A quick personal best 25-mile time for Newnham

Mark Newnham of Velo Club Baracchi achieved a personal best time in the API-Metrow 25-mile open time trial on dual carriageways from Newmarket in a very high quality field.

It started raining as soon as he arrived and there was a possibility that the event would be cancelled, but fortunately conditions improved to just light rain with a very light wind.

With unsettled weather having been forecast and some heavy showers about, only 73 of 120 competitors turned up. Those who stayed away missed out on what turned out to be a very fast day.

Newnham’s new personal best time of 57:23 was just one second quicker than his previous best.

He said, “I thought that was pretty good till I saw the rest of the times. I came 65th out of the 73.”

The winner, Gavin Atkins of Hemel Hempstead CC, scorched round in 48:45 and there were four other sub 50’s. No one was over the hour including 6 women.

Newnham was the fastest VC Baracchi rider in Gt Yarmouth CC’s club 10-mile time trial last Thursday, with fifth place out of the seventeen finishers in 25:02.

Other VCB riders enjoyed some success. Paul Dennington rode well in 26:24 but Steve Summons is becoming established as an improving rider and was nipping at Dennington’s heels with 26:31.

 

Jenny Anderson rode a very sound 28:03, beating the home club’s Holly Nottcut who finished in 31:45.

Anthony Potts achieved a steady 32:05, while juvenile rider Josh Womack grew in confidence and ability to complete the 5-mile version of the course in 21:21.

Former VCB member Mark Westrup of Strada Sport was the winner in 23:27 from Shaun Aldous of Iceni racing (23:53), James Trenchard of Godric CC (24:24) and the home club’s Harley Matthews (24:47).