26/07/10 – It’s been a long time coming but Derek Parkinson finally smashed the 50 minute barrier in the Derby Mercury 25 on Saturday taking 4th place in a high quality field with an amazing 49:50. That’s seriously quick boss – I’m very envious! Not quite as quick but equally as impressive Phil Shaw carved 30s of his previous PB to clock 58:02 for 12th place in the VC Cumbria 25. Well done Phil, considering a few months ago you could hardly walk that’s not too shabby!

19/07/10 – Derek notched up his 7th win of the season on Sunday with an excellent 51:59 in wet and blustery conditions in the Border City Wheelers 25 at Cockermouth giving him a massive 3 minute winning margin over the handy Ian Cox of North Lancs RC

11/07/10 – Congratulations to Matt Stell, Paul Greenhalgh, Neil Hercberg and Barry Quick with times of 4:17:55, 4:21:40, 5:04:49 and 5:19:45 (this included a 10 minute stop with  a flat) in the M&DTTA 100 on Sunday on a brute of  course on a blustery morning. Each of these rides was quality and each special to the rider involved be it a PB, a first time 100 or just a damned good ride. Good work lads.

Scott Westwood is back to his very best taking 3rd place in the Barrow Central wheelers 10 on Saturday in a quality field with a fantastic 19:38 – A PB and a Walsall RCC club record!

04/07/10 – Congratulations Paul Greenhalgh. Paul’s favourite course is the tough J2/9 25 course in Cheshire. In 2007 he got his first open win on there with  58 minute ride I believe. We then started working together in the summer of 2008 and in 2009 he scored quite a few high placings with 57 and 56 minute rides. This year after a good winter he’s regularly doing 55 minute rides on there whatever the conditions so it was only a matter of time before our first win. He came close in the westmead 88 promotion on there on Wednesday but hit the bullseye to win by a minute on Saturday in the Nova CC event. 54s next year Paul and you’ll be winning every time out boss. For me this exemplifies what good training and coaching is all about; steady progressive, sustainable gains year in year out.

28/06/10 – A stonking ride by Derek Parkinson on Saturday. Derek made light of hot and breezey conditions to record a remarkable 3:47:02 in the NLTTA 100 to win by 11 minutes and take a whopping 15 minutes off his PB. Get in!!

21/06/10 – Well done Colin Allanach who slashed a massive 2 minutes off his 25 mile TT PB this Sunday! Two cracking rides by native Tyke Richard Hey and naturalised Tyke Mike Schofield taking cracking 6th and 7th places overall in the YCF 15 on Sunday with 34:57 and 35:00 dead respectively.

14/06/10 – Get in the Heyster!! Richard Hey put in a storming ride on Sunday in the Cleveland Wheelers 50 taking 3rd place overall with a fantastic 1:50:41 to slash 1:11 from his previous best for the distance. A ride to be proud of boss! In equally impressive form was Scott Westwood taking his 3rd open win of the season with a cracking 1:48:32 in the Shirley RC 50 to give him a near 4 minute winning margin over 2nd place Steffan Harrison who is certainly no slouch himself. It is to be confirmed but we also think that this may be a course record!

07/06/10 – Top ride by Derek Parkinson on Saturday in the VC Cumbria 50 at Cockermouth. On a very hot day his 1:47:11 gave him a win, the NLTTA championship, a PB and a club record! Worth the petrol money then boss.

31/05/10 – A very successful weekend for Scott Westwood. On the Saturday he scored his first ever open win with a 21:12 in the echelon cycles 10 for a big 41s winning margin over 2nd place Stefan Harrison. On the Sunday he scored his second with a 57:18 and a big 66s winning margin over in form Charles Taylor in the same clubs hilly event. Like waiting for a bus eh Scott! Elsewhere on the Saturday Richard Hey scored a massive course PB with a 54:58 in far from favourable conditions in the Holme Valley Wheelers 25 and not far behind with his 3rd fastest 25 ever was Matt Stell with a 55:02. Good work lads!

17/05/10 – Dave Jones slashed a massive 2 minutes off his 25 mile PB on a tough day in the stone wheelers 25 on Saturday with a cracking 56.12. He covered the first 10 miles in 18 minutes. Eat your heart out Fabian!!

Derek Parkinson is officially on fire (not literally that would be terrible) with yet another win. This time he clocked 1:48:39 in really tough conditions in the Lancaster CC 50 to beat a good field by the thick end of 6 minutes!! Roll on the national 10.

10/05/10 – Derek Parkinson powered to victory against some top Yorkshire fast men on Saturday in the Drighlington BC 25. His 53:18 and power PB on a tough, windy day was just too good for the rest of the field. Meanwhile in Cheshire in the Dukinfield CC 50 Paul Greenhlagh slashed an enormous amount of time from his 50 mile TT PB to come home in 3rd place in front of many established long distance men with a cracking 1:56:31. In my opinion a ride like this is worth a 1:40 something on a half decent course. Like Derek Paul is another rider who has really stepped it up a level this year and when you have been racing and training hard for many seasons that it no mean feat.

03/05/10 – Scott Westwood is on fire right now. His 20:55 for in the Coventry CC 10 on Saturday was good enough for 2nd place just 4 seconds off the great Richard Bradley. In the process he took a couple of really big name scalps; Pete Balls and Jon Simpkins. The next day he was 6th in the Ogmore 25 with a 52:32 on a day when moat riders went back 4 minutes on what they would under float conditions.

