Evening 10s Rd 3, Circuit of Laughton and racing round-up

The third of Lewes Wanderers’ series of 10-mile time-trials took place on the evening of Monday 16th May on the alternative course making use of The Broyle due to roadworks on the A22.  Nine racers, all from the host club, took part

Clear fastest on the night was Gavin Richards who covered the course in 24 minutes and 5 seconds.  Graham Knowles took a well-earned second spot on the podium with a strong 25:44.  Darren Haynes (26:39) just grabbed third ahead of Graham Faultless (26:43) who narrowly won the road bike category ahead of Jamie Goldstein (26:56) and Charlie Middleton (27:00). Peter Baker took 7th in a time one second outside of 28 minutes, ahead of Dave Beale (28:49) and Paul Hanratty (29:34).

Two nights later it was the first of the club’s non-standard distance time-trials - the 12.46-mile  Circuit of Laughton, run on roads very familiar to those who rode “The 10” earlier in the week.  Once again Gavin Richards took the spoils as he sped round in 30 minutes and 36 seconds.  Runner-up was Kate Thomas in 31:12 as she took a massive 2:29 off her personal best and edged Peter Baker (31:24) into third.  Fourth placed Graham Knowles (32:30) also beat his personal best as he improved by 24 seconds on his previous mark.

Jamie Goldstein was the clear winner of the road-bike category with a fine 34:48.  Dave Beale was 6th in 36:43; Paul Hanratty 7th (37:10); Steve Barry 8th (37:18) and Adrian Hills rounded out the results with 46:04.

Richard Burchett by Neil Finch

The action had switched to closed roads the night before as Richard Burchett enjoyed an evening of racing around Goodwood Historic Motor Racing Circuit as part of their “Summer Series”.  He took a superb 4th place and was within inches of a podium in a keenly fought sprint finish.

Jamie Goldstein and Peter Baker were back competing against the stop watch, each other and eighteen others on Thursday 19th May as Eastbourne Rovers hosted the latest of their 10-mile time-trial series, back on the now-clear A22 course.  Jamie was a fine 12th in 27:04 with Peter 18th in 27:59.

The same night Joe Benians was the fastest of five solo time-trialists as Southborough & District Wheelers hosted an event on the A267 between Frant and Mayfield as he covered the rolling course in a swift 27:22.

There was a hiatus in the racing action until Sunday 22nd May when a trio of Wanderers travelled far and wide to compete over somewhat longer distances.  Kate Thomas set yet another personal best as she took a further 28 seconds off her mark set last month in finishing second in the Medway Velo Club (BBAR) on a course across the Romney Marshes in 1:01:31

Over the same distance, but on roads near Maidenhead, Duncan Fuller recorded a fine 57:34 to place 18th of 43 finishers in a High Wycombe CC event; while Nick Dwyer (Drag2Zero) was 6th from 25 in the a3crg “Flirty Thirty” in a time of 1:00:57.