30 while Dave Jones clocked an amazing 5 hours 13. Although a bit disappointed not to have gone under 5 hours Dave is understandably made up with this. Top rides lads.

25/08/07 - I went to the YCF 30 on the A168 / A19 with the hope of setting a new club team record with my team mates - fat chance. This was a brute of a day with what seemed like a 360 degree headwind. I am very experienced at riding these types of dual carriage way courses and I know how tough it was. Paul Greenhalgh does not have too much experience but still dug deep and recorded a 1:14:19 and George Nowland produced a gritty 1:13:35, still with the 12 hour in his legs. Derek Parkinson opted not to ride as he has a bad cold - wise choice. These times may not look too impressive but trust me they are - it was a horrible day with plenty of DNFs. See here for the full result.

Road racing is a lottery and the strongest rider does not always win. I am more interested in what my riders achieve in a road race than merely points and places. John Teear has stepped up to a 2nd cat this year, which is a massive jump from the 3rd and 4ths. At the Darley Moor crits today he was racing with the elites, 1s and 2s and for the first 10 laps was out at the front with the great Dave Clarke, pushing and pulling as the pair of them opened a gap on the field. The field came back and John went away again, this time with the decisive break. He lasted another 5 laps before being dropped, physically wasted. I know what kind of power these guys can put out which is why I rate this as a brilliant performance. No sitting in and taking an easy ride for John, he chanced his arm and held his own.  A bit more work through the Winter and more watts in that engine and next year John will be more than punching his weight with these guys.

Despite being caught in a traffic accident and each losing about 1 to 2 minutes Derek Reilly and Miles Jenkins clocked a 2:10 and a 2:19 respectively in the Congleton CC 50 in Cheshire, which is essentially a hilly TT - not quick by any stretch of the imagination. This was only Derek's second ever 50, his first was done a drag strip in Yorkshire where he set his PB of 2:05 - this was a better ride!

22/08/07 - Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it's Jimmy Wright. Last night at the PETTS hill climb is Scorton, an event which draws some of the regions best climbers with a prize pot of over 100 pounds Jimmy Wright blitzed the field to take victory by a whopping 10 seconds (in a short 3 minute climb) from the great Dave Ebbrell no less. What is more he also won the team prize with Preston Wheelers - have they found a new saviour after the great Gethin Butler has hung his wheels up? A bigger question is will he buy his poor struggling coach a pint out of his winnings? I doubt it.

19/08/07 - Derek Reilly and Dave Jones clocked 1:0:27 and 1:0:30 respectively in the Southport CC 25, both claiming top 10 positions, while Steve Hodgson clocked 1:05:57, just a minute outside his PB on a technical and wet course - 3 good rides!

I was out cheering on George Nowland in the Lancashire RC 12 hour and it was a real joy to behold as George powered through the field to clock 253.75 miles and take 3rd place overall, less than 6 miles down on NLTTA BAR and 24 hour bronze medallist, Jose Pinon Shaw. George looked as fresh in the last few miles as he did at the start. I hope I'm that fit at 59, in fact I wouldn't mind being that fit now!!

Also in 12 hour action was Ian Black in the Scottish national - BRONZE MEDAL!! again, to go with his National 100 medals - top ride Ian, plus the team medal with his Sandy Wallace team mates. He's going to need a wheel barrow to get that lot back home on champions night!

18/08/07 - Well done to Phil Shaw, claiming his first ever top 10 finish in an open event, taking 8th in the Border City Wheelers 25 with 1:02:05. This was best described as a sporting course - Phil lost about 30 seconds in a herd of cows, which says it all really!

17/08/07 - Well done to Mike Kilgour, who set a new 10 mile PB of 25:04 in the 'sporting' Barton Wheelers 10 last night and Jimmy Wright who took 2nd place in the SIS E,1s and 2s Thursday night crit league at the Preston Arena.

16/08/07 - News from the front - Mile's mileage (pardon the pun) was wrong for the West Cheshire 12 hour - it turns out he'd actually gone nearly 9 miles further and took 10th - top ride!! Full result here.

12/08/07 - Well done to Mile Jenkins on racking up 228 miles in the West Cheshire and Liverpool TTCA 12 hour, taking 16 miles out of his nearest rival for his main pre season goal of retaining his club's BAR crown.

