Gentry and Dennington first and second at Diss 10

Liam Gentry and Paul Dennington of Velo Club Baracchi took first and second places in last week’s Diss CC club time trial.

There were 32 riders in the event.  In an exceptional ride Dennington ran Gentry very close, as there were only nine seconds between them.

VCB times were Liam Gentry 22:25, Paul Dennington 22:34 and John Swanbury 26:46.  Nick Partridge of Plomesgate CC was third in 22:44 with Simon Scott of Anglia Velo fourth in 23:02 and Lee Cook of Rock Estate fifth in 23:06.

Mark Richards and Nick Esser were out of luck at the Essex Roads road race on Sunday, described by Esser as brutal and very stop/start in pace, with some riders dropped by three-quarters of a lap at the end.

After a small warm-up the race began at speed and they continued in the peloton for four laps, with Richards often near the front and Esser clinging on after the climb on each lap of the five-lap race.

Esser said, “No attack stuck as the peloton were always attentive. Just at the beginning of lap four it was strung out single-file by Phil Hetzel (Ipswich), Lewis Pendle (VC Norwich), Zak Coleman (Strada) & Richards.

Two breakaway attempts on the last lap, the last one within three miles of the finish, gave Esser the opportunity to participate in the chase and then assist Richards to the front of the bunch ready for the final ascent & finish.

As Esser described it, “Within 100yds of the finish, Mark was about eighth and was stuck behind a rider who was going backwards quickly.  By the time he’d navigated round him and gained some speed he managed 14th.  I came in about 30 seconds down in 24th.”

Swanbury and John Thompson rode in the Veteran Time Trials Association East Anglian Group open 10-mile time trial on the A14, turning at Woolpit.

Though showers were about, it remained dry, but the temperature at the start was a very chilly one around 4°C. There was a crosswind from the north and it helped somewhat on the way to the turn, making the return harder.

Swanbury achieved 26:54 and Thompson 29:53. Senior rider Paul Jay of Team VeloVelocity was fastest with 22:03.  The best veteran on performance against his age-related veteran time was Andrew Grant of Cambridge CC, whose 22:58 translated to +4:53 on standard.

Verity Smith of Stowmarket & District CC won the ladies prize on standard with +2:45 from her 25:17 ride.

• Entries in advance for the Beccles Cycle for Life charity ride on May 15 can be made until May 7. After that cut-off date the option is to enter on the day as many do, but at a higher fee.

The Beccles Rotary Club organisers report around 150 entries so far, including twenty-eight from Gt Yarmouth CC. For advance entry and details of the event see www.becclescycleforlife.org