Lewes Wanderers' ten-mile time trials begin

Sixteen riders from the host club, including two female and a pair of first-timers, took to the start line to test their mettle against the stopwatch on the A22 based-course from East Hoathly to the Boship roundabout and back.

Fastest by a clear margin was Rob Rollings who flew past the timekeeper 21min 35sec after having been counted down and sent on his way. Runner-up on the virtual podium was far more closely contested as Dan Street (22:53) beat Duncan Fuller by four seconds.

Peter Baker narrowly claimed fourth in 24:15, ahead of Ed Tuckley (24:22), Mike Hannay (24:26), debutant Tom Moss in a promising 24:43 and fastest female Kate Parrish (24:45).

There were no new personal bests, but ninth-placed Graham Knowles (25:39) came within a second of matching his. Vince Busk was tenth in 26:16, 12 seconds ahead of second quickest female Kate Thomas, who in-turn was ten seconds faster than Neil Edwards.

Dave Beale (27:55) got the better of John Mankelow (28:15) on the night with newbie Andrew Razzell (28:24) and Adrian Hills (Eastbourne Rovers) completing the results sheet with a time of 35:37.

Action turned to the closed-circuit variety for much of the rest of the week. Peter Baker returned to the Preston Park outdoor velodrome in Brighton where he finished sixth out of eight in the Seniors Tempo Race forming part of the Sussex Cycle Racing League run Wednesday Track League.

He and Adrian Hills (ERCC) were back on the same A22 course the following night for round four of Eastbourne Rovers’ series of ten-mile events. Baker’s time of 24:42 placed him eighth of 19 finishers, while Hills brought up the rear in 36:42.

The opening round of the South East Road Racing League Cyclopark races took place on the outskirts of Gravesend.

In the opening race for Category four racers (based upon qualifying points) Richard Burchett got carried away, went out too hard and had to settle for 22nd of the 28 finishers, one position behind his clubmate Paul Fletcher (trainSharp). While in the following event for Cat 3 racers Dan Street came a fine 14th out of 25 entrants.

Burchett tried again the following morning in round three of the SERRL races at Ardingly Showground. In wet conditions he fared far better in placing 13th out of 18 with Simon Head five places behind.

Near Plaistow, West Sussex, Duncan Fuller completed Addiscombe CC’s ‘Sporting’ 25-mile time trial in 1.09.04. If he hadn’t had to stop to reattach his tri-bars he may have finished far higher than 19th place.

Sally Turner, racing for trainSharp in a Newbury Velo event in bright sunshine near Tring, reduced her personal best over ten miles by nine seconds to 21.35.

by PAGET COHEN