11/08/07 - Despite having an entry time which was quicker than many of the 90 starters Jimmy Wright's entry was returned in the Pendle Forest 10, just shows if your face doesn't fit. Luckily both Dereks, George and myself both got in. Derek Reilly clocked yet another seasons PB of a 21.41, he's getting rider of the week through sheer consistency, and Derek Parkinson took 6th overall with a storming 20:07. This show's the calibre of the field, what so you have to do to win nowadays? This was also part of a record breaking Cleveleys CRC team time! George clocked his best 10 for 3 years with a great 21:38 and I got a 20:41, my 2nd fastest ever 10 which may have scraped about 12th place! Needless to say it was a quick night! The event was won in 18:17 by 25 mile champ Jason MacIntyre.

On the same course where ye clocked 1:10:33 last week to set his new 25 pb (admittedly his first 25) Mike Kilgour sliced a whopping 8 MINUTES!!!!!! off it to clock 1:02:27 in Drighlington 25 in Yorkshire - at this rate Me MacIntyre will be getting worried! Rich Hembrough clocked a quality 56:22 and Jody Warrington a 1:01 something. I've yet to find out the winning time.

09/08/07 - Well done to Jimmy Wright who has now taken 2nd place overall in the PETTS evening TT series, also helping my club Preston Wheelers to the team win. This is no mean feat as this must be one of the most hotly contested evening 10 series in the country with entry on the line fields of 70 plus a far from unusual occurrence. Well done Jim lad!

05/08/07 - In the Hitchin Nomads 25 Mark Masher Marsland clocked a 1:00:23 on a really tough day to take his first ever TOP 10 FINISH in an open (9th). By all accounts he looked ultra smooth and strong. Next year a first win!!

In the VC Cumbria 25 at cockermouth (snigger) Steve Hodgson Knocked a massive 60 seconds off his 2 year 25 PB to record a 1:04:30 - this was just reward for all the graft he's put in and on any other day would have earned rider of the week. Other rides on the day included another good, strong performance by Derek Reilly with a 57:59 and a 1:01:06 from Phil Shaw - only a fist full of seconds off a PB on a good but not super fast day. I was 3rd with a 55:03, a very long way behind winner Rick Meadows.

Derek Parkinson could 'only' manage 14th in the Pennine CC 50 with a 1:54:42 - this will teach him to get up at the crack of dawn every day refurbishing his kitchen! Still a more than respectable ride - he'd have beaten me anyway!

Jimmy Wright took 4th place in a high quality break away in a road race in deepest Ulverston, amongst the company of elite riders such as Steve Feeney and Pete Williams - another class ride by the Preston man - will he be the 2nd of our number to get a '19' on Levens next weekend? I won't be betting against him!

On the sportive front Russ King clocked 4:44:44 for a 122 km number in Wiltshire which included 1505m of climbing! Top work. Dave Jones was tackling the Pendle Pedal in Lancashire and I've still to hear from him. Maybe he's still out there?!

The best till last - to go with Simon's national team awards we now have a Scottish National 100 bronze medal and a team medal for Sandy Wallace cycles (the first sub 12 hour team award) by rider of the week Ian Black. Ian clocked a 3:56, finishing just a few minutes down on winner Carlos Riise - and we know how good he is! Well done Ian - proud of you mate!

04/08/07 - In the Yorkshire Velo 25  Mike Kilgour had a baptism of fire in his 1st 25 on a tough course and blustery day. He recorded a 1:10:00 - we now have a marker in the ground to rip up! George Nowland clocked a rapid 59:49 in the same event - putting him just outside the top 20 in a top field and not far off the top 10. Full results here.

03/08/07 - Today I received my Diploma in Sports Psychology, after a year of study - Admittedly this is not strictly a result, as I don't get many of them on the bike now adays - it will make me a better coach though because now I can get into your minds - scary!

31/07/07 - Just heard off Richard Dunbabin - he was 1st in his age group and 17th overall in the Toton Sprint Tri on Sunday. Not sure about time for the bike split but we reckon it was his best performance of the season yet - top work!

29/07/07 - In the NLTTA 50 at Garstang Derek Parkinson turned in a fantastic 1:59:27 to take 3rd place behind top Scottish rider Carlos Riise with a '56' and Robbie Brennan with a '57'. It was a tough course and a hell of tough, windy day so this really was a fantastic ride by Derek. Speaking of fantastic rides in the same event Phil Shaw clocked a 2.12:07 to beat his previous PB by over 7 minutes!

