St Ives CC Press Report 28th Sept 2009
St Ives Cycling Club members, Steve Halsall, Greg Simcock and John Batchelor took part in the toughest race of the year. The 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross Race tackles the climbs of Ingleboorough, Whernside and Pen-Y-Gent in the Yorkshire Dales and is widely renowned to push all the participants to their limits, appealing to both the fell running community and the cycle racing clubs alike.
Steve Halsall was tackling the event for the second time and used his experience from last year to improve on his performance. Finishing in an impressive 27th place from 500 starters in a time of 3 hours 27 minutes, Halsall beat his last years time by 9 minutes.
After a neutralized race start the riders leave Helwith Bridge and ride out on the closed roads through the picture postcard village of Horton in Ribblesdale, before leaving the road to tackle the first of the three climbs, Ingleborough at 723m. The off-road ascent treks straight across open moorland and the gradient feels near vertical in the steepest sections. Riders carry their bikes on their shoulders whilst using their other hand to assist with the climbing. Once clear of the heather and peat bogs the riders prefer the rockier surfaces, although just as steep, the terrain begins to feel easier for the 3 St Ives team mates.
Continuing on to the highest summit of the day, Whernside at 736m, the riders don't have an opportunity to look up at the spectacular views down the Ribblehead viaduct.
As fatigue sets in, the last climb of Pen-Y-Gent at 690m is a worrying prospect. The rocky tracks punish any rider who loses concentration, with many people suffering punctures or damage to their machines. Front running competitors have spare bikes stationed at the foot of every climb but the intrepid St Ives team had to survive without such luxury.
Following Halsall home was Greg Simcock, a rider with many years experience of the 3 Peaks, finishing in a time of 3hours 55minutes in a very respectable 88th place.
John Batchelor, tackling the hills for the 3rd year finished much further down in 236th place in a time of 4 hours 29 minutes. Despite finishing in the midfield position Batchelor improved on his previous attempts time by 15 minutes.
Local interest was also catered for by Gavin Symonds, although currently living in Godmanchester, Symonds grew up in the Dales and felt immediately at home in the baron hills. He finished in a very creditable 165th place in a time of 4 hours 13 minutes on his first attempt at the race.
