Only Swanbury to write about this week

John Swanbury of Velo Club Baracchi was the only rider from the club to take part in time trials last week, partly as the poor weather discouraged turnout.

Tuesday’s Godric CC club 10-mile event on the A143 at Earsham would normally have attracted a good entry, as it was their first evening event of the year, but rain was forecast and the heaviest rain of the evening fell during the event.

Swanbury recorded 26:29, riding into a headwind on the outward leg and enjoying some assistance from the wind on the way back.

Mark Richards of Dap CC won in 21:27, with Simon Scott of Anglia Velo and Nick Partridge of Plomesgate CC equal second in 22:25.

Other times were Joe Drake (Rock Estate) 24:42, D Husband (Godric) 25:26, Swanbury 26:29, Doug Reilley (Godric) 26:36, Mitch Porter (Godric) 27:25, Lee French (unattached) 28:00, P Burwood (Beccles Tri) 29:02 and L Welford (Plomesgate CC) 29:42.

Swanbury in the VTTA (East Anglian Group) event (Photo by Nick White)

Swanbury rode on Saturday in the Veteran Time Trials Association (East Anglian Group) 25-mile time trial on the “E2” dual carriageways course (A14 and A11) from Newmarket.

His time was 1-02:24, two minutes better than in the Lea Valley CC event on the same course a few weeks ago, with a veteran “plus” (the time by which he beat his age standard time) of +12:12.

James Rix (Team Bottrill – Vanguard) was the scratch winner in 46:51 with his team-mate Brett Harwood joint second with Matthew Smith of DRAG2ZERO in 47:04 and David Langlands of Team Bottrill – Vanguard fourth in 47:41.

Ron Hallam of South Pennine CC, at 87 the second-oldest rider, was the best on age standard with a plus of +21:42 from his 1-08:22 ride.

Fastest lady was Alice Lethbridge of DRAG2ZERO in 51:45 and her team-mate Liz Powell was the beast veteran (on age standard) with a plus of +18:03.

The single tandem in the tandem event was powered round by Gary Pamment and Barry McDonald of 3T-Racing in 49:42.

There was a tailwind on the first leg and in places the headwind on the return was significant but the rain mostly held off or was light.  Most riders found it quite cold, as it was only eight degrees.

Ninety-seven riders took part in the men’s event and around forty-five sent apologies or otherwise did not start, a reflection of the cold and unpromising conditions, though many who ride found the relatively low atmospheric pressure gave faster than expected rides.

On the Bank Holiday Monday VCB hosts a 10-mile open time trial on the Waveney Valley, based at Wortwell.  Keith Wink is the organiser and has received entries for two tandems and seventy-nine solo riders.