With the season hurtling towards the finale quicker than a Phoenix rider down the G10/42 on a Wednesday evening, the club’s racers have been performing impressively over the last few weeks.
On August 16, the hills were alive with the sound of panting and moaning as the club Hill Climb saw Dale Lush collect a well-earnt seven points as he took the top spot, equalling Alex Dowsett’s Strava time on the Ranmore Hill segment in the process. Horace White posted an impressive time on his debut, though his delayed appearance at the Stepping Stones pub for post ride refreshments, led to rumours that Horace actually went back and rode the course a second time!
The Hilly 12 event is always keenly contested – and a whopping 23 riders turned out on the start line – proving that the prospect of a post-ride early-start in Wetherspoons is all the motivation needed for a full turn out. Dale was first back to the bar overcoming Gary Dodd in one of the most eagerly awaited shoot-outs in the Phoenix. Paul Davey was next in the chair claiming the third spot with his second of two impressive TT’s this season. Many ARR’s were broken – briefly set and re-broken on that day with Paul Davey, Gary and Jake Dodd completing the hat trick of ARR’s. Dale, Neil Lynagh, Adrian Feasby and Patrick Ryan all gained PB’s on an overcast day before the rain finally arrived as last orders were being called.
Dale and Suzanne Shaw raced the F11/10 and Dale posted a Phoenix 10 mile record with a staggering time of 19:45. This is a remarkable achievement on a course that is overly marshalled (rumours are that 11 riders were DQ’d on a minor technicality). It’s a notable achievement to break the 20 minute mark and my understanding is that no Phoenix rider has accomplished this feat – so a huge chapeau for that accomplishment.
The threat of roadworks led to the following day’s second SCCU 25 of the season taking place on a new – improvised course that wouldn’t have been out of place had the word ‘sporting’ been applied to it. Only eight of the fifty or so riders managed to complete the course in less than one hour, among them our own Dale – who at 56:31 came home in sixth place – not bad given his previous day’s exploits. This event had a strong Phoenix representation – contributing nine riders to the field. Suzanne Shaw was the first of our three women with a time of 1:11:07 and Jake collected the award for Best CTT + lady. Simon Trehearn suffered a mechanical – sorry an electrical – and had to ride the course in the lower chain ring – setting his stall out for his defence of the Medium Gear Brass Monkey trophy 2019.
There is still a lot of racing to come with the Consolation 25 and the rescheduled Kingston to Worthing listed before the season draws to an end. Both points tables are still neck and neck With Simon T heading up the scratch and Mike Morley posing an ever intimidating threat at second place in the Handicap.
There is also the matter of Frank’s 50 on Sunday 9th September where in true Phoenix style we will set the bar for event organisation and put on a fitting tribute to our friend and club stalwart Frank Cubis. It is rumoured that the quality of the post-ride refreshments and cakes on offer will have Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood putting their names on the start line for the Phoenix Open 10 next year and I am looking forward to catching up with everyone on Sunday.
