Only one VCB rider in the CC Breckland 30 and JT returns from his tour

Swanbury

The only Velo Club Baracchi rider taking part in time trials at the weekend was veteran John Swanbury, who achieved 1-18:35 in the CC Breckland 30-mile open time trial and district championship.

Jenny Anderson, riding for Gt Yarmouth CC, rode a personal best 1-18:08 and her club-mate Jan Smith’s personal best 1-13:55 was also a GYCC club record.

At the business end of affairs on this A11 course near Attleborough the thee fastest riders were Team VeloVelocity’s Ben Stancombe (59:57), Daniel Bloy 1-00:34 and David Procter 1-02:16 and they won the team prize.

56-year old Procter had the best result on in the veterans, beating his age-related standard time by a “plus” of 20:25, with 71-year-old Roger Sewell of Wisbech Wheelers nearly as impressive with +19:59 from his 1-10:10 ride.

The women’s competition was won by Becky Murley of Wisbech Wheelers with 1-09:08.

At the HQ in Great Ellingham the wins seemed quite light but on the dual carriageways the southerly wind would hamper the riders when heading in that direction.

John Thompson has just returned from a 700-mile cycling tour in Scotland, starting from and returning to Inverness and he achieved an ambition in reaching Cape Wrath, the most north-westerly point on the British mainland

He enjoyed stunning scenery almost everywhere from beginning to end, including lovely quiet roads alongside lochs and he said even the main coastal roads are very scenic and not especially busy.

He said, “the most challenging ride was the 63 miles from Lochinver to Durness.  It is one part of the “North Coast 500” that deviates from the main road along the B869 to properly follow the coast.”

“It was stunningly scenic but up and down ‘like a yo-yo’, particularly the 9 miles from Drumbeg to the A894, which includes a 1 in 4.  I did however end the day with a lovely long descent into Durness.”

Two days later was the actual longest ride from Altnaharra to Drumbeg, approx 76 miles.  In the course of his tour Thompson rode the toughest stretch of road to Drumbeg three times.

The VCB club ride on Sunday was 70 miles or so and included a stop at Framlingham.  Five riders set out on the ride and met up with five other members and friends of the club to enjoy the refreshments.

The first group comprised Alex and Lucas He, Keith Wink, Paul Dennington and Chris Womack, who met up with Mike Rainton, Mike Wood, John Haigh, Paul Clarke and Terry Power.  Alex and Lucas also put in extra distance for the first time recorded 100 miles.