Sunday saw our annual encounter with the South Eastern Road Club, an event that started in 1926. If you are interested you can see our shared history by clicking here.
Looking at the start sheet for Sunday' event, we outnumbered the SERC by nearly 5:1, a good start for the Eagle.
The changing room was buzzing before the start, the banter and the morale of the club running very high, another good sign.
I was the rabbit, off number one on this overcast but warming day. My first 25 for many, many years. On my warm up I sensed a touch of north in the wind - "that will suit me perfectly" I thought. I didn't care who was behind me, "P.M.A." my mantra for the day.
I reached Stumps still first on the road, greeted with words of encouragement from Glenn and Pierre, at least I think they were words of encouragement. Could I make it to the turn first? My legs were not great. All sorts of burning pains slowing me down. Then out of nowhere a SERC rider caught me, not for one, two or even three minutes, but five! That brought me back to reality.
Coming back along the graveyard I could see how I was doing. There was another SERC rider catching me, a worrying sign. Soon two SERC riders will be leading the race! I managed to hold him off until Audley End. My attitude had deteriorated by then, "only Kia Ora and Quendon" to climb now. As I crested Kia Ora a green flash came by me! Catching me for fourteen minutes it was Damien Foy on his way to a very short 58. Then half way up Quendon James Sale in full Eagle kit. That should take care of those two SERC boys I thought. A final spurt to the line and it was all over - I thought I had just broke evens which turned out to be the case.
| Position | Rider | Time |
| 1 | C Baldwin | 56:28 |
| 2 | D Foy | 58:01 |
| 3 | E Hyde | 1:01:35 |
| 4 | P De Ritter | 1:03:33 |
| 5 | J Sale | 1:03:46 |
| 6 | S Hewins | 1:04:25 |
| 7 | G Masters | 1:04:55 |
| 8 | J Beaufoy | 1:08:39 |
| 9 | M Twitchett | 1:08:57 |
| 10 | O Walker | 1:09:21 |
| 11 | A Walker | 1:10:15 |
| 12 | J Skinner | 1:10:18 |
| 13 | J Lambert | 1:10:44 |
| 14 | C Derrick | 1:11:38 |
| 15 | A Meader | 1:13:04 |
| 16 | M Gibbons | 1:13:44 |
| 17 | S Hodges | 1:15:48 |
| 18 | A Paolino | 1:15:57 |
| 19 | I Eastwood | 1:19:51 |
| 20 | D Wright | 1:19:59 |
| 21 | C Stenning | 1:22:21 |
| 22 | E Hadlow | 1:29:40 |
The team competition is the aggregate time of the four best riders. The eagle had 56:28, 58:01, 1:03:38, and 1:03:46 for a team time of 4:01:53. The SERC had 1:01:35, 1:08:57, 1:09:21, and 1:10:15 for a team time of 4:30:08, resulting in a handsome win for the Eagle.
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