Richards wins VCB 10-mile time trial that he organised

A hugely successful open 10-mile time trial organised for Velo Club Baracchi by its vice-chairman and second-claim member Mark Richards featured a win by him in 20:47.

Richards was riding for DAP CC.  The results of VCB first claim members were headed by junior Lucas He, sixth in 21:31.

Mark “Titch” Richards (photo: Dominic Austrin)

Other VCB times were Mark Saunders, ninth in 22:10, Paul Hayward 22:21, Paul Dennington 22:38, Chris Womack 24:15, Alex He 24:47, Ali Banks 25:14 and John Swanbury 26:11.

Lucas He (photo: Dominic Austrin)

Chris Womack (photo: Dominic Austrin)

Mark Saunders (Photo: Dominic Austrin)

Lucas He, Saunders and Hayward won the team prize for VCB and Chris Womack was third veteran on age standard.

Paul Hayward (photo: Dominic Austrin)

Alex He (photo: Dominic Austrin)

Denise Hurren of Sole Bay Cycle Sport took the ladies’ win in 23:42 and Jenny Anderson of Gt Yarmouth CC (also a second-claim VCB member) was third in 25:27.

The best Rock Estate times were James Drake 23:02 and Stuart Chase 23:15 and Jamie Doy of Sole Bay Cycle Sport achieved 23:20.

Two teams took part in the tandem event, with VCB riders Swanbury and Banks second in a season’s best 22:14 and Velo Schils Interbike RT riders first in 20:39.

Swanbury and Banks (photo: Dominic Austrin)

Richards was assisted on the day by club members, members of other clubs and other friends, whose contributions were valued.

In the Godric CC open 25 on Sunday Richards took second place with 54:10 behind his team-mate Harley Matthews, whose time was a brilliant 51:37, with Ben Stancombe of King’s Lynn CC third in 54:24.

Lucas He again set the best VCB time, finishing eleventh with 57:25.  Other VCB times were Hayward 59:08, Dennington 59:20, Saunders 1-00:05 and Alex He 1-05:25.

Top woman was Cindy Berry of Bowlphish Racing was top lady in 1-03:16 with Jenny Anderson second in 1-06:12.

During the previous weekend John Thompson rode the 170-mile Tour of the Chilterns; three days on the Chilterns Cycleway, a 170-mile circular route. He started and finished at Stevenage with intermediate overnights at High Wycombe and Aylesbury, slightly off the route.

It was a lovely route, with pleasant lanes, scenery, hills, some bridleway and a towpath beside the grand Union Canal.