Mark Richards wins VCB open 50

Mark Richards won the Velo Club Baracchi open 50-mile time trial on the A143 on Sunday with a masterful ride that prevented a clean sweep by Team VeloVelocity.

His time was 1-55:20, an excellent performance considering the strong westerly winds that characterised the event.

Cub member James Moore also had a very strong ride to finish above 25mph in 1-59:44, Nick Esser should be pleased with 2-06:12 on such a day and Chris Womack for the older veterans was determined to finish despite a bad day for him, achieving 2-15:04.

Womack at Needham RAB (photo: Fergus Muir)

Womack said, “I was going well until about 40 miles then had trouble with my hips, mainly the left one which was causing me great pain but I was determined to finish.”

Ben Keeley of Team VeloVelocity was second in 1-56:05 and his team-mate Paul Jay of Team VeloVelocity came third in 1-57:08.  The fastest was Kay Burgess of Kings Lynn CC in 2-15:18

The fastest Team was Team VeloVelocity whose third rider was Laurence Wright in 1-57:36. Chris Nudds of CC Breckland won the veteran prize with 2-05:56, which gave him a veteran “plus” of 25:22 by which he beat his age standard.

The time trial was ably organised by Richard Allen with the help on the day of club members and friends of the club who had kindly rallied round to make up a shortage of marshals.

In the Diss & District CC Tuesday evening club 10 at Billingford last week Richards was just pipped to the win by Tom Fitzpatrick of Spirit RT by 21:16 to Richards. 21:22.

Paul Dennington rode well in 22:23 for fourth place and John Swanbury’s time was 26:20. There were 34 riders.

In the Gt Yarmouth club 10 last Thursday Richards was second to Harley Matthews of Team Pedal Revolution.  Matthews covered the Lound course in 21:56 and Richards was only a few seconds slower in 22:03.

Other VCB times were Paul Dennington, third in 23:50, Nick Esser, fifth in 24:15, Richard Allen 30:17 and junior rider Josh Womack 33:56.

Rainton. Wink, Wood and Gooch at the Tour of the Broads finish

VCB club members Keith Wink, Mike Wood and Mike Rainton, with a fellow member of the Wrinklies weekday group, Mark Gooch, greatly enjoyed the Tour of the Broads 100-mile ride on Sunday.

Despite the winds they averaged 16.8mph, completing the ride in 5-50:00 or thereabouts.

Mike Rainton reported on a well-organised route all around the Norfolk Broads and described it as one of his best rides.  The event was based at the Pedal Revolution PedalPark at Coltishall, where parking and other facilities were good and with a band and stalls to enjoy.