Brereton Wheelers CC

News added 19/04/2010

Brereton Wheelers’ MTB action man Ian Beard ventured into Wales again at the weekend for the latest round of the MTB Marathon Series. Battling in a big field Ian found himself some pleasant sunny conditions for the 68 kilometre middle marathon ride. The Sunday morning event proved a popular promotion with professional organization ensuring a safe and pleasant ride for all those taking part at the Royal Welsh Showground.

The rugged course provided plenty of obstacles, with a suitably up and down terrain to match, the single track route obliging riders to both watch their line and take their chances with overtaking. Holding 20kph for three and a half hours off road is no small undertaking and Beard acquitted himself very well indeed, getting into the top third of the near thousand strong field.

Now a dab hand at this discipline his next event is a six hour endurance challenge at Catton Park near Walton on Trent on May 2nd. He’s turned down the option of riding as part of a team, electing to ride for the whole six hours independently, a daunting task.

Also featuring in that event will be husband and wife team Ian and Anne Robinson. Their recent preparation saw them in action in the ‘Hell of the Cotswolds’ MTB challenge over the Easter weekend. Mirroring its continental counter part, the infamous Hell of the North Paris Roubaix road race, this event is a little less competitive but every bit as tough, with the rustic Cotswold landscape providing riders with the opportunity to absorb their surroundings whilst still turning a spirited pedal.

At the other end of the scale Anne took part in Stafford Roads Club midweek 5 miles time trial only a few days before. Her 13 minute ride was a good showing and defied the menacing headwind that dogged riders out to the halfway turn.