Saturday 25 June 2011

He came, he saw, he got wet and went home with bronze

So Dr Hutch didn't quite pull it off. 48 British titles but no Irish one to add to it this year.

In pretty awful conditions, the 40km route was ridden in 50:15 by the new Irish TT Champion, and still reigning Irish RR Champion (until Sunday at least), Matt Brammeier of HTC Highroad.

The battle of the Northerners was played out behind him, with David McCann coming out on top and taking silver, six seconds back. Hutchinson took bronze a further 8 seconds back.

A mention too for Damien Shaw or Mullingar who finished a very impressive sixth, just behind the pros.

Report and results: http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_5720.shtml

Wednesday 22 June 2011

Is Hutch riding the Irish Champs?

As I do every day, I was reading the latest postings on IrishCycling.Com this morning when a seemingly small detail caught my eye.

Under the headline "IRISH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - ENTRY LIST" they've published exactly that, a list of all riders entered for the various Irish championship races due to take place at the end of the month.

There in the list for the Elite Mens TT is the name Michael Hutchinson. That's what caught my eye. Could this be the Michael Hutchinson who's bagged no less than 48 British Time Trial titles since 2000, including a record 11 straight 50-mile golds? Is this the Michael Hutchinson who's attempted the Hour twice and written one of the best cycling books ever about one of those attempts? Is this Dr. Hutch of Cycling Weekly fame?

I really hope so! It'd be great to see this son of Northern Ireland put it up to his fellow islanders. It'd be especially great to see a head-to-head between him and his fellow Northerner, the current British 25 mile Time Trial record holder, and six times Irish TT champion, David McCann.

I might even head up to Emyvale to watch that one.