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peterc
Joined: 10 Mar 2004
Posts: 1284
Location: M3 somewhere
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 Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:26 am Subject: |
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| How did you do guys, the weather (if it was like Devon) must have been great, perhaps a bit much even, I'm feeling a bit crispy. |
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Rick
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 5913
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:00 am Subject: |
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Twas a splendid day from the weather point of view. Staffy was back and looking quite strong. Stefano took 3rd in both category races finishing overall 3rd and he was second in the over 16s 5k with a sprint prize. Never quite looking that comfortable on the track though.
Only 53 skaters in total. I say only. Last year I would have been saying a great turn out at 53 this year it's on the low side. Lots of people seem to be going away for the weekend. Most of the Euros team were there. Others showing that perhaps they could have ben included instead.
I went for a 40 minute pootle while all the setting up was going on and found myself running out of grip when not pushing very hard. Got used to the turns and I think I'll race at the Birmingham meet there in 3 weeks. Nice little warm up for Goodwood. I guess that means you'll be seeing me on skates at Tatem....doh, we can't get in due to the "gardening." Oh well not training then. |
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andyman
Joined: 05 Apr 2006
Posts: 1945
Location: Suffolk
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:23 am Subject: |
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| Rick wrote: |
Twas a splendid day from the weather point of view. Staffy was back and looking quite strong. Stefano took 3rd in both category races finishing overall 3rd and he was second in the over 16s 5k with a sprint prize. Never quite looking that comfortable on the track though.
Only 53 skaters in total. I say only. Last year I would have been saying a great turn out at 53 this year it's on the low side. Lots of people seem to be going away for the weekend. Most of the Euros team were there. Others showing that perhaps they could have ben included instead.
I went for a 40 minute pootle while all the setting up was going on and found myself running out of grip when not pushing very hard. Got used to the turns and I think I'll race at the Birmingham meet there in 3 weeks. Nice little warm up for Goodwood. I guess that means you'll be seeing me on skates at Tatem....doh, we can't get in due to the "gardening." Oh well not training then. |
Afraid I have to disagree with that viewpoint. Stef looked VERY comfortable on the track (he actually commented on how much he liked it) what he found difficult, as I think most first time skaters to Bham do, was just how masterful Vinny and Chris were in their tactics against racers who did not have team support. Every race followed the same format, Vinny covered Stef and Chris covered James (and oh how well they did it!) Would have been very nice indeed had James and Stef colluded and the outcome might have been very different.
One other thing that confirms just how comfortable Stef was (unfortunately Rick you might have missed this incident on the end of the back straight) was when he made a break up the inside for the bend. CS saw the break and cut right across to friendly elbow the move, he rapidly found out just how track orientated our Italian friends are as he was bounced back in no uncertain terms - to the cheers of that corner of the track 
Chris looked very impressive indeed on what was his first race back this season, and really deserved his win.
As for the rest of us, Gave was under the weather although did manage some impressive breakaways in the final race  albeit not completing the distance. Fred, after some odd lines in his first race, improved in his second and then did really well in the age race. Sorry don't know where exactly he finished. And me finished 4th in both Cat races against a not too strong field but still pleased with way I skated. As they mixed the vets and 16+ I did my usual fast as I could for the early laps then dropped out to support
Orsi enjoyed the spectacle and was official photographer for the day (now posted in gallery)
One point. The organisers, Ashbourne, announced each skater individually before each race and this really simplified things and looked to cut delays for the starts, something we should consider for all our races.
Great day again, oh and KFC on the way home of course  |
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Rick
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 5913
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:52 am Subject: |
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I did see the incident with Staffy moving across. Thought it quite amusing and the crowd reaction was good too. Came to nothing so didn't mention it. It was a sort of test and a "welcome to our track message"
Thought Steff may have had some grip issues or something as he really didn't look as strong as did at Tatem when I saw him training. Didn't seem to have the acceleration to pull away when he made attacks.
Agreed about Vinnie and Chris. They did a fine job between them.
An interesting thing from my point of view we noticed was in the last race. 5 skaters went off Steff, Vinnie, Staffy and James with Macca on the back. He dropped off but stay in touch by less than half a lap so when the other four slowed down after catching the largish second group be made his way up the bunch and caught them. Then Macca took the lead and made a little break. Then I heard Chris saying to Vinnie is he on the same lap as he didn't seem to think so. Unfortunately for Macca it was only about halfway through the race or it might have been a medal chance but it was a cunning performance with plenty of determination to stay in touch. A great display. |
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Fred_Paris
LSST Chairman
Joined: 11 Mar 2005
Posts: 1415
Location: Ealing Broadway
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:20 am Subject: |
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It was a good day, even if I felt cold all day it looked like it was only me 
It was very interesting to watch the cat 1 races as there were quite a few people out playing, and stephano did well, it looked quite difficult to get away from staffy and vinnie's grip on the 5k especially !
As Andy mentioned my first race wasn't great I was skating as I would at tatem and it didn't work at all, so I was short of speed and was never really able to do anything in the 1500 meters. After Gav mentioned I should go for a different line, and a bit of practice with him during the break, I went on the 5k with two objectives stay relaxed and watch my lines. I was better, not perfect, but it made it easier, the race was made of a lot of attacks from cado motus, and south W, I got stuck 10 laps to the end, and had to chase hard the 3 SW skaters and eventually caught them, 6 laps to the end I placed an attack but was pretty tired by then and paid the energy spend to chase them down earlier, nonetheless it was a good race.
The last race was a 5k again for the 16+, I lucky and got the number one ( I did complain about it at first) so I was on the line for the start, I got away with a good 10 meters and then just waited for the pack to organize and was ready to pick a good place in the pack. I jumped in behind chris as he is a fairly steady skater and usually stays in the wheels of the faster guys. In the end I managed to stay in the second pack most of the race, and finish in 10th for wrongly counting the laps ^^ (could have got 8th easily), but again it was probably my best track race this season.
An encouraging day I would say, I am almost reconciled with tracks
Thanks Andy for organising everything and driving, and taking pictures too (yeah even the one where I am scratching my nose... lol) |
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