This is the traditional mid-Christmas and New Year race, it is not part of any series just a one off classic at South Park Macclesfield. This year it was not between these two holidays but the week before the National Championships, on the 6th January. I have won this race four time before, Nick Craig has also won it a couple of times.

Normally the course is either frozen and therefore fast or wet and very muddy. This year it was wet to start which then turned quite muddy. From the startline the spray from the wheels soaked everyone, the going was still firm for a few laps but then it began to cut up. Ian Wilkinson in his black Science in Sport kit was first away with myself and Phil Dixon in close attendance. After a lap Ian faded and I took up the lead. Phil had a puncture and so left me on my own at the front for a couple of laps. I did not want to commit to a hard ride on my own for the rest of the race and was caught by Nick Craig. We were together for the next few laps. As the conditions deteriorated there were more and more bike changes. Unfortunately for me one of my bikes had slightly higher tyre pressures, this made it hard to ride up one of the slopes. Nick did not have such a problem. Lucky for me there was a plank about 100m after this bank that I could jump over on the bike which Nick was dismounting. The first time I reached this bank on my second bike Nick opened a gap, and I am sure many people thought that it was the end of the race. The following lap I closed back up and we were together again.

With two laps to go we were still together, on the up and down section I lost my front wheel as I cornered to make the next climb. Nick took the advantage but I was quickly back into my stride and closed back up to him. As I reached his back wheel and the next corner I was down again. This time he made sure for getting a gap as I remounted. With a lap and a half to go that was pretty much the end of it for me. Nick won, I finished second and Phil Dixon came in third.

1st   Nick Craig  Pertex
2nd  Barrie Clarke  Helly Hansen - Giant
3rd   Phil Dixon  Y2K

 Barrie