In the Shropshire Wheelers 100 on a notoriously tough course and an exceptionally tough day Miles Jenkins carved a huge chunk of time from his season's best to record a brilliant 4:43:01 - well done Miles, proud of you mate

Anyone who has ever ridden a 12 hour will know what a murderously hard thing this is to do. Trying to sustain an average speed in excess of 22mph when you're hurting and unable to eat and drink because anything passing your lips causes you to retch is not fun. For this reason Simon Beldon's ride in the National 12 hour get's rider of the week. It was a tough day to say the least. Winner Kevin Dawson said he would never ride one again afterwards! Simon either clocked 258 miles for 12th spot or 8th spot with 270 miles, according to the provisional result. Either way he suffered like a dog but hung on for grim death for his team. It was worth it because team swift were crowed team champions. Well done Simon - class!

28/07/07 - Mental note - stop entering the same events as Paul Greenhalgh because there always bloody awful. Today's horror was the Warrington RC 50 (2 laps of the tough J2/9 course). It was very warm and if such a thing is possible there appeared to be a 360 degree head wind, which got stronger and stronger as the event went on. A few months ago Paul set his then PB here of 2:04:19, on a decent day. Today he did a 2:07:00, which in my opinion was a far superior ride because this was a pig so well done Paul - good work! Glen Longland won the event with a long '56' and I suffered like a dying dog for 5th place with a short 59. We did discover why Paul's been having so much trouble with his camel bak but I suspect he wouldn't thank me, so I'll keep stum. It did give me a laugh though which was a bonus today!

Rich Hembrough clocked a 22:59 on a tough day on the 010/1 in the Rutland CC 10. We were both made up with this excellent performance. To put it into perspective Wayne Randle (normally a short 19 minute man) won with a 20:58. Top job Rich!

22/07/07 - This was more like it - stuff happened today alright!! In the Lancs RC 25 mile TT it rained torrentially from start to finish and it was damned cold and windy. Not a PB day. My knees were blue at the end! Steve Hodgson and Phil Shaw were both in action and I was very pleased with both their rides. On a day where the top riders went back 2 or 3 minutes from last year, when it was a 'float' day Steve posted a 1:07:27 - 2 seconds quicker. Top work. Any other day and it would have been a pb! Phil clocked a 1:01:48 - again excellent baring in mind his previous best for the course was a 1;06! Scratch man Rick Meadows won with a 54:57, Robbie Brennan was 2nd with 56:28 and I was well pleased with my 56:37 to take 3rd.

On the V718 course in the Yorkshire Ladies CA 10 Rich Hembrough was close to a pb with a 21:17 on a not super fast day. His pacing was a little over ambitious as his legs felt too good over the first couple of miles. I can live with that! Mark Masher Marsland notched up another PB with a 22:25 - 30 seconds off his PB in fact! I think we can now say he's in form. Wait for this though, drum roll... Derek Parkinson clocked 19:32!! He took 4th with that in an ultra high quality field, smashing his PB by 45 secs and shattering his club record. All hail the mighty Parky!!

In the Liverpool century criterium in Skelmersdale Jody Warrington was active with breakaways, taking primes and mixing it the final sprint to take 12th place (we think he did). Not bad for his first race for 7 years! Oh yeah he got a tan as well - the sun was out down there apparently. Lucky git! With the elites ones and twos Jimmy Wright was way in the decisive break for 25 of the 28 laps using his power and strength to keep it away from the big bunch. He was just about to blow them away when the commisaire called time on proceedings and it went to a sprint, leaving Jim dumbfounded with 9th place. This would appear to be a cock-up royale by the organisers. Jim is upbeat though. If the race had have been the length it was supposed to be he'd have won!

In the Darley Moor Crit for 2nds, 3rds and 4ths John Teear was active in every break and covering every move - except one which was as they say 'the one that got away'. In only his 3rd competitive ride of the season after a serious hernia op John is officially competitive again. We reckon he took 20th place. Good work John.

21/07/07 - Nothing happened today. I cleaned my bike and took the dog for a walk. That was pretty much it. Rain stopped play with events cancelled left right and even centre!

18/07/07 - Last night Phil Shaw asked me what had happened to Jimmy Wright? Well as he was asking this Jim was recording a 20:47 on the PETTS Evening Time Trial series L105 course where only the great and the good get under 21 minutes. I certainly never managed it. Needless to say he won. This was a 30 second beating of his PB! The Wrightster is back...

