The forces of Mother Nature conspired against us for the rescheduled 2016 Club Road Race Championships on Saturday afternoon. Two weeks ago it was torrential rain, this time there was no hint of rain but strong gusting winds blew a tree over on the course just 7km from the start.

Up to that point it had already been an exciting race with plenty of action. Dave, Sam and Hugh Munday tore off the line in the mass-start event with Rob Hale being the only rider to get onto their wheels. It was full gas all the way on the Munday express and the group had managed to pull out a 28s lead by the 7km point (thanks Strava Flyby). With sticks and tree branches littering the road there were plenty of shouts, “stick, branch, stick, branch, TREE!”. Clearly the adrenaline was flowing as without stopping to think, all four riders dismounted, scrambled over the tree, remounted and charged off up to the turn – eat your heart out Sven Nys!

The bunch had split behind them and when the first group came round the corner they could only see the tree and four riders half-way up the road ahead so assumed the tree had come down in the last few seconds. Josh made a half-hearted attempt to climb over and continue the chase but by then the wise heads had worked out there wouldn’t be any more racing today.

While everyone headed back to the start/finish area for a BBQ and a welcome cold drink, Ray, Bob, Wilko and the Munday Express riders rolled back down from the other direction, dragged the offending tree off the road and got out of the way before another came down.

Thanks especially to Bullo, Ray, Wilko, Bob, Kenny, Dave McMillan and everyone else who helped out on the day and many thanks to all the riders for trying to race the championships for the second time. It’s already been agreed that the next attempt will be next Saturday (12th November), same time, same location. Hopefully third time lucky.