Again very much a story of mixed fortunes for the 8 Thanet RC riders that travelled up to Redbridge (Hog Hill) today for the Lee Valley youth winter series round 2. The racing attracted a very large list of entries in the youth and junior races. Weather had been very wet and this always causes puncture problems at HH. In all 3 races there were a total of 32 punctures in total !! Lucky they brought back the lap out rule before 4 laps to go!! The first race was the under 14s. Jack Hill had a mechanical on the first time up the hoggenberg climb and found it hard to get back in the race but fought very hard. Flynn stayed in the main group for 3 laps before losing touch for 18th. Lance Childs rode a very strong race staying with the leading group until the sprint finish up the hill to come in 12th even better as he rode with a flat tyre on the last lap! In the Under 16 race Josh Chivilo luck again was lacking as when in with the leaders suffered a puncture on the furthest position from the pits and was never able to get back in the bunch. George Pittock continued his good form with 8th place of 30ish riders to gain BC points. In the junior race we had half the junior race team out with George Bussey starting his first junior race and riding strongly before again getting the dreaded puncture. Alex Ashman again punctured late on to take a creditable mid placing. Ollie Robinson was another puncture sufferer on the 2nd lap just as a break of 2 went. He took a lap out to change wheel and then rode extremely strongly for a fine 3rd im field of 25ish. Well done everyone on a tough HH day.
Post by Colin Robinson.