Biker Groove
Saturday 9th May-Parkwood
It was a lovely sunny morning, when Vic and I set about putting up more orange fencing and red and white tape to set out the course for the bikers, about 7.30 a.m., heavy dew on the ground... wet feet already!
At about 10.00 a.m. the first Cubs arrived with bikes and helmets. During the next hour probably another 100 arrived, all duly armed with packed lunch, bike and helmet. We checked them in, walked them around the track, then it was lunch time! "Is it time for tuck shop?" they nearly all asked, they set up a queue outside. Was that really what they had all come for?!
At about 1.00 p.m., the first bikes started to line up and in groups of five off they went around the track to practise (all the marshals were in place). Ian Kirby, the County Commisioner for East Sussex, came along to see what it was all about, staying almost all day enjoying the sunshine.
Mick Brown, 44th Brighton Leader, decided that perhaps the Cubs ought to get wet, so he set up a spray on a bend in the track, so everyone could not avoid it and all got wet, the path got muddy... but what the heck.
The practice finished, it was down to timing... precise or what? The watch that was used to start had to be synchronised with the finish, that's where Mr. County Commisioner had an important role... he collected it from the start and ran to the finish across the field to set the timings. Clever stuff.
After the races, the Cubs queued again for the tuck shop, followed by hotdogs and a drink.
Then the results were announced ...
Fastest under 9.5 yrs was Harry McWhirter, 3rd Hove M
Runner up was Bethany Wyatt, 30th Brighton T
Fastest over 9.5 yrs was Florence Gadsby, 3rd Hove M
Runner up was Luke Marsh, 5th Hove
Team places were 3rd Hove M, 3rd Hove C, with the winners 42nd Brighton M
Well done to everyone, it really was a great day for all. Thanks must go to many people, but especially Martin Piggott for being the computer whizz, the two Pennys for manning the finish, Pete Greed, Jake, Tim and Fiona Wilson for the start, Edna and Sylvia for the Tuck shop, Andy Wakeling and Neil Leggett for cooking all the hot dogs, and of course Vic with the microphone (good idea) and thanks to Andy W, Neil and Pete for helping me to clear all the track away ready for next year?