Dennington and other VCB riders still chalking up PBs

Paul Dennington of Velo Club Baracchi continued to improve with yet another personal best, this time in the Wolsey Road Club 25-mile time trial along the Waveney Valley.

In a strong ride Dennington covered the distance in 58:57 on what seemed like a fair morning

John Thompson, who has struggled to inject speed this year, was the only other VCB rider in the event.  He said, “My time was 1-12:13, which being only 12 seconds slower than on the A11 in May, which indicates that I’m continuing to go the right way!”

He added, “As is usual with that course there was no real helping wind anywhere, but it was hardest in the westerly direction.” Daniel Bloy (Kings Lynn CC) won in 54:05.

Personal bests were earned by Mark “Titch” Richards and Mark Womack on the Godric CC 10-mile club time trial at Earsham last week.

Richards dipped under 23 minutes for the first time to record 22:50.  Womack rode his first “24,” or more precisely 24:51.

George Kerridge achieved 23:38 and John Swanbury’s time was 25:26, while club secretary Nicki Hawkes, riding for Team VeloVelocity, was ten seconds quicker, timed in at 25:16.

The winner was James Trenchard of the home club, whose 21:10 was an excellent time.  An even quicker ride, 20:33, was achieved by the tandem pair of Jim Burgess and Simon Scott of Anglia Velo.

The Rock Estate riders’ times were notable for being very close to each other; Chris Scott 24:46, Paul Hayward 24:48 and Leigh Butcher 24:50, and all were just beaten by Richard Hill (GYCC) in 24:39.  There were 28 solo riders in the event.

Last Thursday’s Gt Yarmouth CC club 10 was almost as difficult as they come, with the wind in an unhelpful direction.

Mark “Titch” Richards of VCB overcame the difficulties to achieve 23:38 for second place behind Harley Matthews of Strada Sport.  Mark Womack achieved 26:13 and Dennington punctured, riding in on a flat tubular in 33:40 to save the walk.

Thompson rode a 208km audax organised by the Hebridean CC, starting and finishing at Stornoway, the capital of Isle of Lewis.  He said, “It also went through north Harris, and over the bridges onto Great Berneray and Scalpay.  I finished in about 13 hours 2 minutes.  Although it’s the slowest I’ve done, considering the terrain and conditions, in relative terms it’s probably the best ride I’ve done.”

“Firstly the hills, including one on Harris that compares to many mountain road climbs I’ve done abroad.  There was also a Hebridean wind which was against us far more than behind – overall for about 130 km’s.  Then there was rapidly changing weather from warm sunshine one minute to cold heavy showers the next and even a little hail!  I finished feeling well pleased.”

This was part of a touring holiday in superb scenery which included 82 miles from Ullapool to Tongue on the north coast, preceded by two tough days around 70 miles.