Circuit of Laughton and racing round-up
The first of Lewes Wanderers’ non-standard time-trials took place on the evening of Wednesday 17th May. This “Circuit of Laughton” was even less standard than previous editions as roadworks on the junction of Shortgate Lane and the B2192 necessitated the riders starting at the eastern end of the Broyle and finishing roughly 6.43 miles later as far up Shortgate Lane as was deemed safe to do so giving the racers time to decelerate before the temporary traffic lights.
Adrian Hills by Paget Cohen
Second rider off, but the first to pass the finish line and thus the setter of a new course record was Martin Cartwright who stopped the watches after 16 minutes and 3 seconds of effort. That mark stood for slightly less than eight minutes when Kate Mankelow (representing the host club) set a new best of 15:54.
44 seconds later Gavin Richards rocketed past the line to reduce the record to 15:38 which held for a few more minutes until Dan Shipton (Eastbourne Rovers) relegated him to runner-up with his own time of 15:17. Dan Street had to make a last minute dash back to the HQ to fit a front light, but still had enough in the tank to knock Kate off the podium and claim third place with 15:46.
Club Chairman Darren Haynes excused himself from chairing duties to bag 7th with 16:17, while race-promoter Neil Edwards and clubmate Peter Baker started and finished exactly one minute apart to share 8th place with 16:24. Rob Rollings was 10th with 16:39, ahead of Steve Barry (11th in 17:09), Alex Steer (12th, 17:26) Barry Mitchell (14th, 18:14) and Adrian Hills (22:08).
Perhaps due to uncertainty over the weather or what course was going to be free of roadworks sufficiently to use only five riders turned up for Round 3 of the club’s “Evening 10” time-trials. Fastest on the night was Jeremy Page (Southborough & District Wheelers) who covered the 10-miles of the A22 in 26 minutes and 30 seconds. Runner-up and faster of the Grahams was Mr Knowles, just 11 seconds behind in 26:41, with Graham Faultless third in 27:04. Peter Baker took fourth with 28:10.
Peter Baker and Adrian Hills took part in Eastbourne Rovers 14.07-mile TT on the night of Thursday 11th May on a rolling course from Pevensey up through Hooe, Ninfield, Boreham Street and Wartling. Peter was 17th in a time of 42:34 and Adrian 21st in 53:01.
On Sunday 14th May Richard Burchett (racing for Crawley Wheelers) competed in the GS Vecchi Spring Classic - a 47-mile bunch road race around the roads between Basingstoke and WInchester. Richard did rather well as he passed the chequered flag in 9th overall and 4th in his age group.
The following Sunday 21st Sally Turner (HUUB Wattshop) was among 82 riders racing up and down the A3 not so far away between Petersfield and Liphook in an a3crg 25-mile TT. Her superb time of 55 minutes and 30 seconds placed her second fastest of the ten female entrants and 28th overall.
