LWCC Hill Climb and racing round-up

Neil Edwards by Kate Parrish

After thirteen weeks of ploughing ten-miles up and down main roads the racing action switched to a much shorter test on the first evening of August - that of the Lewes Wanderers Hill Climb up the brutal slopes of Firle Beacon.

Ten riders signed up for this gravity-defying test the fastest of whom was Rob Cunningham of Brighton Mitre who reached the finish line just short of the car park at the summit after 4 minutes and 38.8 seconds of lung-busting effort.

Tom Moss (racing for Southborough & District Wheelers) was the leading rider from the host club with a time of 4:54.9 ahead of Dan Street (5:27.4) who narrowly beat Peter Baker (5:36.4) and Neil Edwards (5:50.5).

Kate Thomas (6:12.5) took the club’s female climbing crown with Andrew Booty (also Southborough) 7:46.5 just ahead of 9th placed Dave Beale (7:54.5) and David Wilkins (8:25.4).

The racers came back down to earth and the familiar tarmac of the A22 on Thursday 4th August as Eastbourne Rovers CC hosted a 10-mile time-trial.  Tom Moss (S&DW) took 3rd in 22:21, Peter Baker 8th with 27:48 and Adrian Hills 12th (33:03).

The test on Sunday 7th August was ten-times that of Thursday as the East Sussex Cycling Association held their annual 100-mile TT.  Three Wanderers took to the start of this considerable challenge, but sadly Gavin Richards punctured when going well at 60-miles and was unable to finish.  Duncan Fuller took the honours for Lewes as he finished 16th after 4 hours 29 minutes and 7 seconds of effort.  Peter Baker was runner up and not so far behind in 20th with 4:42:39.