Chris Womack lays the foundations of his 2014 season

Chris Womack of Velo Club Baracchi had a quicker ride than last year in the East Anglian VTTA open 25-mil time trial on the sporting circuit starting west of Stetchworth roundabout on A1303.

He shaved 45 seconds off the time he previously achieved, to record 1-05:45.

Sporting courses are on single carriageway roads, often undulating and twisty, so the times achieved cannot be directly compared with the potentially faster dual carriageway courses.

This one, turning at Dunsley Corner to Six Mile Bottom A1304 and Stetchworth roundabout twice round had, on the day, a strong side wind on the undulating section at the end of each lap.

Womack said, “The weather was warm at 20°C but with a very strong south east wind, making it fast to the first turn, but then we had to slog into the strong head wind down to Six Mile Bottom.”

“I was pretty pleased, my first five races are down, all with faster times than this time last year.” Womack was seventh on veteran standards, with a “plus” of +6:59.  23 veterans were in contention and the best was Roger Porter of Verulam CC with +11:59.

In the non-veteran category Michael Hutchinson of Ingear-Quickvit-Trainsharp, a former national champion over many years, with 53:55, was beaten into second place by Ashley Cox of CC Luton with 53:30.

John Dupen of VCB dusted off his Roberts trike for a ride in the TA East 25-mile event on the Bressingham course, which is always a hard ride.

He was the third-fastest with 1-19:51, from Barry Charlton of Swinnerton Cycles (1-00:55) and M Hopkins of King’s Lynn CC (1-15:48).  There were seven riders.  Dupen said, “With about seven miles to go I started to ‘die’ and it was a hard finish.

In the Diss medium gear event, Brian Davies of Carlton Colville (Anglia Velo) 7^th with 1-10:30.

John Thompson rode the “Start of Summertime” 211 km (131 miles) audax from Stevenage on Sunday. He said, “Bearing in mind that this was is slightly longer than most events, I was well pleased to get round within my usual target of 12 hours, albeit only just with 7 minutes to spare.”

He did so despite a puncture at Stoke-by-Clair at around 50 miles. He was greatly helped by the still day.  “What wind there was seemed to be against us going out to Lavenham, which is just under half distance, but helping on the return.”

Places included were Thaxsted, Steeple Bupstead Lavenham, Sible Hedingham and Finchingfield.

•  Beccles Cycle for Life charity ride on May 11 is doing well for entries. Distances are 7, 15, 25, 40 and 50 miles.  There is a draw for a free bike for a sponsored rider.  See www.becclescycleforlife.org for entry details.

•  The 40-mile distance has become the “Norfolk & Suffolk 40 mile anniversary ride” in honour of the anniversary of the bicycle prize draw sponsor, Norfolk & Suffolk Financial Services, with a £40 Life Cycles voucher prize at random for a 40-mile rider and another at random for a child riding any distance.