So, after misfortune at Duncan Murray, I was keen to get a good race in. Ellie had found the National Emergency Service race on British cycling which wasn’t very far away in both distance and time frame. This involved racing for not only the overall Blue Light Service win but also individually to the service you’re a part of.
The field of riders was made up of CAT 2,3,4 and near to fifty riders, with only ten representing the Fire and Rescue Service.
The course was a rolling route with one hot and steady slog up hill to be done in the big chain ring. We had six laps to complete and in all I felt comfortable with it.
The pace at the start matched the days temperature…. it was hot from the flag drop. I have to admit I got a little excited and got stuck into things straight away chasing and trying to make a break for it all in the first eight miles.
Now with that out my system it was time to start racing, the field of riders soon dropped to around twenty-five and coming into the last lap there was only fourteen of us.
A rider from Fire and Rescue had perfectly timed a sneak off the front at the start of the third lap, which we all forgot about and he took the overall win, cracking solo win from him.
Coming into the finish somehow, I had everyone sat on my wheel…fiddle sticks, this was not where I really wanted to be I have to admit though I kept my head down and had my eyes buried into the back of a rider up the road from us. I just managed to catch him in the sprint as some of the riders on my wheel used me as a perfect lead out train… oh fiddle sticks came to mind again!
I came 9th overall and 3rd from Fire and Rescue.
I shan’t lie I was disappointed with my 3rdplacing, I really wanted the individual win for Fire and Rescue, though that has given me a target for next year.
Despite that disappointment I thoroughly enjoyed the racing, getting a top ten overall and being one of the few riders who finished in those hot conditions topped my day off.
Chris Orfeur
Photos were taken by Kevin Borg the event photographer.
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