26/04/10 – I had a close call on Saturday in the Cleveleys CRC 10 on the fast Levens course. Despite the 4 hour hilly rides I had prescribed for him every single day from Monday to Friday Scott Westwood still managed a PB 19:45 to come within 2 seconds of taking the win in front of me. 3rd place was 40 seconds back. Really good work Scott and well done for the PB and everything but you’re getting a bit close for comfort now. Paul Greenhalgh also did a very good ride with a 20:49 for 8th place - - his 3rd fastest ever 10! James Heaton is also starting to look a bit handy taking 2nd place in the Warwickshire RC 10 just 20 secs down on the mighty Scott Povey. Looking good boss man!

19/04/10 – Despite a being below par after a lurgy riddles week Derek Parkinson clocked a rapid 50:58 in the BDCA 25 on Etwall on Saturday and also recorded a power PB in the process! Mike Schofield has had more than his fair share of nasty lurgies over the last few months too but he’s on his way back nicely with a very good 54:58 which is sure to get him into the national 25 this year on his local roads so mission accomplished for us Mike!

12/04/10 – Well done to Jane Kilmartin on her 3rd place in the latest round of the Rudy project and to Bill Dallas who slashed just under 2 minutes off his PB in the Lancashire RC 10 on Saturday on Levens to finish with a 21.05. I told you you had a 20 in you Bill and next time you’ll prove me right – so close!!

02/04/10 – Win number do for Degsy Parkinson beating the great and the good including the likes of Julian Ramsbottom and Nino Piccoli on good Friday with a quality 19:46 on a tough day in the city rc 10 on the fast V718 course. Derek won the seniors competition and technically this is an open TT win. The only fly in his ointment was that old war horse Barry Charlton went a bit quicker in the vets competition. After being thrashed by Bazzer many times my self I’d say there was no shame in that.

Scott Westwood is looking very good now taking 2nd place on Saturday in the www.echelon.co.uk cycles 10 in the midlands. This was reduced to an 8.5 mile TT and Scott scorched round in 18:03 to take 2nd from Mat Clinton who edged him by 5 seconds. Scott took some top scalps including 3rd place top fast man Jon Simpkins.

28/03/10 – Derek Parkinson notched up his first win of 2010 to put a quality field of nearly 110 riders to the sword in the M&DTTA 10 on Saturday. Derek made light of the very windy conditions to record a stunning 21:39 on what is basically a sporting course for a comfortable winning margin over 2nd place Barry Charlton. Paul Greenhalgh also recorded a cracking course PB 22:49 for 10th spot.

Meanwhile on Sunday on another tough day and course Simon Beldon and Nigel Goscinski both turned in cracked rides to take 3rd and 5th in the Featherstone RC hilly 10 with 23:35 and 23:34 respectively.

08/03/10 – Derek continued in good form on Sunday with a big course PB 1:09:04 circuit of Pendle to take a top 10 position in a hotly contested event. Scott Westwood looks set for a really good season taking an excellent 6th in the Wrekinsport 18 mile hilly taking a whopping 1 minute 40 seconds off his 2009 time when most of the other top riders stayed the same or went backwards. Looking good for 2010 Scott!

01/03/10 – Good first event by Derek Parkinson taking 4th place in the Rossendale Hilly TT on Saturday with an excellent 25:49 and a nice improvement in power on his ride last year. Derek by his admission is not the best bike handler in the world and we both reckon on a flat course he’d have won this. A good sign of things to come.

Happy days in the Hercberg household with Pat taking first place and Neil 3rd in their respective categories in the tough 50k Kielder mountain marathon on Saturday. Well done folks!

28/09/09 Its getting that time again and more and more people are hanging up their race wheels for another year. Of the Morganites that were in action this weekend the highlight has to be Julius Jennings 18th win of the season with a 53:55 in the Camel Valley 25 which was also a PB in every sense of the word based on his power meter files. If there was a prize for rider of the season Julius would certainly be in the mix. Its been a good year though and he’d have plenty of competition – all good!

25/09/09 – Well done to Matt Stell for manfully defending his NLTTA BAR crown this season against fierce opposition from Jose Pinon and George Nowland. It was tight at the top but Stelly came out on top. He’s done some cracking rides this season and conducted himself like a true champion throughout. Well done Matt!

21/09/09 – Plenty of PBs done this weekend in great time trialling conditions. Paul Greenhalgh clocked a 20:19 on Levens for a big PB on Saturday in the wigan wheelers event and then backed it up the next day with a top 10 and a course PB 55:10 in the Lancaster CC 25. Phil Shaw also PB’d on Saturday with a 21:51 to go a few seconds quicker than his previous PB the week before in the Kent Valley 10. Derek Parkinson and Scott Westwood didn’t manage pbs but with a 19:53 and 19:51 respectively they weren’t hanging about either. The event was won incidentally by an awesome 18:46 by Mark Holton leaving 2nd placed Richard Handley trailing in his wake by a massive 33 seconds!

Julius Jennings is carrying on his fantastic season this time tieing for first place in the Tamar 25 on Sunday with Simon Edney. Julius was especially pleased because he also coaches Simon and as all good coaches know its only right and proper to not beat your pupils!

Best ride of the week was Gav Hinxman’s 53:29 in the Port Talbot 25 on Sunday – a PB by 90 seconds! Yes it was a float day but there’s more to a PB than a time and Gav’s SRM file shows that it was a PB in every sense of the word – class ride Gav!

14/09/09 – Some excellent rides done over the weekend as we approach the end of the season. Scott Westwood and team mate Stuart Walker were in imperious form blazing to a storming win with a 49:44 in the Walsall RC 2 Up 25.

