Hampshire Hilly

Hampshire Hilly 100, 10th May 2009. Not sure if the 100 in the title of this sportive refers to the mileage or the amount of hills, you know like Eric's 8 hills. Probably both. It started at Sparsholt just west of Winchester and followed a roller coaster route on the south downs. This is our third consecutive year of entering this event. Rachelle opted for the shorter but no less demanding 76 mile route and finished in a very respectable 6 hours and 26 minutes for bronze, chapeau. I was obliged to enter the long route in fear of Colin labeling me a pussy. After having Steve pull me along in the recent Downlands and Kent Air Ambulance rides I was on my own for this one. A welcome chance to relax and control my own pace. But instinct takes over and at times it was hard going , finishing in 5 hours 49 minutes for gold, 4 minutes slower than last year, ah well another year older. Michael Pumphrey.