New best time for speedy Matthews

The outstanding Velo Club Baracchi cycling performance of the week was a new personal best time of 59:22 achieved by Gary Matthews in a 25-mile time trial.

He achieved this despite having to refit his chain in the Norwich ABC open time trial.

Other superb rides were done by VCB riders in the warm but windy conditions on the A11 Attleborough bypass and by and large they were pleased with their times.

This event on Sunday had been rescheduled after being rained off in July and was available just to those previously entered.

The other times were Mark Newnham 1-00:38, Steve Summons 1-05:09 (a personal best), Jenny Anderson 1-06:54, Mike Rainton 1-08:09, Mike Rainton 1-08:09, Tracy Prewer 1-11:59 and John Thompson 1-14:40.

The winner was Daniel Bloy of King’s Lynn CC with 52:58.

The Gt Yarmouth CC club 25-mile time trial on Sunday had to be shortened to 23.5 miles as a result of traffic lights near Blundeston corner.

At this reduced distance, which featured a fast, motivated and determined ride for second place by Paul Dennington of VC Baracchi, the times were Nick Esser (Strada Sport) 1-00:30, Dennington 1-02:17, P Denby (GYCC) 1-02:38, Clive Bond (GYCC) 1-06:15, Richard Allen (VCB) 1-10:20 and R Thornton (GYCC) 1-15:19.

In the VTTA East Anglian Group 10-mile time trial on the A143 from Wortwell Saturday, Ali Banks rode the fastest VCB club time, with 25:09.

Chris Womack was clearly much better after his shoulder injury with a sprightly 25:14, pleased to beat John Swanbury was nine seconds behind with 25:23.

Thompson was about four minutes slower with 29:19 and is clearly not content with this sort of pace.  However he has lately has been wondering whether, on top of long audax rides, his racing is catching up with him as his 60^th birthday next year draws nearer.

It does indeed seem unlikely that a dogged pace in long and gruelling audax rides is not by itself the best preparation for speed, but Thompson enjoys them.

The side-wind in this event gave more assistance on the return leg, but those who expected significant help from it were disappointed.

The top seeded rider, Peter Balls of West Suffolk Wheelers, rode a winning time of 21:17.

Last week’s Godric CC club 10-mile time trial featured a very quick winning ride by former VCB rider Liam Gentry of Strada Sport, in 20:47, which relegated the usual winner Jim Burgess of Anglia Velo to second with 21:29.

Thompson achieved 28:29, which must have been more rewarding than his weekend rides. There were twenty-eight solo riders and a tandem.

The VCB tandem pair of Swanbury and Banks rode a personal best of 22:42, a four second improvement.