SATURDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2011
Whilst it is generally frowned upon to "blow ones own trumpet", if it is a Clarion trumpet then I suspect it is acceptable.
A rush of blood and the chance to sport the Bolton Clarion colours in a National Championship found me standing in the middle of the Manchester Velodrome amidst Clarion riders from sections from around the country - including West Lothian, Fenland (Ian Clarke), Nottingham, Sunderland and Saddleworth, as well as our friends from North Cheshire (Giles Perkins), Bury (Nick Hall, Bob Duckworth & John Yates) and Crewe (Paul Morphet.)
As a fledgling rider of the track, my expectations were modest. Get round my 4 events without causing a crash or being lapped more than once I would be happy! Fortunately neither occurred, but nothing could have prepared me for the agony of the 2km Individual Pursuit.
As a Group B rider I thought I would avoid the "old pro's" as well as Rebecca Romero, I ended up drawing Giles Perkins of North Cheshire Clarion whom I had met up with for the first time a few weeks ago at the Lymm "1929" photo gathering - a very nice fellow I thought - until he passed me 2 and a half laps into the 8 of my 2km!
A special thanks goes to John Yates of Bury Clarion for his "on the start line" advice, support (in more ways than one!) and vocal encouragement as I circumvented the track for 8 laps (most of which I was oblivious to!)
Once the lightheaded episode had gone and my legs began to feel like they were still attached to the rest of my body, the pleasant realisation of "having a go" soon began to take hold . 8th overall in the Group B riders and 6th in the Group B Clarion riders - put me down for next year? Yes please.
Not sure whether I should have let Nick Hall from Bury Clarion encourage me to enter the Lancashire RC Hill Climb up The Rake in October though!
Report by David Hardman