Paul Greenhalgh recorded his 2nd fastest ever 25 in the Stone Wheelers 25 on Saturday with an excellent 54:20. Despite having most of his teeth pulled out by the dentist 5 days earlier Derek also did a really good ride though understandably a bit short of his own high standards with a very respectable 53:25.

Julius Jennings continues his cracking season with his 16TH OPEN WIN! This time with a really well paced and smooth long 21 in the NDW 10 to win by close to a minute from his nearest rival.

It was a very fast day on Levens in the Kent Valley 10 and the most notable rides here were a long waited for 21 and a PB by Phil Shaw with a 21:53 and a season’s fastest 22:27 by Charlotte Wadsworth.

Richard Hey recorded a course PB and took a superb 6th place overall in the ABC Centreville 25 on the very tough J2/9 course on Saturday with a 58:06. Taking 10th overall was a very solid ride by Mike Schofield with a more than respectable 59:40.

Nige Goscinski and Simon Beldon both did very good rides in the VTTA 10 in Yorkshire on Saturday to tie for 7th place with 21:23.

07/09/09 – Scott Westwood set out on a mission in the VTTA (Notts and East Midlands) 30 on Saturday to break another Walsall RC club record. He did this emphatically with a cracking 1:03:02. Unfortunately club mate and rival big Stuart Walker went 16 seconds quicker! Still a bloody good ride Scott to take 4th place on the day just 23 seconds off the winning time of the classy Scott Povey.

Bill Dallas slashed 16 minutes off his previous PB to record a cracking 4:10:53 in the Rising westerly 100 North of the border. Bill has now recorded PBs at 10, 15, 50 and 100 miles in his first of hopefully many seasons as a Morganite.

Cracking ride by my Preston wheelers club mate, dedicated coaching pupil and all round nice bloke Matt Stell with a massive PB in the Lancashire RC 12 hour with a fantastic 249.9 miles – well done buddy! This was good enough for 3rd spot behind Jose Pinon and former Morganite George Nowland. Living legend George won with 253.9 miles – not bad for a man of 86 years old (I think that’s how old he is anyway J)

31/08/09 Some smashing rides done on a blustery Sunday in the team swift 10 on the now legendary V718 course. The field was massive and packed full of quality in what was the last chance of a fast time on there this season. Derek was first Morganite home with a solid 20:09 to take 12th, then came Scott Westwood who despite having cold clocked 20:16 which also contributed to a Walsall RC team record. Tied on 20:42 were Dave Hilton and Paul Greenhalgh. Paul had never managed a 20 before this, though some of his rides this season on slower courses would have given him one for sure on this course. Anyway he’s finally put this one to bed and emphatically so - well done!

24/08/09 – Scott Westwood and Walsall RC team mate Stuart Walker have had real rivalry going this season as they have taken 3 new club records between them. This was put to one side on Saturday though when they joined forces in the Warwickshire RC 2 up to thrash the field by a minute with a cracking ride to win in an impressive 20:08.

Also in team time trial action was Julius Jennings who played a major part in his team’s winning 54:07 in the CS Dynamo 4 up on Sunday – his 15th win of the season.

Despite a tough course and breezy conditions Dave Jones did by far his best TT of the season coming joint 5th in the North Shropshire Wheelers 25 on Sunday. His 57:47, just 4 secs off an all time PB.

Nige Goscinksi and Richard Hey both did excellent rides in the VTTA 10 on Saturday. Their 22:26 and 23:00 good enough for 4th and 8th respectively from a field of 80 riders – not too shabby lads.

17/08/09 – Despite rain and howling winds up in Cockermouth for the VC Cumbria 25 on Saturday Derek Parkinson and Phil Shaw both turned in superb rides. Derek stormed home for the win in an awesome 50:57 just 2 seconds shy of the great Gethin Butler’s area record and Phil smashed his existing PB with a cracking 58:32 to take 10th place over all while most of his peers went backwards. Very impressed lads!

Richard Hey took an excellent 9th place in the YCF 50 on Sunday with a hard fought 1:59:37 on a tough day while north of the border Bill Dallas smashed his 50 PB set 4 weeks ago with an impressive 1:56:37 on a tough course to take 5th overall.

10/08/09 – A pretty quiet weekend on the racing front but Scott Westwood made plenty of noise to make up for that with another Walsall RC Club record to go with his 25 mile ride a few weeks ago. In the BDCA event on Saturday Scott clocked a cracking 1:45:02 to take over a minute from the existing record set by Neil Peart. Scott has turned into a pretty fearsome tester this year and not many riders like to see his name on a start sheet that’s for sure!

03/08/09 – Derek Parkinson turned out his best ride for a few weeks in the Pennine CC 50 with a cracking 1:51:39 for 5th place in a class field on a tough day taking some high class scalps into the bargain such as Keith Murray and Carl Saint.

Scott Westwood is keeping up his run of super fast times with a storming 19:48 PB on the E2/10 to take 3rd place in a quality field behind Pete Balls and Lee Bark

Phil Shaw took 6th place in a tough windy VTTA 50 on Sunday based around Cockerham in Lancashire with a hard fought 2:10:50 which would have easily been good enough for a sub 2 hours on a half decent course.

27/07/09 – Good rides by the lads on Saturday in the VC Cumbria 25. Derek Clocked a 53:40 for 3rd place behind Jason Bateman and winner Mark Holton and despite later being diagnosed with a throat infection Paul Greenhalgh racked up his 11th top 10 finish of the season with a cracking 56:21. Also feeling lousy was Phil Shaw but he still hung in for a PB with a seasons goal of a 58 minute ride. 58:56 – Easy!

