Report by Paul Butler, Road Race Secretary.
Pete Mahoney and Rob Thatcher contested this 3rd and 4th Cats race on the feared Crystal Palace circuit, known to be one of the hardest racing circuits in the South. Although Rob, with many other riders, lost contact with the main field he still finished to earn himself 2 valuable Sydenham league points (1 for starting, one for finishing if you recall!).
The ride of the night went to Pete however who finished impressively in the ever decreasing peloton as the strength of Pete and his co-riders shed people off the back every lap. Although he didn’t contest the major placings, to finish in a bunch of that strength (in his first return to Palace in nearly 20 years) is outstanding.
Why wasn’t your road race secretary riding I hear you ask? I’d rather stick pins in my eyes!