Chris Womack improves at Hull; Richards second in NABC 10

Chris Womack of Velo Club Baracchi rode a remarkable personal best on Saturday in the Team Swift open 10-mile time trial near Hull.

His 400-mile journey to and from the event was well rewarded by a stunning 21:49 time, lopping 24 seconds off his previous best.

Womack riding recently

Womack, a perennial youngster aged sixty-nine and three quarters and fondly known to his club-mates as a “freak of nature,” is a superb example of an older rider who can continue to improve despite the passing of years.

Womack said, “The weather was dry with a brisk north west wind, which I thought was going to be hard on the way back but turned out not to be a problem.”

The fastest veteran was Mike Wheeler of Ride Coventry in 21:17, the fastest senior was Freddie James of Beeston Road Club in 20:10.

Hayley Simmonds of Aerocoach, a British women’s time trial champion, took back the national 10 record she had recently lost with an 18:36 ride.

On the Norwich ABC 10 based at Wortwell Mark Richards of VCB was pleased to take 34 seconds off his course best to go under 21 minutes for the first time on this course.  His time was 20:50 and he took second place behind winner Daniel Bloy of Team VeloVelocity (20:33).

Paul Hayward of VCB also had a strong 23:16 ride, only six seconds slower than his course PB.

Harley Matthews of Team Pedal Revolution took third in 21:07, James Trenchard took the veterans’ prize with a “plus” on veteran standard of 4:49 from his 21:10 ride and the first woman was Denise Hurren of Sole Bay Cycle Sport in 24:42 from Jenny Anderson of Gt Yarmouth CC, second in 25:32.  Team VeloVelocity won the team prize.

Tim Revell of VCB, who is on an extended cycle ride through France with no known plans to return, has sent word that he has now completed 3562km on his journey (2213 miles).

John Thompson of VCB rode the Shaftesbury CC 215km (134-mile) audax on Saturday.  The event was based at Ugley in Essex and the route included Greenstead Green, Coggeshall, Elmdon, Takely and Much Hadham.

He said, “It started good with a roaring tail wind to Greenstead Green but getting back to the HQ against it was another story!  After that it was two loops of 52 and 53 km’s going back to the HQ.  It meant that headwind/tailwind was more or less 50/50.”

Thompson completed it in 13 hours 17 minutes and said, “Considering the strength of the wind I was pleased!”  He also explained that when it was dark it was harder to check the route sheet and signposts.

Thompson added, “I did some ‘serious’ eating at Greenstead Green – well, ham, egg and chips!”