Hayward rides a strong 25

Despite squally winds in the VTTA East Anglian 25-mile time trial on the A11 from Newmarket, Velo Club Baracchi’s Paul Hayward recorded 57:22 by a very strong ride.

It was extremely wet and windy during the event on Sunday and one regular rider of the course said he had never seen such slow times there.

Hayward said it was a was cross-wind both ways and partly behind on the return leg, though to him it just felt like a cross-wind.

There were nevertheless a few fast times under 50 minutes, with Simon Norman of Bedfordshire Roads RT up there with 49:03.

The Stowmarket & District CC 10-mile event on the A12 was run in slightly less windy conditions, though still difficult, with a headwind out and a tailwind back that was sheltered in places.

Alex He of VCB rode a course-best time of 23:53. His son Lucas was nursing a muscle strain and did not ride, but he had lent his fast disc wheel to help his father along.

Chris Womack pulled out with injury, leaving VCB’s John Swanbury to try his best in the over-70s age band.  Though it was a relatively slow ride, 26:19, it was enough for the prize.

The overall winner was Stuart Fairweather of Team VeloVelocity in 20:38. Rebecca Johnson of Fusion RT Veloperformance set a new women’s course record, 22:26 but local rider Denise Hurren of Sole Bay Cycle Sport took second place with a good ride in 23:41.

In last week’s Godric CC club time trial Lucas He of VCB took second place in 22:05.  The winner was Dan Blackburn of VC Norwich in 21:07. Thirty-two rode.

Paul Dennington of VCB took third place in 22:18. There were six two-up teams in the event, the fastest of which was that of Phil Marler and Jon Buck of Godric CC in 22:38.

Alex He rode in 24:34 and the VCB tandem pair, Swanbury and Ali Banks, were pleased with 22:41, equalling their best ride of the year on that course.

In last Thursday’s sunny and warm conditions, Paul Dennington of VCB took second place to Simon Sott of Anglia Velo in the Gt Yarmouth CC club time trial at Lound.

Scott’s winning time was 23:41 and Dennington achieved 24:00, an average of exactly 25mph.  Richard Allen of VCB beat the 20mph threshold with 29:59. Johnathan Lincoln was the home club’s fastest with 24:08 for third place.

John Thompson of VCB, on the eve of his 65^th birthday, rode what he regarded as his “coming of age” ride.  It consisted of about 80 miles and included Haleswoth, Walpole and Peasenhall and Pettaugh, where he sought out a lane to Debenham he had not ridden previously.

His ride then took him to Eye, Wingfield and Mendham to the Farmers Kitchen at Homersfield for what he called a “gastronomic delight” and retuning via St Cross, Ilketshall St Andrew, Ringsfield and Weston.