Sloppy Thirds - Bike Hutt Cyclocross No.3

The third round of the Bike Hutt Cyclocross series was served up with a traditional amount of awful weather, making the course at California Park very challenging. The rain started during warm up, and just got worse. Every lap the puddles were growing until the gravel track was covered on the last laps. The boggy corners became more treacherous and for those riding the pinch climbs, they needed twice as much control and technique towards the end, despite being twice as buggered.

Who farted?

The turn out was down on the previous two rounds due to the weather forecast. But there was a good number of hardouts who had come out, including CX newbies, our men Alex Bennett and Tiger Keith.


Tony made work for the event crew by knocking their barrier over a lot. I didn't. Double their height says I.

Importantly, Bushlove represented extremely well in the opening 30minute race, by fielding our secret weapon, pocket rocket, Alex Bushlove Bennett. Alex smashed out his laps without complaint and looked awesome in his custom Bushlove Racing kit. Good work Alex! It's great to have you racing for Bushlove. How long before you beat your Dad?



The 1 hour race set off with the usual flurry and eventually settled into Stu Houltham and Alex Revell duking it out a little ahead of Bushies, Ed and Tigs. I was in 5th trying desperately to find enough beans to hold my nemesis, Waghorn, off who was in 6th. Clive was superfast everywhere but the barriers, but you can lose lot of time there. Will chasing Waghorn be Clives role in the PNP series? Or will Waghorn spend 5 rounds chasing the NC?







Lots of riders, including most of us, took a few naps in the mud on the fast, muddy off-camber corner where Mr Madsen had set up his camera. Glad I wasn't the only one!

The pecking order at the finish was:

Mighty Houltham (good luck in Canada, Stu. Go hard!)
Tigs
Ed Crosling (rode out from city!)
Alex Revell (rode out from city!)
Dave Aldred (rode out from city!*)
Waghorn
Clive
Results








Epic Bushlove loading of the results. Good job everyone. I might miss the final due to incoming baby. Amie, my lovely Smokescreen, is due 11 August.

Thanks especially to Mike Anderson for laying the event on, and well done to him for riding both races! It was his birthday! Thanks very much to our mate, Craig Madsen of Hedgehog Photography for the awesome pictures. Big round of applause for all the spectators who gave everyone a big boost with their cheers. Especially The Bennett family and Belinda and the Waggettes! Great pics from Belinda here: Belinda's Pics

Cheers
Davo



* Upper Hutt city. My Smokescreen was at her cousins.