The Surrey League Handicap 26 mile road race held over 10 laps of the Newchapel circuit saw Duncan Murdoch take a great 5th place overall and was also 1st Veteran in a field of 30 riders including elites and Category 1’s.
Six Redhill CC riders contested the event on an overcast but relatively dry course on Thursday 19 May. Claude Lhomme, Tim Sales, Gavin Garrett and Allan Hopkins were in the bunch of Category 4 riders who were set off first and who worked hard together to keep the rest of the field at bay. Getting time checks all of the way round the circuit this bunch were certainly holding off the Cat 3’s behind by at least the 2 minute margin and were hopeful of keeping everyone at bay ‘till the end. Ah well – what the time checks were not telling us (why not !!!) was that the other Cat’s and Elites (including Duncan and Jon Masters) were coming up like an express train. However it took them just under 9 laps to do this and then the whole field circulated together on the 10th and last lap in anticipation of a sprint finish. Down the last straight to the finish line and Duncan was well positioned and held his line to take 5th with Jon Masters taking 12th place.