Swanbury and Banks improve tandem record

Velo Club Baracchi’s current tandem time trial pair chipped away at the club’s 25-mile record at the Godric CC club event last week.

The record previously stood at 59:57, achieved by John Swanbury and George Kerridge on the Bressingham to Thetford road in 2008.

Swanbury and his stoker, Ali Banks, riding on the two-lap Bungay to Redenhall roundabout course, cut this to 59:00.

Other VCB times were Jenny Anderson 1-08:28, Mark Womack 1-11:05, Richard Allen 1-14:14, Mike Wood 1-16:00 and John Dupen did not finish.

Mark Womack’s time was a personal best by two minutes and thirty-five seconds.  Mike Wood was a little slower than the week before but had to turn back to pick up his computer, which bounced off onto the road.

The quick riders were headed by Jim Burgess of Anglia Velo who won with 54:36 from Liam Gentry of Strada Sport (55:25), Stuart Pryce of Strada Sport (55:43), Will Bamber of VC Norwich (56:39) and Steve Gorbutt of Diss & Dist CC (57:20).

The fastest lady was Sally Withey of VC Norwich with 1-05:49.

It was likely to be one of the best evenings of the season as the wind was light and the air quite warm.

In the Gt Yarmouth CC club 10-mile time trial at Somerleyton VCB juvenile rider Josh Womack rode the 5-mile distance, achieving 21:51.

At 10 miles the fastest was former VCB rider Mark Westrup of Strada Sport with 23:08 from James Trenchard of Godric CC (24:33) and Nick Esser of Strada Sport (24:47).

Paul Dennington of VCB rode well with 26:37, fifth of the 10-milers. Paul Bedford of VCB was nearly up to that speed with 27:10 and Jenny Anderson could also be pleased with 28:25.  Including the five miler and two 2-up pairs, a total of 20 riders took part.

Mike Rainton returned safely from his six-day End to End charity ride for the Bishop Simeon Trust and as everyone hoped he would, he managed the route well enough for yet another year.

There was some dire weather at times but the saving grace was that the wind was usually either on one side or a tail wind.

His journey was achieved without a single puncture and that may be something to do with the fact that he was nowhere near the flints that we have on out East Anglian roads.

His Virgin Money Giving page under the name Mike Rainton is still open and he would welcome all support.

Four riders took part in the 9am club run on Sunday and enjoyed nearly 50 miles in the sunshine with the dual bonus of a tailwind return from Homersfield and a bacon roll in Bungay.