Race Report - Dave Peck Memorial RR

It was always going to be a big ask to win the Dave Peck Memorial RR two years in a row but it holds a very special place in my heart.  Luckily, with the fantastic team that we have, Team MuleBar Girl and the new brand partnership with Sigma Sport - chances on Sunday at the second round of the Women’s Team Series in Surrey looked good.

Dave was the chairman of my club, Twickenham CC, and along with being a generally great guy was also instrumental in encouraging me and others in the club to race.  The race was run in his honour by Lisa West and for the second year in a row you couldn’t fault it – Dave even seemed to organise the perfect weather for us.

 The pace was high from the get go.  Matrix Fitness were on a mission lining it out on the front and it wasn’t long before attacks were going up the road.  After a few laps of the Valley End circuit one stuck with our Clem Copie right inside the action.  Joined by Hannah Barnes (MG Maxi Fuel Pro Cycling), Amy Gornall (Scott Contessa Epic), Maryka Sennema (Surrey League) and Lydia Boylan (Team CTC) it had all the makings of a winning break.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be and eagle eyed Lou spotting Clem returning to the peleton launched a perfect counter attack waking the bunch up as we approached the five laps of the Staple Hill circuit.  Rumour has it the average speed for the first seven laps had been 32 miles an hour!

 The bunch was relentless and chased Lou back and so onto the hills of Chobham Common for the second half of the race.  The hill and the wind were bigger challenges over there but I managed to instigate the next break through attacking the first time up the climb.  I was in good company with the likes of Karla Boddy (MG Maxi Fuel Pro Cycling), Corrine Hall (Matrix Fitness), Alice Barnes (Scot Contessa Epic), Emily Bagnall (WyndyMilla) and Alexie Shaw (Les Filles RT) and by the bell lap we had built up a lead of nearly three minutes with Lou and Clem doing an amazing job of holding back any advances.

My aim was to break the group up further through attacking again up the climb but with the block headwind at the top it wasn’t to be so we came to the final hill together.  I went for a long one at 500m to go but Alice, with an amazing turn of speed flew past me to take the win leaving Corrine and I to battle it out with her coming across the line about half a bike in front.

Both Corrine and I were Twickenham members so it was nice to have both of us on the podium and I’ve never been that much of a sprinter before so was happy to hold my own with the group of girls who are usually known for their sprinting.  Thanks so much to TCC for another fantastic race.  Here’s to the next round…

Love Nat xxx