Speaking on PBs Scott Westwood got another with a 20 minute dead in the Sherwood CC 10 on Saturday to take 4th place in a high quality field. Gav Hinxman also clocked a PB power output in his SRMS in this one to finish with a very respectable 21:59.

Bill Dallas got his first open win of the season on Sunday in atrocious conditions in the Ythan 10 with a 23:12 on a tough technical course – well done Bill.

Despite feeling sick as a dog all week Si Beldon started the Elmet 12 hour but had to pack 6 hours in when his throat swelled up so badly he could no longer eat or drink. He’s more worried about letting his team mates down than the pain which says all you need to know about the man. You’ve never let anyone down Simon and team swift would not have won half what they have in recent years without your valiant efforts.

20/07/09 – Excellent rides in very windy conditions by Nigel Goscinski and Charlotte Wadsworth in the YCF 25 on Saturday. Nigel turned in a storming 56:42 to take a brilliant 7th place and Charlotte won the women’s competition by nearly 4 minutes from Theresa Taylor with a cracking 1:01:56.

Julius Jennings racked up his 12TH OPEN WIN of the season on Saturday with in the Bike n Motion 10 with a 21:03 on a hard course to win by 8 seconds from Mark Lees. This was also the South Western 10 mile TT champs – and a worthy champion they now have.

Paul Greenhalgh sliced minutes of his PB to finally go under 2 hours with a superbly controlled 1:59:35 in the Manchester and District TTA 50 on Saturday on the tough, pot holed J4/16 course to take 8th place overall. Conditions for the back end of the field which Paul was in were horrendous with monsoon like rains. Nothing could distract Paul from his sub 2 hour mission though.

Matt Stell scored a cracking 4 hour 8 minute 100 mile TT PB in the East Liverpool Wheelers 100 on Sunday in windy conditions on a tough course. This should keep him firmly in contention to defend his crown in the North Lancs TTA BAR. Dave Jones also did a really good ride with a 4:20 despite having a nightmare last 25 miles. He hung on there as he’s no quitter!

13/07/09 – So many good performances this weekend that I’m spoiled for choice for rider of the week. Paul Greenhalgh clocked a massive PB of 52:49 in the team swift 25 on Saturday with a resplendent 52:49 to take a cracking 2nd place behind young prodigy Jack Green – and not that far behind either.

Scott Westwood recorded a new PB of 20:17 in the Team Economic Energy 10 on Saturday and though we don’t know his final position as yet he we 2nd to the mighty Hutch with a good deal of the field gone.

In the week Julius Jennings racked up his 11th open win of the season with a cracking 21:20 in the Tavistock 10 taking a massive 45 seconds out of 2nd place Karl Hodson.

Bill Dallas came an impressive 10th in the Scottish National 50 on Saturday – his 1:59:02 was also yet another PB on a tough day.

In the British national 100 on Sunday Simon Beldon clocked an excellent 3:56 to help Joel Wainman and Brian Walker to the team championship and another night out at champions night next year!

Charlotte Wadsworth came an excellent 5th place in the women’s event with a cracking 4:24:33 for a PB, club record and age standard national medal – not a bad days work boss!

28/06/09 – In the CDLCA 25 near Uttoxeter on Saturday there was one of those magic float days that only come once every blue moon. Morganites were right up there with 2 places on the podium and 2 club records smashed! Derek Parkinson shook off a chest infection that’s been laying him low to smash his PB and come home in 3rd with a 50:07 (Cleveleys RC Club record). The mighty Matt Bottrill won with a short 48 and Derek must have thought that this would have been good enough for second. He didn’t count against another super fast Morganite – Scott Westwood who produced the ride of his life for 2nd place with an awesome 50:03 (Walsall RC club record) for an amazing 2nd place. Dave Hilton also shattered his PB with a 51 dead (not sure but I suspect this is also a Southport CC club record). Boys – I am very, very proud and very very envious!!!

Charlotte Wadsworth also produced yet another PB for the season with a rapid 56:57

A brill ride be Neil Hercberg in his first ever 100 on Saturday. In the North Lancs Time Trial Association event around the picturesque Bassenthwaite lake on a tough course against and ever rising wind Neil cracked his pre season goal of a sub 5 hours ride with a hard fought 4:58:58 on a day when many riders packed. More experienced at this distance Matt Stell turned in an excellent 4 hour 15 ride for 5th overall. Good rides boys.

In the Otley CC 50 on Sunday on a rainy morning the in form Nige Goscinski clocked an excellent 1:52:42 – course PB. Ride of the day though went to Mike Schofield. Last week was his first ever 25 and he just failed to go under the hour. Well he made up for it this week by doing it twice consecutively to clock 1:57:54 in his first ever 50, in only his 5th ever TT on a road bike with clip on bars. Fantastic!

20/06/09 – Excellent rides by Jane Kilmartin and Charlotte Wadsworth in the national 50 to take 7th and 12th place with a 2:05:18 and a 2:12:06 respectively.

In the men’s competition Derek Parkinson improved on his 30th place last year to take 17th spot this year in a quality field on a tough course on a tough day with a brilliantly paced 1:52:23.

Scott Westwood felt like he was riding through treacle as he got passed by rider after rider. He just couldn’t fathom what was going on because he’s been going so well. He eventually clocked 2:03 which in that course isn’t actually that bad a ride. In fact it was a very good ride because on getting back to the HQ he discovered his back brakes had been partially on for the entire event! Well done Scott – for sheer muppetry I’m pretty hard to beat but this comes close – quality!

