Holmes cup win by Gt Yarmouth CC conceded by VC Baracchi

Velo Club Baracchi waved goodbye to the Holmes Cup for another year when the resurgent Gt Yarmouth CC turned out a mass of riders for the reliability trial.

The word had been put about that VCB had a lead of ten points after the two time trials but further investigation reduced this to just four points and all the riders who completed the 50-mile reliability trial would earn a point.

It was not hard to see, therefore, that when the fifteen VCB riders signed on and found that GYCC had mustered no less than thirty-four of their members, all that was left was an opportunity to enjoy the morning’s ride on a warm but windy day.

The course led through St. Olaves, Haddiscoe, Loddon, Mundham, Ditchingham, Bungay, Rumburgh, Redisham, Brampton, Sotterley, Mutford, Carlton Colville, Oulton Broad and back to Blundeston.

The majority of the riders from both clubs completed the new route successfully and returned to the Blundeston Plough, from which they had departed some hours before.

Liam Gentry and Nick Esser of VCB finished in the unfeasibly quick time of two hours and twenty minutes, which in the old days would have been frowned upon in this kind of event.

Their pace towards the end of the ride split a bigger group that included club-mate Duncan Lines and a dozen GYCC riders.  They came back in smaller groups comprising the remains of Gentry’s group of five and two other groups of five or six.

After these pace-setters the rest of the field came in similarly, all at their own pace.  Richard Allen rode well and was for most of the distance on his own, revelling in the end-of-season country ride.

John Swanbury rode with team-mates Chris and Mark Womack and two GYCC riders, completing the ride in just under three hours.  Others who finished shortly thereafter included Mike Rainton, Nicki Hawkes and Will Garrod, together with Pat Harbord who had, typically for him, been making sure some less able riders including Yarmouth youngsters were alright.

Victory for the Yarmouth club was duly conceded over a “swift half” in the Plough afterwards.

John Thompson had organised Audax rides from the nearby village hall, which had clashed accidentally, but attracted a good entry and he was complimented on the lovely routes.  Although some who entered did not attend, a total of 40 rode, 23 in the 200km and 17 in the 150km.

Both rides first went to Thornham Magna via Metfield and Eye, then via Worlingworth and Saxted Green to Framlingham, where the rides went their different ways for a bit. The 150 went to Benhall, then through Saxmundham to Theberton and then Dunwich.  From there it was via Wenhaston, Byford and Stoven back to Blundeston.

The 200 went via Bredfield and Melton to Shottisham, Hollesley and Butley to Orford control and then via Snape and Leiston to Dunwich to join the same route as the 150.

This Sunday the VCB club run will leave as normal from the Cotmer Road roundabout at 8.30am and ride out to Jays Hill, Sotterley where the freewheeling competition will take place before continuing to Dove Hill, Homersfield for the club hill climb.