Success in the last time trial of the season includes team prize

Paul Dennington and his club-mate Mark “Titch” Richards had the last time trial personal battle of the year in the Norwich ABC 25-mile open time trial on Sunday.

Paul Dennington

Both were under the hour on a bright but cold morning in the A143. Dennington was the quicker of the club rivals with 59:04 to the younger rider Richards’ 59:16.

There was very little wind but most riders in the event, which had attracted 43 entries, agreed that it was hard to ride a quick time, so these were good rides.

Also riding for the club were Ali Banks with 1-05:24, John Swanbury 1-06:30 and John Thompson 1-13:50.

VC Baracchi won the team prize with the top three times, Dennington, Richards and Banks.

The event was won by Daniel Bloy of Team VeloVelocity in 54:40 from James Trenchard of Godric CC and Steve Gorbutt of Diss CC who were second equal with 55:48.

Dennington and Richards were seventh and eighth respectively and Dennngton was also third on veteran age standard with +8:56.

The day before in the NABC 10-mile event Richards achieved 23:10, which was a good ride in windy conditions just as the approaching rain caught the last few riders. Thompson’s time was 28:33.

David McGaw of Cambridge CC won in 20:44 from Bloy 21:16 and Jonathan Weatherley of CC Sudbury 22:17.

One of the riders said afterwards, “The tail wind on the way out was helpful and not as bad on the return.”

However, with the cold front and heavy rain approaching, many riders sent apologies and the Norwich ABC was lucky to get the event under way and finished successfully.

By contrast, the Leo RC and VTTA East 30-mile time trial due to take place on Saturday on the A14, A11 and A505 roads had to be cancelled, which was a good early call by the organiser in the morning, saving wasted journeys by most of the riders.

The rain came earlier to Newmarket. Among the 145 solo riders listed to ride the afternoon event had been Chris Womack of VCB and the VCB tandem duo of Swanbury and Banks, who were disappointed but recognised that the weather had broken and made the event impossible to run.

John Thompson has recently received some photos from his participation in an audax ride in the Outer Hebrides in the summer.

John Thompson leaving the Loch Erisort Inn (Isle of Lewis)

Within his Scottish holiday, he rode the 208km event organised by the Hebridean CC starting and finishing at Stornoway, capital of Isle of Lewis.  It also went through north Harris, and over the bridges onto Great Berneray and Scalpay. Thompson finished a couple of minutes over 13 hours and commented, “Although it’s the slowest I’ve done, considering the terrain and conditions, in relative terms it’s probably the best ride I’ve done.”

The Keith Stephens Memorial Duathalon starts at 9am this Sunday from outside Carlton Colville Primary School at Gisleham Road, with entry on the line. It is a 25km ride sandwiched between two 5km runs and is open to all comers.