Dave Jones has had a good week. After 2 years of trying he finally got his 21 in the West Cheshire TTA 10 on Tuesday night on the Pulford course with a cracking 21:37! We need to get you onto the V718 this year Dave because that’s worth a mid 20 on there for sure.

Plenty of other PB rides this weekend too:

1.       In his first ever crack at the distance Mike Schofield clocked 1:00:05 in the Vets National 25 in Yorkshire to miss sub hour by just a few seconds in his first ever attempt!

2.       Paul Greenhalgh clocked a course PB 21:13 for an excellent 10th place in the Kent Valley RC 10 on Levens on Saturday evening

3.       Bill Dallas took 3 minutes out of his pre 2009 25 mile PB to clock an awesome 55:18 in the Scottish National 25

4.       Best till last Phil Shaw went sub hour and PB’d in the Kent Valley 25 on Sunday with a 59:21. Phil’s been on a bit of a plateau for a couple of months but kept focused on the job and between us we’ve broken through at last. Well done Phil – rider of the week!

15/06/09 – Loads of cracking rides this weekend! Starting with the one I rode Paul Greenhalgh further cemented his reputation as a high finisher on tougher sporting courses with an excellent 5th place with 57:07 in the Janus 25 on the tough J2/9 course. His 57:07 on a warm but breezey day was his 2nd fastest ever on there. Dave Jones also scored a very short 58 which is his 2nd fastest ever 25, his PB of a 57 minute ride previously set on a fast DC course which J2/9 is not!

Two heroic PBs in the BDCA 100 on Saturday. Si Beldon was elated with his super fast 3:47:39 as was Gav Hinxman slashing a massive 10 minutes off his previous best with a superbly paced 4:02:01

Also in PB form on Saturday was Charlotte Wadsworth with a cracking 58:25 in the Sherwood CC 25 and Neil Herceberg with a PB of 2:21:37 in the VC Cumbria 50 taking the best part of 3 minutes off his previous PB set in 2005.

Chris Anderson has been waiting a while for his first win of 2009 and got it with a cracking display in the West Pennine CC sporting 25 on Sunday. His 58:29 giving him the verdict by half a minute. Phil Shaw cam home with a 1:01:49 for joint 12th place and a smashing of his previous best for this course.

08/06/09 – Julius Jennings completed a fine week on Sunday winning the Truro 25 by over a minute from team mate Karl Hodson with an excellent 54:08. This was after coming second to Sean Childs 20:27 with a near PB 20:43 on Tuesday evening in the Tamar 10.

Derek Parkinson racked up a convincing win in the Lancaster CC 10, to get back to winning ways after a mini drought on a windy night on Levens on Saturday. Derek made light of the very strong headwind on the return leg to come home with an excellent 20:23 to give him a convincing winning margin over Richard Handley and myself who tied for 2nd place with 20:42. Scott Westwood came home for an excellent 5th place with 21:12. Other Morganite times; Paul Greenhalgh 22:00, Chris Anderson 22:03, Roger Wrenn 22:45, Phil Shaw 23:13.

Well done to Jane Kilmartin and Charlotte Wadsworth who made the long trip to Norfolk for the national 25. Jane cracked the top 10 with a 1:00:04 and Charlotte cracked top 20 with 1:01:56. Well done too to Matt Stell who got an excellent 2nd place in the Preston Wheelers open 50 on Sunday. Results are on the CTT website.

01/06/09 – Previewing the course to be used for the National 50 Scott Westwood turned in his second fastest 50 ever on a very hot and breezey Saturday to clock a 1:52:50 for a good high finish in the VTTA event on the J5/12 in Cheshire. Also with his second fastest ever 50 was Rob Kilby with a highly creditable 2:03.

Mixed fortunes in the Lea Valley 50 also on the Saturday. Gav Hinxman punctured when going well after 20 minutes and Derek Parkinson went off course after about 45 miles and they had to send the search and rescue teams out to relocate him. The sun must have gone to his head. Being from Lancashire he’s not that used to it. Simon Beldon faded in the heat in the second half but gritted his teeth and hung in there for a very good 1:53:08. Pick of the bunch though was Charlotte Wadsworth with a PB tastic 2:01:18 despite an incident with her camelbak and a lot of hot, sticky enduro load all over her and the bike! A superbly paced ride and another PB to go with this season’s collection.

Rider of the week though goes to Adrian Pengelly with a 55:16 PB in the Ogmore Wheelers 25. Adrian has been in a bad run of form but has worked hard on his focus to dig his way out of it. Onwards and upwards now boss!

26/05/09 – If you’re going to do a 100 mile TT for the 1st time its generally a good idea to pick a nice flat drag strip. Dave Jones would have non of that though choosing the mighty Anfield 100 on bank holiday Monday for his first crack. An brilliantly paced effort saw him come home in 4;11 which would be sub 4 hours on a half decent course. Bloody superb Dave – proud of you mate!

25/05/09 Morganites were out in force in the national 10 mile TT in Berkshire on Sunday. The men’s evens saw what was probably the strongest field ever, with a cut off entry time of a short 21. Derek and me tied for 23rd place from 137 finishers with 21:19. Next in with 67th place was Scott Westwood with a 22:05, then Paul Greenhalgh with a 22:12 to take 79th spot and finally Phil Clarke came in 104th with a highly respectable 22:41. A beautiful hot, sunny day and a very challenging course – excellent rides by all of us on the day. We all came away happy – except Derek for not quite beating that Morgan donkey! Full results / reports on the CTT website.

