Drew's first stint as a pitcher

Drew was playing for the Pilots again this weekend, and had his break as a pitcher. Here's some phots and a little footage of his big moment.

Official: Gilby's Arse in a bottle...

...and it tastes great. A friend in the Cyclocross team made this beer for me and the boys in the shop - it may go global. Watch out for Gilby's Arse in your local Oddbins.

Malchus in training

The "it's me or the dog" approach didn't work. Malchus gets serious.

Drew in the Gig Harbor Maritime Parade

Drew attended his first official function as a Penninsula football player today!! He took part in the Gig Harbor parade where he waved to his fans and thre candy into throngs of admirers:

Here they come!There he is!

There he goes!

Woops, Daddy getting in the way:

Aaaaand a bit of post event posing for the press:

Pilots Victory

Drew's baseball team the Purdy Pirates had another win today, with Drew scoring a hit and getting round the bases to score a run - well done Drew!!

At the plate:

A hit! Running to forst base:

On first base with Coach Eric:
Running home to score:

Reliving the moment:

Enumclaw Stage Race

I raced in my first stage race this weekend in Enumclaw Wa, in the shadow of the imposing Mount Ranier. A time trial then a criterium race in down town Enumclaw on Saturday, and a road race on Sunday.

The time trial was a short one, which is just as well as it was my first individual time trial! I managed to borrow a time trial frame from a very generous team mate (thanks Larry!) and Summer gave me a custom fit and the benefit of all her experience before the day of the race, and it really paid off. I got off to a flier and got the 3rd fastest time out of the 60 or so starters.

Later that afternoon, it was the criterium in Enumclaw around a tight course full of technical corners, and fairly poor road surfaces. It was a full on effort from the gun, and hairy as we all vied for position in the corners. The pace slackened a little toward the end, with half of the pack dropped off the back from the eye watering pace. On the final lap, a rider went down one bike in front of me. Goodness knows how I didn't crash as well, but I skidded, swerved, and managed to stay upright - must be all that cyclocross riding!! I lost the wheel of the 4 or 5 guys in front of me, but made up enough of the gap to grab 4th at the line. Could have been better - could have been much worse!! Glad to stay upright to fight another day.

Leaning into those corners:

Business face - leading the crit:

Trailing in 4th

On the Sunday, it was the road race. Three laps with a relatively arduous climb on each lap. 44 miles in all. At the top of the 3rd climd a breakaway of 6 riders formed, and marshalled by my teamate Dean, we worked together to extend a lead on the chasing pack. In the last kilometer, I found myself in front - not a good position to be leading into the sprint. Anyway, at 200 metres or so I jumped as hard as I could and managed to sprint to the finish without anyone coming around....just!

OTB Enumclaw cat 4 squad: Dean, Matt M, me and John before the road race

Up the hill

Leading out the sprint:

It's the old jock by a nose!

I am pleased as punch with my second road win of the season, but it may be my last for some time. I have to upgrade to cat 3 on the road now, and with racing cat 1/2 in 'cross and cat 1 on the mountain bike, wins are going to be much harder to find. All in all a great weekend among friends!