Monday 15 September 2008

1st race of the NW season

The Scorton Scramble was the season closer back in January of this year and was accepted by most as the muddiest and hardest of the year. Back for 2008-2009 and featuring the same course, it did not disappoint, being only marginally less muddy but probably stickier than earlier on this year. Sunshine and warm conditions were welcome and the cancellation of the Yorkshire points Silcoates Scramble and the looming National Trophy next week led to a large influx of 'foreign' riders. Non NW raiders Stuart Wearmouth and Matt Denby sandwiched unsung star Lewis Craven into second place this time, only 20 secs or so down in a field of 73 starters.

J rode his first under 12 race of the season too and coped admirably with conditions so heavy that he could not physically push his (mountain) bike through the clag and maintain forward momentum in some places. A cross bike would seem in order for his birthday.......

My own race..........urm, well it didn't materialise as a gamble with the domestic arrangements for the race saw J unwilling to hang out in a field with a bunch of strangers while his dad rode round for an hour becoming increasingly unrecognisable as the race wore on. Seeing him sat on his own behind the start/finish tent looking totally lost and lonely was too much for even a cross obsessed Dad to bear and the only course of action was to bail out before even taking the start. Gutted, though at least his medal for top U-8 finisher made his and my day. That three part teeter totter (family/bike racing/work) that Greg Kellor http://www.mudandcowbells.blogspot.com/ talks about just didn't come off for me today. At least there is next week to come......

2 comments:

Dave Haygarth said...

That story brought a tear to my eye - what alovely Dad. I'm right there with you in the hoping above hope that it might work out to take your children along and hope they can entertain themselves but in your heart of hears I guess you knew it was a longshot. You're a better man for it!

crossjunkie said...

There were tears in my eyes too I can tell you!