In the woman’s event Jane Kilmartin and Charlotte Wadsworth didn’t let the side down either with 23:49 and 24:45 for 15th and 26th place respectively from 76 finishers in a very strong field.

Julius Jennings is in winning form again winning the camel valley 10 on Sunday by close to a minute. His time of 20:59 was also a course record – superb ride! Bill Dallas is in electric form too clocking up yet another PB of 57:53 in the Deeside Thistle 25. Also in PB form in the same event was Colin Allanach with a 1:07:09. Colin’s work life has gone a bit hectic over the last month so this PB is a good boost. He has had to train as and when he can, sometimes very, very late in the evening when many of us are tucked up in bed. Well done Col

20/05/09 – Good ride by Julius Jennings last night in the Exeter wheelers 25. He was 3rd with a 54:20 but pipped to the post by 2nd and 3rd with just 3 seconds difference covering the top 3 times. I said you should have shaved your eye brows boss!

18/05/09 – Paul Greenhalgh is turning into a bit of a star of the season. On Saturday he finished 2nd to Charles McChulloch in he ABC centreville 10 on the tough J2/1 course in Cheshire with a cracking 22:01. He was aiming for a first ever 21 minute ride on these roads but considering the horrendously windy conditions I think we can let him off. Congrats Paul you beat some really good riders and being 2nd to the mighty Chas is as good as a win in my book. Full results here.

Some other very good rides done on a very windy and wet weekend. Simon Beldon produced a very pleasing 1:54:30 50 in the Stockton Wheelers event even though the wind appeared to turn at the roundabout so he had a permanent headwind. That’s Yorkshire for you! Gav Hinxman also did a very god ride in the team swift 50 on the Saturday in his first venture at the longer distances for a while with a more that respectable 2:02:00. Richard Hey and Charlotte Wadsworth also turned in good rides in the wind in the team swift 25 in Yorkshire with a 57:24 and a 62 minute ride respectively.

Pick of the weekend though was Bill Dallas’s ride in the Scottish national 10. On a tough day when just 2 riders got under 21 minutes Bill scored a PB with a 23:02 to come 33rd from 94 of the best riders in Scotland. Cracking ride Bill!

12/05/09 – Some superb rides were done this weekend by the Morganites. Here are the pick of the best.

In the Cleveleys RC 10 on a windy Saturday evening Scott Westwood came 4th with a cracking 20:59. His chain came off just 200 yards before the line and the time keepers had to smile as he calmly and slowly free wheeled over and gave his number without pausing for breath! Scott was only 8 seconds off the highly respected Carlos Riise who took 3rd place. Great ride Scott – you’ve come on a hell of a lot this year. Derek P did not get a chance to challenge the imperious Mark Holton who won with a stunning 19:46 (a near 1 minute beating of the field) because he was in bed lurgified. Rest up for the national 10 Derek and get well soon.

Sunday saw a much better day weather wise and 2 cracking PBs. The fist was done by Richard Hey on the Yorkshire VTTA 30 (open to all ages) with a 1:08:52 for 10th place overall. This was 4 seconds quicker than his previous best set in 2004 when he was a mere boy of 42. Like a fine wine he is getting better with age!

Dave Jones bagged a PB too over 50 miles with a 1:59:56 to crack a season’s aim of a sub 2 hour 50. This was a perfectly paced, smooth effort done in the mid Shropshire wheelers 50 on the D50/3R – If you know Shropshire you’ll know that those roads aint quick!

Julius Jennings took a fine 2nd place in the St Austell Wheelers 25 with a 54:37. It took a rampaging Sean Childs to stop him with an event record 52:30. No shame in being 2nd to than man boss.

Without a doubt rider of the week goes to Pat Herberg for her ride in the Fred Whitton sportive which I reckon is the hardest in the country, taking in hills that are actually huge vertical walls in disguise. Her target was sub 8 and a half hours. In the end she had to settle for 8:56 (though actual riding time was 8:29 minus feed stops) but by god did she work for that. The effort put in was so severe that she can now hardly walk and post ride she broke down in tears. Those brutal climbs and not managing to get into any useful groups did for her but what an awesome effort to break 9 hours and by all accounts she was descending like a demon – not easy on those treacherous descents. You pushed your body and mind to hell and beyond Pat – respect due – get your feet up!

04/05/09 – This weekend’s races were overshadowed by the tragic loss of Gareth “Griff” Evans in the Icknield 25 on Sunday after a collision with a car. I coached Griff last year before his work in the army took him over seas to Germany. You were a wonderful bloke Griff and I feel honoured to have known you, you’re going to be sadly missed. Our thoughts all go out to your wife and children.

27/04/09 – “Who’s Paul Greenhalgh?” This was the question being asked my many as they stood around the result board after the Wigan wheelers 10 on Saturday in Garstang. Many an ego took a battering as Paul smashed a huge chunk of time of his course PB to take 4th place with a cracking 21:36 on a tough day too. That Derek Parkinson character won with an impressive 20:57 after a bit of a rushed warm up due to family commitments with Robbie Brennan and Richard Handley providing a high class filling to the Morganite sandwich with a 21:21 and a 21:24 respectively. Full result here

Chris and Lynsey Anderson both turned out course PBs in the Wigan Wheelers 30 on the next morning with a 1:12:28 and a 1:21:07 respectively with Lynsey’s time good enough for fastest lady on the day after a one on one duel with Phoebe Potts half way round. Phil Shaw also came home with a highly creditable 1:16:27. They all did considerably better than me as I didn’t even make the start line after 2 punctures in my warm up – one at the hands of a drawing pin and one at the hands of a delaminating disc wheel. Expensive day at the orrifce for coach! Full results here.

