Dupen and Richards share VCB hill honours

Velo Club Baracchi’s new hill climb champion is Mark “Titch” Richards, who wasted no time on the steep little hill at Station Road, Alburgh and was the fastest by a good margin.

Richards fights the hill climb

This hill, known in the club as Dove Hill, is a surprisingly difficult one on the edge of the Waveney Valley but the lightly built Richards flew up it in 40.91 seconds.

The rider who came closest to Richards’ time was a former club hill champion, Pat Harbord, whose time was 46.73 seconds, with George Kerridge third in 47.72.

Harbord on the hill climb

The defending champion, Mike Bretton, was fourth with 49.20 seconds, just beating Paul Dennington’s 49.37 and Ali Banks’ 49.70. Chris Womack had a great ride for a slightly older veteran with 52.19 seconds.

Mike Bretton trying to defend his hill climb title

Ali Banks climbs

Chris “Bling” Womack represents the oldies

A visitor from Cornwall called Chris who was staying locally joined the club run to the event and also enjoyed the hill climb. The trophy for the event, the Bernard Dale Memorial Trophy, is open to any Lowestoft rider so perhaps next year other local riders will tag along.

On the way to the event the riders stopped at Jays Hill in Sotterley for the annual freewheeling competition, to be won by the rider who achieved the greatest distance from a standing start.

Pat Harbord ready for the freewheeling

Bretton was the defending champion of this event as well. John Dupen set off as potentially the last rider and easily passed past all the stationary riders strung out along the road. They had each stopped on the rising gradient below the hill where they had run out of momentum.

Mike Bretton assumes the aero tuck

John Thompson’s freewheeling prospects in the balance

He had a minor fright, when Paul Clarke, who had arrived late on the scene, joined the competition and ground to a halt only just a foot or two short of Dupen’s winning position for second place.

Dupen will receive a prestigious club trophy for his classy ride, achieved with so little training or effort!

Ali Banks sets off from the starter, George Kerridge

Nicky Hawkes sets off

John Dupen hold up George Kerridge at the start

The club ride to these events included other riders and was extended to about 50 miles, visiting the Bungay café on the return.

Titch Richards, Paul Dennington and Ali Banks behind them

Lots of tea and coffee was drunk in the Bungay cafe

A 100-mile ride recently took place, known as the inaugural Dennington 100, to introduce Paul Dennington to rides of that length.

A cafe stop on the Dennington 100

Known particularly for his time trial rides for shorter distances, Dennington recently confessed that he had never ridden 100 miles in one journey.

His club-mates encouraged him to remedy that, and the venture was supported by Chris Womack, Keith Wink, George Kerridge, Mike Wood and Mike Rainton. They enjoyed a grand day out.

There were several in the party who would never pass up the chance of a mug of tea so they visited various cafés en route. It is hoped that the Dennington 100 will be an annual event.

• The club’s AGM is on Monday November 10 at the Tramway Hotel (8pm), when new kit will be discussed, followed on November 15 by the annual prize presentation evening at the Carlton PH, London Road Pakefield (7pm).