The Met office wrong again! Predictions of heavy rain did not come to pass and apart from a headwind on the way out to Saintfield the weather was fine for a TT. Not quite the "bbq summer" but good enough for us.
The course record for Carryduff-Ballygowan is 29.18 (records began this year) and set by Enda on a perfect evening many weeks ago with his disc wheel, tribars and aero helmet (to not take anything away from a great performance - they will be saying polyurethane swimsuits give a time advantage next).
Talking of records Bill Rafferty set a new one; unfortunately not for out-and-out speed but for three punctures in his last three times on the bike. Advice to Bill - stop skimping on money by fixing these punctures and buy some new tubes. I hear chain reaction cycles have an inner tube sale at the minute. Also, make sure you have no shard of glass in there and replace your rim tape while you at it.
Thanks to Colm for timekeeping and luckily I could interpet the slightly hard to read Doctor's handwriting.
Next week is a rest week due to the 25 mile Ulster TT champs. However as there will probably not be that many doing this event anyone who wants can meet at Carryduff layby at 18:45. The plan is to head out on a new route and do some chaingang work. More details later.
1 Vaughan Purnell 29.45
2 Damien Eannetta 30.25
3 Glen Pollock 32.05
4 Davy Calvert 32.25
5 Jonny Hooper 32.58
6 Was Kettyle 33.05
7 Maeve Cahill 33.14
8 Peter Hanvey 34.08
9 Willie Noteman 34.11
10 Peter McGuicken 34.21
11 Keith Trimble 34.21
12 Ed Smith 34.25
13 Ricky Cowan 34.38
14 Ciaran Hanratty 34.53
15 Gavin Noble 35.19
16 Niall Magee 35.43
17 John McManus 35.45
18 Joanne Bingham 35.48
19 Andy Mulholland 37.25
20 Kate Smith 38.58
21 Bill Rafferty 46.59