Despite having no disc wheel due to previous equipment woes Julius Jennings was still good enough with his training wheel to clock up yet another win in the Plymouth CC 10 with a 22:20 on a tough old course. Full result here

This week’s ride of the week though cropped up in the Otley CC 10. Si Beldon and Nige Goscinski both turned in good rides for 22:21 and 22:53 respectively. These lads are dyedd in the wool testers though don’t forget. Richard Schofield or Mike as he is known to everyone who isn’t the writer of the Otley CC results sheet most definitely isn’t. He’s only been riding a bike full stop for about 18 months after coming from a running back ground. He’s ridden a handful of sportives before but this was only his 3rd TT. So far he’s done a vets 10, and the Glossop Kinnder Hilly where he came a creditable 12th. He rode this with a road bike with clip on bars so we can safely say he’s still learning; which makes his 22:32 bloody impressive. We started working together at the end of last year. Partly Mike came to me because he wanted to discover which discipline he was best at with my help. I think we may have found it Mike. Hurry up and get that pop up page sorted will you so I can take some credit for discovering the soon to be great Mike Schofield!! Full results here

24/04/09 – Well done to Louise Eden on her fine 51st place in the UCI registered tour of Chongming in China – just being there was amazing enough but finishing the race and finishing so well is amazing – fantastic stuff. A short report in Lou’s own words can be found here

20/04/09 – Fine rides by the Morganite massive on a very sunny weekend. Here are some of the highlights;

Scott Westwood is turning into a rather fast time triallist these days – he’d better get himself a nice suit for the club dinners he’ll be attending this winter. On Saturday in the BDCA 25 on the A25/11 he sliced 30 secs of his PB for an impressive 52:18 for 7th place overall in a very, very classy field. He then went out the next day and won a club 50 in 1:55 on a course where sub 2 hours is a rarity.

Some fine rides done in the ACME wheelers 25 on Sunday. Gav Hinxman and Ade Pengelley both turned in excellent well paced efforts for a 55:58 and a 56:33 respectively. Pick of the day though was Charlotte Wadsworth with a cracking PB tastic 58:41!! Watch out in the nationals this year ladies because Cha’s coming to get ya! Also on Saturday Phil Shaw was in blacking out and tasting blood territory in the Bolton Clarion 10 on the tough L101 course with a 23:21 and a massive course PB – well done Phil.

Sunday also saw Gold rider Dominic Munnelly take the field apart in the Teesdale Mountain TT – Dom was often stinging a bit from his lowly (for him) 3rd place in the last Rudy Project round – someone was always going to get the backlash. Results here

Rider of the week though goes to Paul Greenhalgh. He clocked 56:43 for joint 5th place in the M&DTTA 25 on Saturday in a high class field that was won by Chris Newtwon no less with a 52 minute ride. Paul’s previous all time best on this course, which he has ridden many, many times was a 57:57 – that’s some beating. You couldn’t meet a nicer, more unassuming bloke that Paul and through his hard efforts this winter he’s finally getting close to the level that he’s happy at. For now anyway – next year will be a different story!

13/04/09 – There were a few events within an event on the super fast V718 course in Yorkshire on Good Friday promoted by the Hull City RC and Morganites did well in all of them. The veterans event was won by the indomitable Wayne Randle in a rapid 18:58. Dave Hilton took 7th with a fine 20:15 and Richard Hey also weighed in with the 2nd 20 of his cycling career with an excellent 20:51. Phil Clarke, Nige Goscinski and Rich Hembrough also weighed in with 21 minute rides. Full results here

Winning the seniors event with a PB and club record was the ever reliable Derek Parkinson with a superb 19:12 which I’m very envious of indeed! When you’re as fast as Derek PBs get harder and harder to come by which is why this is without doubt a rider of the week performance. Full results here

There was another event within an event too which was the “old skool” TT series promoted by Ian Cammish. Gav Hinxman clocked a superb 22:46 on a bog standard road bike with not a bit of aero jiggery pokery to be seen anywhere. This got him 4th place on the day and a sack full of prizes for his efforts.

06/04/09 – Events on the Levens course in Cumbria always attract top class, over subscribed fields and Saturday’s offering by the Barrow Central Wheelers was no exception. I’m pleased to say that “Morganites’’ where at the head of proceedings. Derek Parkinson made light work of the cold, windy conditions to cruise home overall winner in 20:19 with a resurgent Dave Hilton making the podium with 21:19 for 3rd. A class ride by Charlotte Wadsworth saw her come home as fastest lady with a powerful, well paced 23:47. Paul Greenhalgh has worked like a Trojan on all aspects of his fitness over the winter and its now starting to show. His excellent 22:04 good enough to take many scalps that he’s never had before. Other Morganites in action all with good rides where Pat and Neil Hercberg and Chris and Lynsey Anderson. Full results here

In Yorkshire on Saturday there was a VTTA 10 mile TT event in on the V718 course solely for people called Richard, who were over the age of 40 and Yorkshire men. Such is the broad range of riders in the Morganite stable we were able to field two such candidates of Rich Hembrough with a 22:36 and Richard Hey clocking an excellent 22:25, despite having a cold for 9th place overall. Two very good rides on a tough day. Winner was Stuart Walker with a 21:01. Naturally I will be writing to the organiser with a complaint as to his entry credentials.

