The WCA Championships were organised by Martin Heritage-Owens’ RealTeam organisation on the very fast R25/3H course. The event attracted high quality of entries with 171 finishes including two tandem teams. It would appear that the organiser has a good eye for the weather as the event took place in sunshine with alight breeze, an improvement upon conditions leading up to the weekend.
Two Acme riders made the start line with both of them looking for P.B.’s on the fast course. Last year’s Club Champion, Gary Flower, had to make changes to his regular training schedule to support his efforts to post a PB. Iron Man Triathlete, Gary, had to reduce his running in the week before the WCA Event in order to ensure that his legs would be a bit fresher on the day. Realising that the weather conditions would give an opportunity for fast times Gary wrote “sub 53” on the back of his hand as a reminder of what he thought was possible.
Tucking himself into an aero position on the downhill section Gary attained a top speed of 50mph without pedalling and he advises would be racers to work on their aero position.
Gary’s plan was to build up to a greater heart rate on the last 5 miles than the previous 20 and to dig deep at the end.
Dave Singleton was back on the R25/3H soon after his OVW event in April. He too planned to take advantage of the conditions to post a P.B. after his good start to the season. The change of weather conditions may have caught Dave out as he advises members to ensure they have plenty of liquid
The training plans and race strategy of both riders seem to have been well founded for the day as both riders achieved the target they set themselves. Dave Singleton achieved his P.B. with a time of 56:16, with this coming early in the season it suggests that there is more to come are the season progresses. Gary Flowers reminder on the back of his hand also seems to have worked as he posted a 52:19. Well done to both riders and especially to Gary Flower who retains the Ken Harrison Challenge Trophy as Club 25 Mile Champion for 2018.
Dave and Gary take very different paths in the coming weeks and months, Dave travelling back up to Hirwaun for another event organised by Sportzmad. Gary, on the other hand, has plans much further afield with an Ironman event in Austria in July and the Ironman Wales event in Tenby in September.
