More personal bests – Titch Richards and Paul Dennington on a roll!

Wonderful conditions for fast time trial times were exploited to the full by Velo Club Baracchi riders at the weekend, especially by Mark “Titch” Richards and Paul Dennington with new personal bests.

The weekend started with a 10-mile event on Saturday but it was in Sunday’s open 25-mile time trial run by Godric CC from Redenhall on the A143 that the top performances were achieved.

Richards set a stunning new personal best time of 57:55 and Dennington rode one too, 58:37.

Titch Richards at a Wrinklies ride

George Kerridge had an excellent 1-01:07 ride and Ali Banks, who has not ridden a solo 25 for several years, achieved 1-03:57.  John Thompson recorded 1-12:01.

Paul Jay of Team VeloVelocity won in 54:16 from Steve Gorbutt of Diss &District CC 54:24 and James Trenchard of Godric CC 54:37.

The weather was warm and there was little wind.

In Saturday’s East Anglian CC 10 from Redenhall, Richards rode an excellent time, 22:31, with Chris Womack on 24:18, Banks on 24:42 and John Thompson on 28:08.

Womack in the 10 (photo: Fergus Muir)

At age 67 Womack’s result against his veteran standard was a good one on this single carriageway course, a “plus” of +4:14.

John Thompson (photo: Fergus Muir)

Ali Banks (photo: Fergus Muir)

Nick Esser of Strada Sport, a former VCB member, was timed in at 23:51. There was one tandem, ridden by West Suffolk Wheelers riders Mark Eastwood and John Steed in 23:39.

Daniel Bloy of team VeloVelocity won in 20:39 from Steve Gorbutt of Diss 21:22 and Trenchard of Godric 21:26. Richards was seventh.

Friday’s “Wrinklies” ride from Carlton Colville church at 9am attracted nine riders for a pleasant ride into the country and a café stop on the return.

These rides on Tuesdays and Fridays are open to anyone who wants to come along. It used to be said that they go at a steady pace but sometimes it hots up on the way to the café or when home is nearly in sight so reasonable competence is needed.

Riding in company like this in the week and in the VCB Sunday rides will shortly form a bigger part of the cycling scene in the autumn and winter, as riders train to be in good condition for next year’s events.

Riders gather for the Wrinklies ride

This weekend’s time trials, a 10, 25 and, further afield, a 30, are the last local ones of the season and riders can enjoy the company of others rather than bashing up and down the local courses and more distant dual carriageways in pursuit of fast times.

The Keith Stephens Memorial Duathalon will take place on October 12 from outside the school at Gisleham, starting at 9am.

This event, an informal one with entry on the line, is an annual tribute to VCB’s former treasurer Keith who died in 2002 in a cycling accident while riding for the club.

Entries from cyclists, runners and triathletes are welcome. Lee Cook of Rock Estate won last year and hopefully he will be there to defend.