The Finsbury Park Club 10, run on the E64 course.
| Position | Name | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | H.Vivian | 22:51 | 9 |
| 02 | T.Boulton | 23:25 | 10 |
| 03 | D.Northover | 23:35 | 8 |
| 04 | C.Lodge | 23:50 | 7 |
| 05 | I.Bibby | 24:24 | 6 |
| 06 | M.Driscoll | 30:03 | 5 |
Dan Northover managed to hang onto his Odam lead by the skin of his teeth as Tom Boulton
produced his best E64 ride for three years to take 10 points in very convincing style,
returning in 23:25, reducing his 2006 time by 6secs.
Hugh Vivian did enough to get 9 points so Dan had to stay ahead of Chris and Ian to secure the 8 points
needed to take the trophy. It was a windy evening suited to the strong rider and Dan's 23:35 gave him
a slender margin of just 5secs over Chris to see him home with a total of 43 points to Tom's 42.
Ian finished in third spot and Chris fourth.
Dan also won the scratch competition with 26.156mph and scores the improbable Odam Double for possibly the first
time in the history of the series, a remarkable achievement.
Ian 2nd scratch with 26.065mph, Chris 3rd with 26.050 and Tom 4th with 25.294mph.
Dan will be well pleased to add the Odam to his sub 1hr 25 and sub 2hr 50 this year.
Well done that man.
| Position | Name | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | H.Vivian | 22:08 | 10 |
| 02 | C.Lodge | 22:49 | 8 |
| 03 | D.Northover | 22:58 | 5 |
| 04 | I.Bibby | 23:02 | 7 |
| 05 | T.Boulton | 23:35 | 9 |
| 06 | N.Marrin | 23:38 | 6 |
| 07 | P.Walton | 24:47 | PTT |
| 08 | L.Schuller | 24:49 | 4 |
| 09 | M.Driscoll | 27:43 | 3 |
My forecast last week of a 'done deal' for the Odam looks premature as Dan was a little off form last night
and had to settle for 5 points to bring his total to 40.
Tom Boulton got within 4 secs of his best last season's ride and added 9 points to his tally. Ian Bibby swapped a 2
for a 7 to improve his total by 5. That means either Tom or Ian can reach 42 points if they get a maximum 10 next week.
Dan needs another 8 points to put himself out of reach.
In the scratch, Hugh knocked out a 22:08 (8secs imp) but cannot win as his teaching duties early season means he will
not have enough rides to qualify. Chris has the edge at present but Ian, Dan and Tom are all chasing hard.
Peter Walton, Herts Whlrs, went home with a smile on his face after his first sub 25min ride on the E64 to add
to his 233 mile 12hr last week. Our own Michael Driscoll, in his second 10, improved by 1m11s.
Can Tom or Ian prove the 'old git' wrong and shut him up for a couple of hours?
Will Dan crack at the final hurdle?
We'll find out next week.Link to current Odam points totals
| Position | Name | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | H.Vivian | 22:38 | 10 |
| 02 | P.Lisher | 22:48 | PTT |
| 03 | D.Northover | 23:03 | 9 |
| 04 | I.Bibby | 23:23 | 8 |
| 05 | C.Lodge | 23:41 | 7 |
| 06 | C.Baker | 27:11 | 6 |
| 07 | J.Green | 27:15 | 5 |
| 08 | M.Driscoll | 28:54 | 4 |
A warm and sunny return to the E64 was somewhat dampened by the draggy nature of the new high tech surface of maximum gravel
and minimum tar; but at least there was little sign of the loose gravel that caused our last event to be cancelled.
Hugh Vivian making his first Odam appearance this year, was top gun on scratch (22:38) and took maximum Odam points.
Phil Lisher, Welwyn Whlrs trailed by only 10 secs; Dan Northover clinched 3rd spot and a useful 9 Odam points.
Old guns, Ian Bibby and Chris Lodge were in hot pursuit then there was a bit of a gap to the rest.
Michael Driscoll made his debut TT and was busy collecting tips from all and sundry before the start.
We left out a most basic bit of advice; when the timekeeper says 5-4-3-2-1, you have to let go of your brakes.
Despite that, it was a creditable first 10 and the discovery of a new max on the HRM.
Dan leads the Odam with only four rides completed. Chris, Ian and others have five rides to count
so the final destination of the Odam looks like a done deal barring some very abnormal times from some very normal people.
Next Odam 10s are Wednesday 6th AND 13th August. That's the NEXT TWO WEEKS.
Cancelled due to excessive loose gravel on A414 Westbound carriageway.
Road repair gangs must have left their brushes at home. We will have to wait untill passing vehicles
throw the loose stones clear of the road.
Cancelled due to A414 Eastbound carriageway single lane working.
Long stretches of the carriageway have been covered with loose stone chippings and a 10mph speed limit is in place.
The surface is dangerous even with a wheel at each corner.
Cancelled due to A414 Eastbound carriageway closure.