16/0707 - I've just spoke to Ian Black who reported that he won the Mark Howitt memorial 25 in Scotland yesterday by 2 minutes from Keith Smith with an excellent 56:54. To give you an idea of how well he's going Ian recently trounced Carlos Riise in  50. Take a look at the National 100 results to see how well Carlos did. What could Ian have done??

15/07/07 - I spoke to Miles Jenkins mid week about the importance of self belief. I knew what he was capable of and his race results weren't living up to what his legs could do. Anyway everything was taken on board because in the Birkenhead CC 25 on a decent but not super fast course he slashed 5 minutes off his season's best to record 1:03:36. Needless to say a few jaws dropped at the HQ from people who had written him off. Well done Miles - ride of the week - Now show 'em what you can really do!!

Congratulations to Simon Beldon - NATIONAL 100 MILE TT TEAM CHAMPION. Simon fought for a hard earned 17th place with a 4:09:15 on a brutal course on a muggy morning to support his Team Swift Allsports comrades Joel Wainman and Carl Ruebotham for the coveted team prize. Derek Parkinson was 23rd in 4:12:41. Derek crossed the 50 mile point in a rapid 1:58:48 but then died badly in the heat. A brave effort though. George Nowland took 29th place with a creditable 4:23:06. Plus this won him a national age group medal!

14/07/07 - A bad day at the office for Jody, Paul Greenhalgh and myself in the Warrington RC 25 on the J2/9 course in Cheshire. I've never known such a tough, windy day on this course. Paul recorded a 1:00:30. After the event I thought he was going to cry as his bottom lip was almost touching the floor. The reason for this however was that he was stung by a bee in the face as he was warming up; not the best way to get into the zone. Jody got to the start 5 minutes late and they fined him 2 minutes as a result. He recorded a 1:03 on his stop watch, which bore no resemblance to the time on the board, even taking into account the time penalty. I recorded a sorry 57:47, putting me well off the pace. Afterwards I was moaning that they'd got my time wrong, based on a quick look at my watch after the finish and a perception that I was riding fast. I don't think that would stand up in court! Perhaps the biggest blow for all 3 of us was that the cake had run out and the tea was stewed - Life is cruel - roll on the next one!  (2 good rides by the lads on a pig of a day on a tough course).

In the VC Cumbria 10 on Cockermouth where there is always a headwind both ways Derek Reilly clocked an excellent 22:36, scraping into the top 10 and consolodating his growing reputation as a contender. Derek has really stepped up dramatically this season and with another good winter he'll be in the wins next year. Phil Shaw did a 23:53, again Phil has stepped up and is fulfilling he pre season goal of consistent 23 minute rides.

In the North Notts Olympic 25 Masher Marsland PB'd with a 1:00:01 in tough, windy conditions. Well done Mark, I'm proud of you but what's with that comedy time - you know how to pan things out don't you? Stop messing about and get under that hour!!


08/07/07 - In the North of Scotland 50 mile TT champs on a tough, windy day Ian Black took 2nd place with a superb 1:56:17 behind winner Mark Atkinson in 1:51:40 and he was nearly 2 minutes quicker than 3rd palce Carlos Riise.

07/07/07 - In the Team Swift Allsports 25 on the A1 in Yorkshire Derek Parkinson's spell of bad luck goes or should I say comes to an end! Misjudging an early bend he rolled his tub and punctured after about 2 miles. We suspect his repaired disc wheel had a hand in this. He's getting a new one for his birthday though so all is well. Despite being on a fast course this was a tough day with strong cross winds on both legs. Derek Reilly's 58:10, just a bit shy of his PB is further proof that he has stepped up division and breaking the hour is now pretty much a given - good lad! I did a 54:13, which I was really pleased with, which should get me in the top ten (just) in a high quality field.

The North Notts Olympic 50 was also held today, again on a fast course but on a tough windy day. We had 4 riders in this event; Simon Beldon, George Nowland, Mark Marsland and Paul Greenhalgh. Simon knocked out a fantastic 1:51 something. I've yet to speak to him but I believe the event was won by Joel Wainman, who is flying at the moment with a 1:48 something so Simon must be well up the field. George recorded a fantastic 1:57 something. He was made up with this and it must surely win him the 'on standard' prize. Paul Greenhalgh had a nightmare. He used a camelbak for the 1st time and things went well awry. Basically the contents disappeared onto the road and he had to ride the last 41 miles 'dry'. He still recorded a 2:03 which is still a 1 minute PB - tremendous guts and determination from Paul!

Ride of the day was done by Masher