Keith and Darren decided 'what the hell' last night and entered the Castle Combe Thursday night series road race.  Both are 4th Cats and this is their first ever road race (within 2 centuries).

With both entrants quite nervous, they decided to stay towards the back, well that was the plan.  Keith found himself at the nose from the start and Darren was mid pack.  Darren said "I had to laugh, we were on the first lap and Keith was on the front [of the pack] driving it forwards.  I was sat mid pack trying to suss out who knew what they were doing and trying to grab his wheel."

It was awful conditions last night.  Although the rain held off, the wind was the worse a fellow competitor can remember in 15 years.  Nice night to pick for your first race boys.

So with Keith at the front and Darren yo-yoing about at the back 6 laps were done and dusted.  The thirds caught up and so the pace increased.  After swinging round Tower and straight into the wind two riders infront of Darren lost touch with the group and he had to make up the gap on his own "That was a struggle, I looked behind and half the field had disappeared so i had to close the gap on my own, which required a lot of effort" said Darren.

With Keith literately loving it on the front and shouting instructions to the riders around him, his pace was never in question.  Darren on the other hand was barely staying in touch and on swinging off Tower on the very next lap the same thing happened. This time it was too much and the gap couldnt be closed.   The next 8 laps were very lonely for Darren but he did finish!!

Keith stayed in with the 3rds after making a leap across and was soon joined by the top dozen 4ths.  The pace was okay until the E/1/2s went through, most 3rds & 4ths tried to stay on but were dropped off one by one, including Keith.  They re-formed into approx 6 3rd/4ths and kept pressing hard with 2 laps to go.  After hearing the bell for the final lap (16 in total) 'race tactics' started to show as the riders positioned themselves for the sprint within their bunch.  Keith got to the line first!!

Both riders cant wait to do another race but this time at Merryfield, Ilton where its not a handicap race, its strictly a 4ths race.  Darren can try to finish in the bunch and Keith can go for the win !!