North of the border on Sunday, despite coming on the back of a heavy training week and cold, blustery conditions (it always is up there isn’t it) Bill Dallas clocked a course PB of 23:42 to take joint 5th place in the Bob Souter Memorial 10.

Rider of the week though goes to Phil Shaw with a 2:25:42 for 45th place from 99 finishers in the epic circuit of the Dales on Sunday. Its long been an ambition of Phil’s to ride this epic. Its been hanging over him like a bit of an albatross for a few months now but he’s finally put it to bed with an excellent ride. Despite a hard demanding job and being a family man he’s grafted really hard in the time he has available to train and finished up with an effort we’re both proud of. Sub 2 hours in a ‘’normal’’ 50 will hold no fears now Phil!

30/03/09 – A very mixed bag weather wise this weekend with a howling winds on the Saturday and a nice calm day on the Sunday. Simon Beldon took an excellent 5th place in the Harrogate Nova hilly in extremely windy conditions with a smooth, well controlled ride to clock 1:01:11. With an equally smooth, well controlled ride was Nigel Goscinski with a 1:04:34, however due to being a pocket rocket he suffered more than most in the windy conditions – more pies required Nige! Also in action on Saturday was Paul Greenhalgh with a 24:12 in the horrendous J2/3 course in the M&DTTA 10 in Cheshire in very tough conditions. Pre season goal was a long 22 on here which it would have been with a bit more help from the weather gods. An excellent ride though and only about 20 seconds down on the likes of local fast men Pete Ware and Dave Crawley.

Chris Anderson took a very good 9th place in the West Pennine Spoco with a 37:44, now in sight of the likes of Jimmy Wright and Adrian Lawrence – he still needs to squint a bit but they are now definitely in sight! He backed this up with an excellent 5th place the next day in the Border City Wheelers 25.

The unstoppable Julius Jennings took win number 3 in the Exeter Wheelers hilly TT on Sunday covering the hilly 17 miles in 35.36 for a cheeky 3 second win from team mate Karl Hodson. Also in hilly action was Steve Robinson with 50:48 compared to his 53:39. Over this kind of distance Steve is consistently about 1mph faster than last year which is quite amazing bearing in mind his limited time available to train.

Adrian Pengelly started his campaign with a 22:28 in a windy, blustery Sotonia CC 10. I believe and Adrian’s ride may only have been good enough for top 20 in a hotly contested competition. However we both know that this time last year that 22 would have been a mid 23, which is why Adrian gets rider of the week – much more to come. Special mention has to go to 3rd place rider in this event for having such and amazing name ‘’Edward Charlton-Weedy’’ – cool!

23/03/09 Morganites were out in force in the Lancashire RC 10 on Levens on Saturday and there were some superb rides done. It was a half decent day but unlike the bike radar report it was pretty fresh and the cross winds made the course about 30 seconds slower than it would have been on a float day. Fastest morganite was Derek with a 20:09 which was an excellent performance and good enough for 4th in a very good field. Second fastest was Scott Westwood with what I rate as the best 10 he has ever done with a superb 20:52 for 8th place overall, just 10 seconds off an all time PB. Scott could taste blood by the end of the event which is the mark of a very good tester along with vomiting and blacking out – often before the event even starts! Paul Greenhalgh looked lean and mean after a winter of consistent training and getting his weight down, and a 22:11 for his first outing was not to be sniffed at. Despite missing the turn and having to double back on him self Bill Dallas scored a cracking mid 21 which was the thick end of 2 minutes quicker than the last time he rode here 2 years ago. The girls were in excellent form too with a storming 22:50 from Charlotte Wadsworth backed up with an excellent 23:31 from Lynsey Anderson. Some clown called Morgan scraped 3rd place with a 20:05 and along with Morganite Matt Stell with a 22:06 and bessy mate Paul Fleming, back in good nick with a 21:01 we took the team prize for the mighty Preston Wheelers.

We were all put in the shade though by an awesome 19:33 from former junior national pursuit champ and current GB rider Andy Tennant with an awesome 19:33 and 2nd spot went to equally impressive Pinarello pro Pete Williams with a fine 19:50. Bike radar report here (this also includes details of Dom Munnelly’s weekend races and Richard Hey’s superb 10th spot on the tough J2/9 course in

 

style='font-size: 7.5pt;font-family:Verdana'> for in the Coventry CC 10 on Saturday was good enough for 2nd place just 4 seconds off the great Richard Bradley. In the process he took a couple of really big name scalps; Pete Balls and Jon Simpkins. The next day he was 6th in the Ogmore 25 with a 52:32 on a day when moat riders went back 4 minutes on what they would under float conditions.

26/04/10 – I had a close call on Saturday in the Cleveleys CRC 10 on the fast Levens course. Despite the 4 hour hilly rides I had prescribed for him every single day from Monday to Friday Scott Westwood still managed a PB 19:45 to come within 2 seconds of taking the win in front of me. 3rd place was 40 seconds back. Really good work Scott and well done for the PB and everything but you’re getting a bit close for comfort now. Paul Greenhalgh also did a very good ride with a 20:49 for 8th place - - his 3rd fastest ever 10! James Heaton is also starting to look a bit handy taking 2nd place in the Warwickshire RC 10 just 20 secs down on the mighty Scott Povey. Looking good boss man!

19/04/10 – Despite a being below par after a lurgy riddles week Derek Parkinson clocked a rapid 50:58 in the BDCA 25 on Etwall on Saturday and also recorded a power