RICKETTS RACES IN THE RAIN AND HAIL
After a series of races having been cancelled due to the weather, most members of the Ely & District Cycling Club - B&T Motor Repairs who had been planning to race at the weekend were denied the opportunity once again, albeit not due to the weather on this occasion. The 50 mile race organised by the E2/50 course had to be cancelled after a road traffic accident on the A11 near Newmarket resulted in one lane being closed off, while the 25 mile race on the B25/8 course further up the A11 near Snetterton had to be cancelled due to a defective level crossing which prevented riders from getting to and from the start and finish safely.
This left Derek Ricketts as the club's sole representative in time trial races this weekend. Ricketts was racing in the North Road CC event on the F14/25 course near Guilden Morden. The event went ahead despite the weather, with Ricketts facing heavy rain punctuated by two hailstorms during the course of his ride. Riding through the rain and hail, Ricketts completed the 25 mile course in a time of 1:02:34, leaving him in 35th place overall with a 51 second course personal best.
The club's MTB contingent was also in action over the weekend, with Mathew Eley and Mikie Burrell taking part in the 3rd round of the HSBC National MTB XC series which was held at Cannock Chase. Eley finished 22nd in the Expert Race, and Burrell 37th in Sport category.