Post
by Philip Whiteman » 24 Jul 2022 10:22
WELL DONE TO THOSE THAT COMPLETED AND COMMISSERATIONS TO THOSE THAT DID NOT FINISH
UPCOMING AUDAXES
• 1st October. THE SOUTH SALOPIAN. 210km. Not as hard as the KK and on better but roads. Belbroughton – Tenbury – nr Presteigne – Bishop’s Castle – over the Long Mynd the easiest way – Ironbridge – Belbroughton. Hot food at the finish. Host Club: Beacon RCC
• 12th November. SALINAE AND COTSWOLDS. 213km. Autumnal colours in the Cotswolds. Easy first and final thirds with a lumpy middle. Droitwich Lido – Tewkesbury – Witney – Shipston – Droitwich. Café start (hopefully) and light catering at a hall finish. Host: Droitwich Cycling Club
THE KIDDERMINSTER KILLER 2022
Yesterday saw old faces and new, including quite a number who were riding the Beacon RCC’s Kidderminster Killer as their very first audax. Nothing like going in at the deep end. Fortunately, most audaxes are not so challenging. If you managed to take images or would like to write an account of the event, please feel free to add something to our Facebook Group.
Chapel Lawn WI surpassed themselves again and provided a sanctuary for riders seeking to regain a sense of consciousness before the remaining, not so bad, onslaught back to Belbroughton.
Heavy rainstorms on Friday brought down a considerable volume detritus onto the roads in The Marches resulting in many the rustic lanes becoming more rustic than normal. Part of the challenge of the Kidderminster Killer is the awkward nature of the route but I suspect that the addition of storm damage was unwanted.
Our lantern rouge riders returned to Belbroughton to find Simon Woodward and myself rummaging through rubbish bins at the back of hall trying to locate the starter and finishers list, which I had stupidly thrown a way as an act of incompetency. Fortunately, the list was located, and the lantern rouge riders were suitably bribed with two bottles of Woodcote Ale.
Andrew Tomlinson is the winner of the Kidderminster Killer Livestock Award, having marshalled an aggravated bullock loose on the road, back into an adjoining field with its herd. This avoided later audaxers having to experience and angry young bull.
Who says good Samaritans no longer exist? Riders spotted Paula, who experienced a nasty fall at the furthest point on the route. A postal worker kindly rescued Paula initially and then a local resident, drove her back to the start. I am pleased to say that Paul returned home safely albeit bruised, cut, and battered. Meanwhile, on the side of Clee Hill, Simon was very unwell and was rescued by a passing Radio 4 journalist and broadcaster, who also drove him back to Belbroughton.
The finisher’s list will be completed in coming days and loaded to the Audax UK Results page. If you were using E Brevet and forget to register with me at the finish line, please make sure that you enter the App’s settings and press upload. Equally, if you were experiencing problems with proofs-of-passage and offered to send a GPX track in lieu then please do so ASAP.
We had seventy-eight starters out 120 entries and I have not yet counted the number of validated completers, but this year did see an unusually high number of DNFs, down to exhaustion, out-of-time, sickness, and mechanicals.
Spare a thought for Mick Stanford, who set off on a ‘helper’s ride’ at 3.45am to be on duty at Belbroughton later that evening. Thanks also go to Noel, Mariana, Andy, Paul, and Simon who provided invaluable support in the kitchen or marshalling.
LOST PROPERTY:
• One black helmet found by a local resident on the main road in Belbroughton. It fell off the roof of a departing vehicle. Available for collection from Drayton near Belbroughton or can be posted.