Mark Newnham picks up personal best

Last Wednesday was an especially good night for the evening time trial on the A11 on the usual stretch to the south of Wymondham, with still air and warmth.

Mark Newnham of Velo Club Baracchi enjoyed a purple patch and rode a personal best by eight seconds, beating his time of two years ago.

Other Baracchi times were Mike Rainton 25:32 and John Thompson 27:04. Stalham rider Scott Davidson (Velo Velocity) won in 21:27.

John Dupen of Velo Club Baracchi, riding a tandem with his son-in-law Simon Scott of Anglia Velo, achieved 20:34, which does not set a club annual best because of the mixed pairing, but was good none-the-less.

The fastest of the tandem was that of Glenn Taylor (Shorter Rochford Exclusive Ranges) and Mark Arnold (Team Pedal Revolution) who set a course record with 17:59.

On the previous day the Godric CC club 10 from Earsham was won by Liam Gentry of Strada Sport in 21:34 from his club-mate Stuart Pryce (21:51).

The VCB times were Chris Womack 25:15, John Swanbury 25:27 and Tracy Prewer 29:20.  Nicki Hawkes of Velo Velocity (also second claim VCB) achieved 26:54.

Riders in the Gt Yarmouth CC club 10 on the Somerleyton course also benefited from the fine weather, but there was a light breeze.

The VCB times were Chris Womack 26:07, Ali Banks 27:11, John Swanbury 27:49, Steve Summons 28:09 (PB) and Mark Womack 29:27 after mechanical problems two weeks running.

Stuart Pryce of Strada Sport won in 22:36 from Andy Tyler of CC Breckland (22:53) and Harley Matthews (GYCC) 24:47, with Nick Esser of Strada Sport fourth in 24:52.

On Sunday in the Stowmarket & District CC 10-mile open time trial Swanbury rode the course on the A14 road from Rougham to Woolpit and back in 25:11 and Thompson in 27:51.

The battle of the top riders was won by David McGaw of Cambridge CC in 20:49 from Anthony Stapleton of Chelmer CC who took four seconds longer.

Mike Rainton, John Cooper, James Moore and Duncan Lines, all of VCB, took part in the Norwich 100 bike ride in aid of the British Heat Foundation, completing the distance in less than five hours and 40 minutes.

Rainton reported on how well organised the event had been and how brilliantly it went for everyone on such a sunny, perfect day.

Rainton himself plans another fundraising extravaganza in the Race for Life.   This annual cycling event in aid of the Bishop Simeon Trust starts on 26th June at Lands End and finishes on 1st July at John O’Groats.

He is one of six cyclists who are undertaking this year’s challenge to cycle 876 miles over six days, despite having said last year that his fifth ride was his last.

Rainton has already raised £880 this year including a small amount through his page on Virgin Money Giving.