WHERE'S WALDO?

(photo - Bina Briggs) click on image to view full size version

Three Peaks 2003. By 2002 and the race's return from its one-year Foot & Mouth 'Sabbatical' the organisers had realised that the demand for places in the 'Peaks had reach such a level that they had to find a way to expand the field and still manage to get them all safely over the first cattle grid at Selside*.

So the 'two stage' start was born - Ladies, Juniors and Veterans (Masters) off at 09.30 hrs followed by the Seniors 30 minutes later. That way the entry list could be expanded from 300 to the current limit of 400.

Prominent in this picture taken just before the L/J/V 'off' at Helwith Bridge in 2003 are Neil Orrell - Zodiac CRC (273) who has ridden every 'Peaks except one. Louise Robinson - Stourbridge CC (293) British International and at the time of writing 4 times winner of the Three Peaks,. Hannah Reynolds - Evans Cycles (number obscured but 2nd rider from right) "Cycling Weekly" Health & Fitness Editor and John Rawnsley - Bradford RCC (extreme right)...

Notice how serious everyone looks - except for one half-wit near the back. Can't imagine who he might be.

* The first 5 miles or so on the road from Helwith Bridge to Selside are somewhat puckishly referred to as 'neutralized'. In other words no racing is permitted and everyone has to stay behind the lead car.

The reality is that the neutralized zone is actually a eyeballs-out sprint for Selside, where the lead car mysteriously gets faster and faster until the bunch is nicely strung out and can get through the first gate and cattle grid to Ingleborough in complete safely. Well; that's my theory.

TRIVIA NOTE 1:- Louise Robinson is the daughter of Brian Robinson - the first Briton to win a stage of the Tour De France.

TRIVIA NOTE 2:- I'm pretty sure the bike Louise is riding in this pic is the exact same one I saw her using yesterday (23/08/08 i.e - 5 years later) in the Brevet Populaire 100k Audax at the Mildenhall Cycle Rally... Sad I know - but cyclists notice these things.