Richards smashes VCB club 50-mile record with 1-44:59

Mark Richards of Velo Club Baracchi mixed it with top riders from all over the country in the Shaftesbury CC 50-mile time trial and took a massive chunk out of Liam Gentry’s 2009 club record.

Richards’ time on the A11 and A14 roads between Four Went Ways and Red Lodge, one of the “E2” courses, was 1-44:59. This took nearly seven minutes off his previous personal best.

It was a time that smashed the club record of 1-52:38 and also placed Richards in twenty-eighth place on the results board behind some of the best riders in the country and ahead of many more. He is also in line for one of the handicap prizes.

The top riders’ times were spectacular.  The winner, Stephen Irwin of North Lancs RC, recorded 1-35:13 and was one of nine riders under one hour and forty minutes.

Other times of interest to local riders include Sean Taylor of RAF CA with 1-43:39 and Dave Green of Team VeloVelocity with 1-43:47.

The fastest woman was British UCI National TT Champion Hayley Simmonds of Aerocoach with a remarkable new competition record 1-42:20, beating the previous one by over 4:26.

The conditions for this event were very hot and this, combined with the uphill drags between 26 and 44 miles gave the riders a hard task, but a rewarding one for most.

Richards

There were ten VC Baracchi riders in last week’s Godric CC 10-mile club time trial, in which the home club’s James Trenchard beat Richards to the win by just one second, with 21:17 to 21:18.

Keith Wink of VCB, who has so far been only an occasional time triallist, rode a personal best 23:49 and revealed his true potential, while Paul Killett and Steve Woodcock, both riding their very first events, achieved excellent first times of 27:57 and 28:28 respectively.

Keith Wink

Sephen Woodcock

Other VCB times were Liam Gentry 22:00, Paul Dennington 23:49, George Kerridge 23:40, Paul Hayward 23:51, Chris Womack 24:44, Nick Esser 25:57 and John Swanbury 26:12.

Paul Killett

Liam Gentry

Last Thursday’s Gt Yarmouth CC club time trial at Lound attracted 25 riders and was won by Louis Julian of the home club in 23:43.

VCB’s times were led by Dave Loynes in third place in 25:04 and Paul Dennington, still in some discomfort after a fall the previous week and not on his fastest bike, who achieved 25:34 for sixth.  Swanbury recorded 28:02 and Richard Allen 30:01.

Lucas He of VCB, who is a very keen junior with lots of potential, was rightly pleased with second place in the youth event at the Trinity Park cycle racing at Ipswich.

Lucas He at Trinity Park

Other VCB riders, Gentry, Richards and Esser took part in the very fast main race and it was a good work-out but on this occasion they did not come away with the success they were looking for.  Martlesham rider Lloyd Chapman from Pedal Heaven won in close finish between him and a breakaway companion.

Esser in second wheel at Trinity Park (photo Jack Payne)