For the 2nd year running the weather was fine as we assembled at Staveley village Hall
for the Scotton Challenge. It did start & finish in Scotton one year a long time ago !

Riders were split into four groups on a first come first served basis with me and team
mate just sneeking into group 2. By now I know the course well and feel prepared for
the rough stuff, but that didn’t prevent tools & tubes falling out of my seat post bag on
the first off road section – which fool forgot to zip it up properly ?

After a chase to get back into group 2 a settled rhythm was established and I was
actually enjoying the pace. No matter what anyone tells you, if you put 100 riders
together and time them over a given course – it’s a race ! Although it’s good to ride in
a group you can’t afford to slow down to keep it all together if you’re after a decent
time. I had to let the group go when pace became a little too much and cramp was
setting in as I turned a too big a gear, so I eased up.

On the road between Cundall & Topcliffe I was joined by a Nova rider who’d had
some mechanical difficulties and we road together for a while until being set upon by
dogs at a gypsey caravan on the Crakehill section. The Nova man had been bitten and
stopped to phone for medical advice. The previous group had apparently warned the
owners that many cyclists would be coming this way soon but obviously they’d
ignored advice to secure the animals. This for me was the one low point of the day.
As I pressed on alone catching and passing a couple of riders on the last couple of off
road sections, I realised I was unlikely to beat last years time of 3hrs 35mins, and
despite as big an effort as I could manage towards the end I finished in 3hrs 41.

This event is very special for me as I like the challenge of the course and like to
imagine I’m powering through the Arenberg Forest in Paris – Roubaix. You’ve got to
have a vivid imagination haven’t you ?

I big Thanks again to Dave I’Anson of Clifton CC and ALL the helpers who ensure
this event carries on year after year. There really is nothing like it round these parts !!!

Stuart Spencer,
Moonglu RT.