The panther waits…
…looks like it's a bit cool up in Serpentine at the moment but the mercury is rising (9° says BoM) and there's a breeze shifting to the NE; nineteen riders listed to meet the starter (David E) who, himself will take off for five laps when he's finished the count-downs. David's minute man will be Justin Nicholls who is probably setting up the timing gear at this time.
… webscorer says riders are leaving the start and heading out up the hill; ten minutes gone, we should have some lap times soon– aha, Lauren Humphreys is first through the finish line in 11min followed by young Jessica Wardle and Tanya Birkbeck. They're coming through in start order at the moment, Andrew Candy was next, but no sign of Richard on his hand-cycle yet; perhaps he's not riding his 'adaptive HC' today?
All riders have apparently started and Sean Ralph has overtaken Lee Bolden to lead the list (both riding gravel bikes). No, young Travis Wardle has overtaken them and Lauren has passed through for Lap 2, Tanya and Jessica maintaining the order.
There are five riders unaccounted for on Lap 1, including David but Sean Ralph has gone to the top of the list again as Travis slowed a bit on Lap 2 after his explosive start—almost 2min. But they are all slower on lap 2. (I was told later that Travis had been started a minute earlier than scheduled). Lauren is again first through for Lap 3. Sean Ralph, Lee and Justin Lang are maintaining their top 3 positions.
The order at the top end is unchanged after four laps but Lauren has posted her fastest lap; there are still five riders showing as non-starters and half the field are now on their final lap.

Sean Ralph, Lee and Justin Lang have finished, Sean Reynolds next (all riding gravel bikes), the order unchanged and Lauren, with what is now her fastest lap, is also finished; Tanya finishes a minute behind her. With one apparently still on his final lap, it looks like we could have two DNF (and five non-starters). Justin Nicholls has been the fastest in the MTB cohort although I don't know what young Travis was riding today; or his younger sister as they were both late entries.

PS: it seems there were three DNS as one rider started but had a mechanical problem before completing Lap 1 and David did ride but there seemed to be some transponder problem—thirteen finishers with a time for David to come from video backup (or his own Garmin device)?

Of course Sean Ralph and Lauren Humphreys have been added to the list of Panther Custodians. Is the trophy itself still handed on?

mouse