Catford, Bec, ESCA & Velopace hill-climbs and London Cross League Rd 5
Dom Lowden, ESCA Hill Climb - by Emma Gearing
Those Lewes Wanderers competing in the Catford and Bec Hill Climb 'double-bill' on Sunday 8th October were treated to a crisp sunny morning. That said the upper slopes of the fearsomely steep York's Hill near Sevenoaks where the mornings activities took place were still a little slick with leaf mould from the overhanging trees that turn the final agonising yards into a tunnel of noise for the participants. Returning Wanderer Joscelin Lowden surpassed even her efforts of last year when she claimed third and first places respectively by winning both events in new course records. Despite regretting her tyre choice for the former event she triumphed by over 5 seconds in a new record time of 2 minutes 30.6 seconds. Jos may have been the fastest Lewes rider on the day ahead of 60th placed Dan Street (2:43.2) and her father Dom (2:46.6 and 64th of 94), but she still had to give second best in the Lowden household as her brother Jamie (Paceline RT) took second overall in 1:50.9. The siblings repeated those positions after a light lunch up the marginally less severe White Lane. This time Jos triumphed by 17 seconds and her new ladies course mark of 2:11.3 placed her 29th of 80 overall, 27 positions behind her brother's 1:48.9. Their father was back in 59th, but set a new personal best of 2:39.2
Rob Pelham was the only Lewes Wanderer to venture up to Herne Hill Velodrome that same afternoon for Round 5 of the Kinesis UK London Cyclo-Cross League. A chastening fall on the warm up lap around this tricky technical course left Rob wary if uninjured, but he managed to stay upright in the race to repeat his 31st place from the last round.
The morning of Saturday 14th October was mild, but decidedly drab for the 41 competitors in the East Sussex Cycling Association Hill Climb up Firle Beacon. Eight Lewes riders took to the start with the best performance undoubtedly from Joscelin Lowden whose time of 4 minutes 25.2 seconds was fastest of the three females by over a minute and a new course record, not to mention 6th overall. Backed up by 16th placed Dan Street (4:58.9), who was quickest in the 40-44 years age category, and her 19th placed father Dom, whose time of 5:07.7 was a personal best and best of those aged 55-59, the trio also bagged the Wanderers the team prize. The other five Lewes riders had their own private battles as they were clustered together on the results sheet. 26th placed Paul Fletcher (5:24.4) just edged Peter Kilby (5:25.6 and 27th) and Peter Barling (5:28.9, 28th), while Neil Gearing (37th) just beat six minutes (5:59.9), with Richard Frost (6:04.7) a further place back.
In that afternoon’s Velopace Hill Climb up the lane to the Butts Brow car park on the outskirts of Eastbourne Joscelin’s victory in the ladies category was equally emphatic and her time of 4 minutes 15.6 seconds another course record. Once again the Lowden’s doubled up with Dom (20th) also registering a new personal best, this time of 4 minutes and 48 seconds. Paul Fletcher backed up his strong performance in the morning with another after lunch as he was only 2 places and 4.3 seconds behind Dom. Three other Wanderers completed the double with Peter Kilby 33rd in 5:28.4, Neil Gearing 36th in 5:42.6 and Richard Frost (5:52.7) 39th of the 40 competitors.
