By TERRY COOKSTON
CNHI
Rockwall County —
The 24th Rockwall Rotary Hot Rocks Bike Ride ran smoothly on Saturday despite 100-plus degree temperatures with riders cruising through the Rockwall County countryside on courses of 13.5, 43 and 57 miles.
This year’s Ride featured three races in lieu of the usual four, with the former 10 and 20 mile races consolidated into one 13.5 mile course.
Participants in all three races started and finished at Wilkerson-Sanders Stadium on R.L. Townsend with the 57-mile aggressive competitors traveling through Nevada, Josephine, Royse City, McLendon-Chisholm and Heath before heading back to the finish line.
Rotary Club members and volunteers served drinks, ice and fruit at rest stops every 8-10 miles.
Check-in time was at WSS at 6:30 a.m. for those who didn’t pre-register and start time was set for 7:30 to take advantage of cooler early-morning weather conditions before temperatures climbed above the 100 mark.
Staged starts allowed the 57-mile course riders to kick off the races without being slowed down by less experienced competitors. Riders on the 43-mile course followed closely behind, with those in the 13.5 mile ride starting last.
Leo Freyer won the Men’s Division top prize of $250 with his victory in the 57-mile race, Andrew Armstrong claimed $175 for his second-place finish and last year’s winner Brett Crosby came in third to earn the $100 prize.
Jen Purcell captured the title in the Women’s Division 57-mile race and collected the $250 top award. Ginny King earned the $175 check after finishing in second place and Carla Keeton picked up the $100 award for her third-place finish.
Purcell, who was sporting a skinned left arm after the race, actually fell during the ride, but was able to get up and sprint to the finish line to win the women’s championship.
Multi-time Hot Rocks winner King, who came in second, said she didn’t mind losing to Purcell. “We’ve raced against each other for years and are good friends.”
Proceeds from the Annual Ride go to benefit the Rockwall Rotary Club Scholarship Fund.
Bike Ride Chairman Brian Williams estimated that around 850 riders participated, along with over 150 volunteers from the Rotary Club, RHS DFYit, the Boy Scouts, RHS Interact Club, the Rockwall Breakfast Rotary Club, YMCA and the City of Heath.
Williams also expressed high praise for the Rockwall Police Department, Rockwall Sheriff’s Department, Rockwall County Sheriff’s Posse, Rockwall County EMS and the Rockwall County Amateur Radio Club for their help with this year’s event.
