Poole Wheelers – Gary Dighton Memorial 10 – Andy Perkins PB

Poole Wheelers – Gary Dighton Memorial 10

Andy Perkins clocked a new personal best of 19:12 to take second place in the Gary Dighton Memorial 10, in Poole on Sunday.

Seeded as last man off, having clocked 19:15 on the same course last year, Andy faced a very strong challenge from ‘in-form’ Lewis Keightley (Team Bottrill/HSS Hire) who has a 48:05 ’25’  to his name and who had ridden 19:11 earlier in the week.

“The conditions were near perfect with very little breeze, perhaps a little too warm, but I’ll always take a sunny day“, explains Andy, ” I had been tinkering with my set-up the day before with a new bar configuration and had dialled in a really comfy position which I’d tested the previous afternoon.  I deliberately held back on the outward route, knowing that the route back was tougher and that I’d face a light headwind.  I hit the turn with a 33mph average, I knew this would drop off on the return le, but is was looking pretty good.”

“As expected the return leg was tougher as the heat started to build and my legs started to ache.  I thought the club’s first 18 minute ride could just be on the cards, but fatigue kicked in at 7 miles and the slight drags started to feel like hills!  Being baulked by a car on a roundabout with a mile to go finally put paid to any hopes, but in all honesty only cost me 3 or 4 seconds.  I gathered my strength for a big finish, crossing the line in 19:12 a new PB – by 3 seconds and very pleased with one of my best ever executed rides.”

 “At the HQ I caught up with Lewis who had clocked an amazing 18:56 – close to the course record held by Olympian Chris Ball – with Andy Langdown of Blazing Saddles returning 19:32 for third place”.

Picture courtesy of Eamon Deane – check out his site  www.localriderslocalraces.co.uk