The first big Sportive opportunity of the year and no fewer than 14 RCC riders showed up at Fosse Bank School, Hildenborough, for easily the biggest display of club solidarity at the event.
And if any of the other clubs who showed up in their ones and twos were in any doubt if our presence would be matched in our results, then the amazing efforts of our riders put them straight.
Kaaren May (so modest she took the photo above so isn't in the line up!) was first woman across the line and Barry Gerhold was third man and Russell Hicks fifth on the short route.
Pete Mortimer and Brian Costello working together as a unit scored Golds on the 120km route by using team chaingang discipline over a gruelling last 20km when cramps started to set in. John Houghton - proving the power that MTB riders have on the road - also scored a Gold on the long route. All three riders recorded sub-5 hour times over 76 miles and 10 hills.
The awesome RCC contingent was completed by Nick Curran and Kevin Greene recording Silver times on the long route plus John McMullan, Ian Taylor, Lewis Burgess and Leeson Metcalf all recording Silvers and Sharon Houghton a bronze on the shorter route.
Congratulations to everyone. If anything shows the world (or at least folk in the South East) the spirit and drive in Redhill Cycling Club this was in.
Plenty more sportives coming up in the approaching months, so I hope everyone will be inspired by the achievements of a fantastic group on a well-orgnanised ride where the rain stayed off.
Adrian
ps. the only failure of the day was my rear wheel/mech which developed a catastrophic fault after 12 miles. I ended up walking it 3 miles to Sevenoaks station and wrecking a new pair of cleats. A massive disappointment after all the brilliant training rides! But once again, the spirit of RCC showed through. After the first manifestation of this problem, the RCC group waited a full five minutes to see if I could carry on... thus putting several of them through hell later in the ride to get golds. Thanks chaps and to Sharon for kind words and encouragement.