VC Baracchi club runs and looking forward
Velo Club Baracchi riders are going through a relatively quiet period at the moment, with club runs and training on the agenda.
On New Year’s Day, however, there are at least six of the club members entered in the CC Breckland 10-mile open time trial on the A11, an out of season special for the hardy.
Sometimes the weather prevents this event from taking place but with a little luck there may be some sport in prospect for George Kerridge, Steve Summons, Paul Dennington, John Swanbury, Chris Womack and Nicki Hawkes, who have submitted entries.
There is obviously a slightly greater impetus to their training than might otherwise have been the case this side of Christmas.
Kerridge seems to be riding very strongly and may well be the quickest, but Dennington, whose last season was disrupted by injury, is very keen to continue his comeback. The others all had ridden well this year and some fairly close competition may be in prospect.
The club run, as always, went first to Halesworth and most of the riders went on to Dunwich via Peasenhall and Saxmundham. They split into groups according to speed and ability. The round trip was just over 60 miles.
John Thompson, who ought to know a thing or two about setting off against the wind for the benefit of a tailwind home, did just the opposite.
After riding to Gt Yarmouth he went via Potter Heigham and Ludham past the How Hill Trust to Catfield and then toward Stalham, venturing into lanes to Hickling, eventually joining the coast road just south of Lessingham.
It was around this point that it clouded over and the wind got up giving Thompson a tough head wind through Sea Palling, Winterton and Hemsby to Caister, where he lunched and discovered a flat rear tyre to fix before he could return, still against the wind.
Velo Club Baracchi riders wish all readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks also to Lowestoft Journal for huge support during the year.