Two fourth places for Richards – in time trial and road race

A great week for Velo Club Baracchi riders included a fourth place in road racing for Mark Richards and also fourth for him in the open time trial he organised for the club, together with a team prize for the top three VCB riders in that event.

The VCB May Day 10 based at Wortwell on the A143 course attracted over 100 riders and was slickly organised by Richards and his team of marshals and other helpers.

Richards on the outward leg (photo by Dominic Austrin)

The VCB times were Richards 21:24, Liam Gentry 21:35, George Kerridge 22:47 (course best), Paul Hayward 23:12, James Moore 23:15, Nick Esser 23:28, David Loynes 24:17 (PB), Chris Womack 24:53, Lucas He 25:41 (PB), Nicki Hawkes 26:19, Paul Reed 27:20, John Thompson 28:41 and on the tandem, John Swanbury and Ali Banks 23:07.

Nicki Hawkes nears the finish (photo by Dominic Austrin)

The Jane Travers Memorial Trophy for the fastest woman from any club was won by Denise Hurren of Sole Bay Cycle Sport in a personal best 26:02. Second was Kate Scotter of Iceni Velo in 26:14 with VCB’s Hawkes third.

Chris Womack (photos by Dominic Austrin)

Liam Gentry – new kit still on the way!

Swanbury and Banks nearing the finish

The top three riders in the event were Tim Cartwright of Newbury CC 20:19, Matthew Senter of Peterborough CC 21:12 and Sean Taylor of RAF CA 21:21.  Len Benton of Colchester Rovers was the top veteran with +5:45 on standard from his 25:13 ride at age 78, followed by Chris Roberts of Anglia Velo +4:52 and Angus Jardine of Ipswich BC +4:31.

Rock Estate times were M Reeve 24:21, S Barber 24:48, J Keeble 25:02 and S Caruthers 25:55.

Richards’ good road race result was in the Iceni Velo road race on 10.5 laps of a course around Saxlingham, Seething & Stoke Holy Cross, including eleven ascents of Skeets Hill.

Dougal Toms (Iceni) & Zak Coleman (Strada) broke away on the third climb of Skeets Hill. The whole bunch panicked and gave chase, which put a few into the red. Over the top of Richards attacked and opened up a gap of forty second straight away. Five riders gave chase and Richards held these off for three laps.

The leading group of six rode together putting two minutes into the bunch and with two laps to go Lewis Pendle (VC Norwich) attacked from Saxlingham.  Elliot Fullerton (Kassei) gave chase with a RAF CA rider leaving Richards with two Iceni riders.

Richards gave chase and took the Iceni riders with him to the front.  Fullerton kicked again and rode away with one lap to go leaving the five to fight out the sprint for second.

Fullerton was only five seconds ahead as they crossed the line with Pendle second, an RAF CA rider third and Richards fourth with the two Icenis about ten seconds behind.  Gentry was riding the whole race to defend Richards and came in thirteenth.

In the VC Norwich open 25 on a revised A11 course starting at Larling and turning at Browick Chris Womack rode in 1-01:33 and John Thompson in 1-12:13.  Dave Green (Team Velo Velocity) won in 51:27

John Thompson rode the King’s Lynn open 10 on a triangular course starting on the A10 near South Runcton and finishing on the A134 near Wormegay and achieved 28:49.

Last week’s Godric CC first-of-the-season club 10 Gentry won in 22:19 with Kerridge third in 23:43. Richards punctured.  Ten riders took part in on this cold blustery evening.

Check out www.becclescycleforlife.org if you are interested in that charity ride on May 15.