Yet more VC Baracchi personal bests

Very strong winds in the CC Breckland 30-mile open time trial on Sunday, which was also the district championship, did not prevent Velo Club Baracchi riders from achieving surprising personal bests.

Mark “Titch” Richards was the quickest, achieving a PB of 1-11:47. George Kerridge’s PB was 1-13:48 and Chris Womack’s PB was 1-15:15.

John Thompson did not achieve a PB but it was his fastest during the last three seasons, 1-28:20.  He said, “It was very hard going south-west.  Nevertheless some good times were done.”

The two-lap course on the A11 headed out with a tailwind for the first five miles before a hard slog into the wind, fast return and another hard five miles.

Nicki Hawkes also recorded a personal best, riding for team VeloVelocity, to win the ladies’ prize.

Daniel Bloy of that team won for the men with 1-05:50, from James Trenchard of Godric CC, 1-06:12, with Steve Gorbutt of Diss & Disrict CC third in 1-06:17.

Team VeloVelocity (Daniel Bloy, Paul Jay, Scott Davidson) won the team prize with their total of 3-20:58.

Other times included Chris Nudds of CC Breckland 1-11:36,  Jenny Anderson of Gt Yarmouth CC (who, like Nicky Hawkes, is a VCB second-claim member) 1-23:13 and Sally Withey of VC Norwich 1-21:08.

The last Godric CC 10 of the evening series attracted a field of 28 riders and the first leg was into the wind, which was where a lot of riders lost speed and time for which they could not fully compensate in the much faster tailwind return.

Richards was the quickest VCB rider with 23:19 and the other VCB times were George Kerridge 23:49, John Swanbury 25:51, Mark Womack 25:54, Luke Fitzgerald 27:32 (PB), Joe Reynolds 28:26 and John Thompson 28:48.

Fitzgerald has the potential to improve further on this personal best.  His previous rides were all on the sporting Somerleyton course and he clearly has a lot more to give.

Hawkes’ time was 25:52 and she easily beat the other lady rider, Sally Withey of VC Norwich (26:27).

As always, the stronger riders achieved good times despite the conditions.

Harley Matthews of Gt Yarmouth CC was the fastest with 21:18, followed by James Trenchard of Godric with 21:35 and Jim Burgess of Anglia Velo 21:46.

Club members have set up a new arrangement for a “chain gang” around the Somerleyton course and will meet at the Oulton community centre roundabout at 6pm on Tuesdays.

The last Diss CC 10 is at Billingford on Tuesday August 26 at 6.30pm and there is a Godric CC club 25 at 2pm on Saturday August 30 just past Clays with entry on the line.