Dupen, Womack and Kerridge all on form for VC Baracchi

Personal bests were the order of the day for the two Velo Club Baracchi riders in the API Zak Carr memorial 25-mile time trial on the A11 and A14 dual carriageways.

John Dupen, with 54:49, had not previously beaten the personal record he set in 2000 and Chris Womack, with 58:05, shaved another chunk off the time he set this month.

It was a remarkable day, with riders from far and wide, 116 of whom were under the hour.  There was a tailwind start in which Dupen had averaged 30mph to the turn and headwind return that in some places was sheltered.

Matthew Smith of Team VeloVelocity won in 48:34 and Rhys Howells of Richardsons-Trek RT in 49:04 was second.

The rider who finished third in 49:32, Simon Norman of Bedfordshire Roads CC, was subsequently disqualified for the offence of having entered two clashing open events, so the third place went to Mark Jones of www.Drag2zero.com in 49:34.

VC Baracchi riders in the CC Breckland mid-week open time trial on the A11 had also enjoyed wonderful conditions, with results to match.

Dupen rode his second-fastest ever 10 miles with 21:51, with George Kerridge on 22:41, which was another great time and probably a personal best.  Chris Womack,who rode his fastest of the year with 23:38, said that he “died towards the end.”

It was on the newer version of the A11 course, starting just off the Attleborough slip-road to turn at the Snetterton flyover and finish on the Attleborough by-pass

John Thompson, whose time was 27:05, said “It was a good evening, with head wind out but not that bad and a good tail wind return, which is longer.”

Womack said there was a westerly blowing before the race but it almost died just as the race started leaving a slight head wind on the outward leg.

Nicki Hawkes, riding for Team VeloVelocity, achieved a personal best 23:47 to win the ladies’ prize and similarly good times by other local riders included Mark Newnham (VCN) 22:18, Ian McCluskey (Diss) 22:30 and Brian Davies (Anglia Velo) 24:05.

David McGaw of Cambridge CC won in 19:55 from James Trenchard (Godric CC) 20:20, Charlie Nurse (North Norfolk Wheelers) and Steve Gorbutt (Diss) tied on third with 20:32 and Jim Burgess (Anglia Velo) 20:34.

Godric CC’s Tuesday 10 was cancelled because of road resurfacing.

VCB times in the Gt Yarmouth CC 10 at Somerleyton were Paul Dennington 23:18, Chris Womack 25:39, Mark Womack 25:57, Luke Fitzgerald 29:27 and Joe Reynolds 29:50.  Joe Skipper of Team Pedal Revolution NCA won in 21:43.  28 rode.

In the East District 25-mile championship on the A47 near Wisbech John Swanbury’s time was 1-05:08 and John Thompson’s 1-13:54.  It was a disappointingly cloudy, drizzly morning with some gusting winds across the Fens. Matthew Smith of Team VeloVelocity won in 51:17 from his team-mate Daniel Bloy (52:53).