Kettering Hilly 20 mile Time Trial

Back in 1980, the Kettering Friendly Cycling Club’s Hardriders’ Hilly 22 mile time trial was the traditional opening race of the new season. It was the first ever open event I rode, having ridden 20 club events the previous year, and a handful towards the end of the year before that. I finished at the back of the field, not surprisingly, in 1:12:40 (18.2 mph) for 33rd out of 42 starters and 6 non-starters.

Fast forward to 2015 and the event is still going, as the Mark Bell Memorial. Kettering Friendly CC amalgamated with Kettering Amateur CC to become Kettering CC (although as there still is a Kettering Amateur in existence I guess it wasn’t a unanimously supported decision). Also, due to changing road conditions, the old two laps of the Grafton Underwood, Slipton, Sudborough, Brigstock circuit has be replaced with a single lap encompassing the old course but only including two short stretches of it.

Although I had intended to enter this year, my training is still behind schedule so thought better of it. Looking at the start sheet though, one name does reappear from 1980, Richard Daniells timekeeper in both 1980 and 35 years later in 2015! So instead of racing I went out training first and then home to pick up my camera and take a few photos.

The winner was, unsurprisingly, Matt Bottrill, although 41:52 (28.7 mph) was very impressive on a super windy day.