Hill climbs and cyclo-cross

A trio of Lewes Wanderers took part in the Sussex Cyclists’ Association Hill Climb on Saturday 1st October.  This test was held on the fearsome slopes of Steyning Bostal and thirty-three riders took to the start line in the village.  Fastest of the three was Ed Tuckley who scaled the climb in 5 minutes 58.2 seconds to take 22nd place.  This was just 0.2 seconds quicker than Peter Baker in 23rd, while Peter Kilby finished just 0.8 seconds outside of six minutes to take 25th.

Peter and Ed were back in action a fortnight later as the East Sussex Cycling Association held their annual hill climb.  This trial took place up Firle Bostal on what was a bright sunny morning.  They were both outshone by clubmate Kate Parrish however as she took runners-up spot among the half-dozen female entrants as she crested the brow after 5 minutes and 51.63 seconds of all-out effort.

Again there was very little to separate Ed and Peter, but on this occasion Peter narrowly edged out Ed.  Peter finished 20th from the 26 male riders in 5 minutes 37.21 seconds.  Ed was just 1.55 seconds and 2 positions back in the final standings.

Peter’s powers of recovery served him well in that afternoon’s Beachy Head Cycling Club up Butts Lane on the outskirts of Eastbourne.  He finished 19th of the 22 entrants in a time of 5 minutes 28.62 seconds.  This time around Ed was only one place but some 18 seconds adrift in a time of 5:46.58

Round 6 of the Challenge Tyres London and South East Cyclo-Cross League took place in the grounds of Somerhill School in Tonbridge the following day.  Promoting club Southborough and District Wheelers devised a typically challenging course making full use of the grassy slopes and wooded areas available for the budding racers.

Dan Street by Joe Benians

Stephen Burgess was one of eighteen men over 60 to race alongside the over-50 men.  He put in half-a-dozen consistently quick laps to briefly rise to tenth place and cross the line in 11th, one lap down on the race winner.

In the race for men in their forties Dan Street also displayed consistent pace and held 19th place for much of the 8-lap contest and crossed the line in a fine 20th from 52 finishers.

Tom Moss (representing the host club) competed in the race for men under 40 in which he finished on the same lap as the victor in 21st from 41 finishers after an exhausting dozen laps.