Circuit of Danehill
Lewes Wanderers’ time-trial series for 2024 began on Easter Sunday with the Circuit of Danehill. This tough 18.11mile test against the clock actually begins on the A275 in Chelwood Gate, but due to the downhill start competitors are soon speeding through Danehill en route for Sheffield Park. From here the course changes in character with a short punchy climb followed by a long drag to North Chailey.
The riders can usually enjoy a tailwind along the A272 through Newick and Piltdown, but on this particular Sunday the wind was less favourable, although it was at least dry, bright and not particularly cold. The route turns north along the A22 to skirt Maresfield before a short downhill followed by a gradual uphill all the way through Nutley and on to the Ashdown Forest. If they’ve anything left then racers must drag themselves up to Wych Cross, before a sharp left turn and a sprint to the finish.
Barry Mitchell by Graham Faultless
Ten athletes took to the start at half-past eight in the morning with the winner being Mark Shepherd of SDW who sped round on his TT-rig in 48 minutes and 21 seconds. Runner-up and fastest of the eight competing on road bikes was Richard Burchett (Crawley Wheelers) who crossed the finish line eight seconds outside of 50 minutes.
Third overall and second in the road-bike category was race promoter Neil Edwards who reduced his course personal best by over two-and-a-half minutes to 52:11. Ten seconds behind and runner-up in the time-trial bike standings, plus fourth overall, was Peter Baker. A quartet of other Wanderers decided to test their early season fitness, three of them for the first time on this course. 7th placed Paget Cohen (57:15) was some way outside his PB, but held off debutants Alex Steer (57:35), Barry Mitchell (58:19) and Ben Probert (58:31).
It was a full on Easter weekend for Neil as he was up early on Good Friday to compete in Crawley Wheelers annual sporting time-trial. “Sporting” in this instance means being run on far from a flat course and at 41.6 miles this is a test of endurance as well as speed. It became a test of will-power once the heavens opened before half-distance, but Neil stayed the course to stop the clock 37 seconds inside two hours for 32nd place from 47 overall and 10th from 16 in the road-bike category.
