Mark Saunders on form at 10 miles

In the Godric club 10-mile time trial last Tuesday Mark Saunders of VCB rode well to record 22:43, which may well be his personal best.

Alex He also had a good event, lowering his best to 26:10.  Other VCB times were John Swanbury 26:21 and Paul Reed 26:27.

It was a warm evening with a light westerly breeze that made the outward leg from Earsham to the Redenhall roundabout the harder of the two, though the breeze seemed to drop and not be a great help on the return.

Joe Skipper of Team Skipper won the 30-rider event with 20:22 with Simon Boyle of Orwell Velo second in 22:22 and VCB’s Saunders in third place.

Gary Pamment of Velo Schils Interbike (22:57) and Lee Garrod of Sole Bay Cycle Sport (22:58) had the closest tussle.

Rock Estate’s times were headed by Stuart Chase with 23:33. The fastest lady was Denise Hurren of Sole Bay Cycle Sport with 24:03.

At the Lotus League circuit racing Charles Jones of VCB was the club’s best finisher in the top race with eighth place, closely followed by club-mates Mark Richards in tenth and Nick Esser eleventh.

It was a bunch finish so close that the riders would have been hard to place without the electronic timing system.  It managed to separate forty-five riders finishing within less than seven seconds, all of whom were accorded the same time as the winner, Thomas Power of Strada Sport.

In the race for fourth cats Matt Cole and Luke Rowell represented the club and finished just ten seconds behind the winner in 34^th and 35^th places.  Jude Garrod of Artel Racing won.

Club riding continued over the weekend with takers for the Sunday club run at 8.30am from the Cotmer Road roundabout, which is often depleted by racing commitments at this time of year.

Wrinklies rides at 9am on Tuesdays and Fridays from Carlton Colville church have been popular too, with riders choosing between a slightly faster ride and a second group that is marginally slower paced.

These rides in which local cyclists (not necessarily club members) can participate suit people of any age whose circumstances, whether retirement or shift work, allow them to get out in the week to ride in company so there is quite a big pool of riders who can sometimes be there.