In the penultimate event of the season, four competitors rode out in the early morning mist to do battle in the Autumn Hilly around the Whitwell-Codicote-St Paul's Walden circuit.
Conditions were colder than many had anticipated and all riders chose to wear all their layers that they had brought for the time trial. One rider sported a copy of this week's Biggleswade Chronicle.
Despite being cold it was a beautiful Autumn morning with hardly any breeze and the sun breaking though the light mist and everybody agreed that it was great to be out in such conditions.
In the absence of the Spring Hilly winner Simon Doyle, who was selflessly on a course learning how to make us all faster next season, it was the Spring Hilly runner-up James Gomm who took the honours. In spite of suffering from food poisoning at the start of the week, James managed to finish just a minute slower than his Spring Hilly time.
Nick Hickman rode an impressive debut on the course to finish in second place and also managed to come home under the hour mark, which is no mean feat. This finishes an impressive first season of time trialling for Nick, who will be looking for continued improvement in 2013.
In the battle of the Collinses, its was Collins Jnr who managed to pip Collins Snr to third place, which was a reversal of order from the last race between the pair on the Briecliffe 10 in August. Collins Snr has vowed to come back fitter, stronger and lighter next season, so all eyes are on the Spring Hilly when the pair will likely next come head to head.
Once again thanks goes to the young man with the stopwatches Frank Turner, who was in fine spirits as a result of the beautiful morning, and also to David Summerell for his support at the start/ finish line.
Results
James Gomm – 53:45
Nick Hickman – 58:32
Mark Collins – 1:02:08
Clive Collins – 1:06:39