Road was closed at Great Amwell RAB from 19:00 for night workings.
| Position | Name | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | D.Kendall | 21:46 | 5 |
| 02 | D.Northover | 22:22 | 10 |
| 03 | P.Murrell | 22:50 | 6 |
| 04 | C.Lodge | 23:02 | 4 |
| 05 | P.Young | 23:07 | PTT |
| 06 | I.Bibby | 23:09 | 2 |
| 07 | N.Marrin | 23:19 | 7 |
| 08 | B.Evans | 23:43 | PTT |
| 09 | T.Boulton | 24:04 | 3 |
| 10 | N.Spurling | 24:06 | 9 |
| 11 | M.Steer | 24:38 | 1 |
| 12 | I.Turner | 24:50 | 8 |
| 13 | P.Walton | 25:08 | PTT |
| 14 | L.Schuller | 25:21 |
Fresh from two weeks in the sun, Dan Northover produced another PB, returning in 22:22 to grab 10 points. Mr Kendall described his own 21:46 as reasonable, but will spend the rest of the season looking over his shoulder and I can anticipate some interesting conversations if future field placings are not to his liking. Road Race Sec, Nat Spurling can't be bothered with tri-bars and such frippery but still knocked a second of his Odam PB and didn't seem to break sweat. PTT, Brian Evans, reported to the starter with a broken chain and set a course record for it's repair; but only after Mr Boulton had raced back to his car for a chain tool.
Conditions appeared fine and dry, but most riders were 30secs off their best pace so the wind direction must have been less than kind. Traffic was light and the E64 continues to be regarded as a safe course, but not the place for record attempts.
The top of the Odam table is a bit crowded, with Dan, Tom and Malcolm all on 26 points. Neil and Chris have 23 points and Ian B has 21.
| Position | Name | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | R.O'Rourke | 21:17 | PTT |
| 02 | C.Lodge | 23:37 | 8 |
| 03 | B.Evans | 23:43 | PTT |
| 04 | N.Marrin | 23:48 | 10 |
| 05 | I.Bibby | 24:06 | 7 |
| 06 | T.Boulton | 24:18 | 9 |
| 07 | M.Steer (MG) | 25:36 | 6 |
| 08 | P.Walton | 26:48 | PTT |
| 09 | L (Lucy) Roberts | 28:03 | PTT |
Ten dedicated souls (possibly Arsenal supporters) thumbed a nose at the Champions League and opted for a circuit of the E64
despite the somewhat chilly conditions putting PBs out of reach. Never mind, Malcolm decided to keep warm by thrashing his MG at a zillion RPM
and Lucy Roberts was obliged to do the same, being unable to engage the big ring. Didn't effect Richard O'Rourke too much as he returned in 21:17.
Odam points were on offer and some of the absentees may rue their decision to stay indoors leaving Neil to scoop 10 points and Mr Boulton take 9;
Chris was more than a minute off his usual mark but still improved his tally by 8 points.
Malcolm leads the Odam with 25 points, followed by Tom with 23, and Ian and Chris both on 19. Bookies favourite must be Dan; unless Gray can tear himself away from the office occasionally.
| Position | Name | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | C.Simpson | 20:36 | PTT |
| 02 | C.Lodge | 22:53 | 6 |
| 03 | D.Northover | 23:01 | 8 |
| 04 | B.Evans | 23:02 | PTT |
| = | I.Bibby | 23:02 | 3 |
| 06 | N.Marrin | 23:29 | 6 |
| 07 | T.Boulton | 23:48 | 7 |
| 08 | M.Steer | 23:57 | 10 |
| 09 | P.Walton | 25:11 | PTT |
| 10 | N.Collingbourne, 2nd claim | 25:12 | 0 |
| 11 | I.Turner (MG) | 25:15 | 4 |
| 12 | J.Parker | 25:25 | PTT |
| = | G.Turnock | 25:25 | 9 |
| 14 | J.Green | 27:02 | 0 |
| 15 | S.Parker | 28:32 | 2 |
With afternoon temperatures over 25c, novice riders looked forward to fast times, but older and wiser heads knew differently and would have welcomed a shower, however brief. And so it proved as the regulars were up to 30 secs off their expected pace; with the exception of Malcolm Steer who swapped his MG setup for a significant number of extra sprockets and bagged 10 points.
Craig Simpson nipped round in 20:36 to put more than two minutes into the best ‘Parker’, Chris Lodge, (no surprise there then). Gray Turnock looks a likely bet for the Odam handicap if he can fight off last years winner (and still improving), Dan Northover and a resurgent Malcolm Steer. Will Neil Collingbourne upgrade to full member and join the fun?
15 riders reported to the starter and the ‘old git’ might need an assistant if numbers continue to increase.
| Position | Name | Time | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | D.Kendall | 21:46 | 4 |
| 02 | I.Bibby | 22:31 | 10 |
| 03 | C.Lodge | 22:50 | 5 |
| 04 | P.Murrell | 22:51 | 7 |
| 05 | D.Northover | 23:19 | 8 |
| 06 | H.Ballentyne | 23:33 | PTT |
| 07 | T.Boulton | 23:45 | 7 |
| 08 | T.Whale | 24:44 | PTT |
| 09 | M.Steer (MG) | 24:45 | 9 |
| 10 | W.Cobb | 26:27 | PTT |
| 11 | S.Parker | 29:01 | 3 |
Eleven riders making the trip around E64 for the first Odam of 2008 is a very encouraging start to the new season. Ian Bibby and Malcolm Steer (MG), sliced some time off their previous best for the course and Chris Lodge was only 18secs off last years best, despite enduring a cold for most of the preceding week. A good track season might be in prospect if those three can carry their form to Welwyn.
2007 Odam Champion, Dan Northover, was just 4secs off his best mark last year and will obviously improve; can he take the Odam again? Novice, Sam Parker was disappointed with his performance but had a 20+ mile ride from Swiss Cottage in his legs. Dave Kendall is looking sharp with 21:46.
A rainy morning gave way to a bright, mild evening. Traffic around Amwell RAB and the turn was relatively light, despite the early start; maybe roadworks on the A10 kept cars away from the area. Some riders reported wind in their faces on both legs but it must have been a net 25mph looking at the times.