Partridge rides a course record in Stowmarket 10

Velo Club Baracchi rider Nick Partridge rode a course record and a great personal best of 20:04 to win the Stowmarket & District CC open 10-mile time trial on the A14 on Monday.

The course was from Rougham to Woolpit and back.  Partridge’s closest rivals were Matt O’Brien of Partridge’s former club, Plomesgate Cc in 20:38 and Adrian Pettit of the home club in 20:50.

On the previous Tuesday Partridge had been the fastest rider in Godric CC’s club 10 at Earsham, with 20:48. Other VCB times were John Swanbury 25:41, Mark Womack 26:18, Jodie Lee 31:50 (PB), Stuart Supple DNF (punctured). 

Paul Wright and Josh Peck of VCB both took part at the Lotus circuit racing last week. Peck got a good 5th place in the youth A race.

The pace in the men’s race was hot, averaging 27mph.  Various breaks amalgamated into a lead group of ten to fifteen riders and Wright could not get away from the second group, finishing 20^th out of forty-six. 

Top of Form

His rides included a gentle one of about 35 miles following the coast alongside the Firth of Clyde and Loch Striven and a much harder one that touched the Trossachs National Park.

After following the Firth of Clyde for a few miles to turn along a beautiful lane through Glen Forest there followed a 20% climb with four false tops, followed by a great descent to the A815 with stunning views of Loch Ech.

He rode beside Loch Fynne and turned up a narrow road with a gradient that soon had him “grovelling” in his lowest gear, ’34 x 34.’  The reward was in the stunning views on the descent to the A886 and after more climbing, another great descent. It came to about 70 miles.

A further ride of 56 miles the next day including views of Loch Riddon and the discovery of a farm café at Millhouse added to a very pleasing trip with objectives realised and in mostly good weather.

Subsequently, last weekend Thompson spent two days tweaking the routes for the audax rides he is organising, riding 70 miles one day and another ride of similar distance the next, revived by “another gastronomic delight” at the Country Kitchen, including ice cream sundae with strawberry sauce.