Lucas He is VCB star in GYCC 10

Lucas He (photo by Dominic Austrin)

VCB riders had various successes as the new local time trial season sprang to life in Gt Yarmouth CC’s open 10-mile time trial on Good Friday on the A143 Beccles bypass.

In the junior competition VCB’s Lucas He won convincingly with a time of 21:44. His opposition was James Prosser of CC Ashwell who recorded a respectable 27:53 for his age but was outclassed.

The juniors and ladies were in a separate event from the senior and veteran male riders but had they been all in together, the flying Lucas would have been beaten by only three seniors.

Thirty-seven ladies (all from clubs other than VCB) were entered, the fastest of whom was Francesca Hall of Dap CC in 23:48.

Second-fastest was Wrentham rider Denise Hurren of Sole Bay Cycle Sport in 24:44, with Verity Smith of Stowmarket & District CC third in 25:06. There was some juggling of the prizes as riders can only win one for their ride (except as part of a team) and they usually take the best money prize.

On this basis Verity Smith took the second prize and Becky Schofield of Epic Orange the third for her 25:20 ride.

Hurren was placed first on veteran standard and will win the money prize for that, with Kate Lucas of Norwich ABC second and Jan Smith of Gt Yarmouth CC third.

Nearly eighty senior and veteran male riders entered in the event and the VCB times were Paul Hayward 23:08, Mark Saunders 23:09, Stuart Chase 25:10, Alex He 25:24, Paul Wright 25:47, John Swanbury 26:42 and Paul Reed 27:06.

VCB took an equal share of the team prize with VC Norwich under the so-called Bidlake system under which the time of the third-fastest rider in each team is compared.

Stuart Chase was the VCB rider who secured that joint win, with his 25:10, equalled by VC Norwich’s Mark Smart.

The scratch prize went to Sam Proctor of Ride Harder (a triathlete from Kent) for his 21:08 ride and he beat local rider Mark Richards of Dap CC by only one second.  Third was Matt O’Brien of Plomesgate CC with 21:15.

Chris Nudds of CC Breckland led the veteran prize list for his “plus” of 4:40 against his age standard.  Saunders of VCB featured in fourth place with +3:36.

Other prizes in quite a vast array included the Derek Evans Memorial Handicap award, won by Martin Wilson of Gt Yarmouth CC and the ladies handicap award won by Jo Fisk of Beccles Tri Club.

The event was ably organised by Lynn Evans and her team of helpers and the home-made cakes afterwards were worthy of special mention.

John Thompson rode the Huntingdon “The Double Dutch” 204km (127.5-mile) audax and had a predominantly good day and initial very good progress.  Only a double puncture spoilt his time, to leave him with his slowest ride to date for that particular event.

He was lucky to find a companion rider of similar pace and they helped each other along.  The route included Ramsey, March, Nordelph, King’s Lynn, Holbeach St Matthew and Spalding.