Racing round-up
Peter Baker courtesy of a3crg
On Saturday 16th July Goodwood Historic Motor Racing Track hosted a series of time cycling time-trials one of which was the “Heritage 10” to be ridden on bikes dating from pre-1992. Lewes Wanderer Peter Baker was one of a quartet to take part and he came within a dozen seconds of victory as he crossed the line in 26 minutes and 35 seconds.
The race against the clock returned to the open road the following day and the A41 west of Tring in Hertfordshire to be more precise as the Veteran Time Trials Association (London & Home Counties) ran a 10-mile event. Sally Turner (trainSharp) was fastest of the 24 female racers in a time of 20 minutes and 52 seconds; just a dozen outside her personal best. 20 seconds faster was Nick Dwyer (Drag2Zero) who placed 32nd overall to Sally’s 41st, while Paul Valks was 131st in 27:46.
Goodwood Circuit was back in use again on Tuesday 19th July as it hosted a 4-up Team Time Trial to be raced on road bikes over 10 laps amounting to roughly 24 miles of effort. Gina Boakes teamed up with Suzy Bell, Fran Blake and Sarah Odell to represent Southdown Velo. The third member of the team stopped the watch after 1 hour 2 minutes 39.72 seconds to place them 5th of the seven all-female teams and 26th team overall.
Gina was joined by Peter Baker the following evening as the racing switched to the considerably shorter track and tighter turns of Preston Park outdoor velodrome in Brighton for Week 14 of the Sussex Cycle Racing League Track League. In the opening “Elimination Champs” Gina overcame a spill caused by two riders clashing in front of her, remounted and finished 6th from 9 and first female, one place behind Peter. After placing 5th in the first event of the night Peter reeled off a sequence of 4th placed finishes in the remaining 8-lap “Scratch”, 3-lap “Dash” and Distance race.
The following evening Worthing Excelsior CC ran a 10-mile time-trial on their fast A24 based course in West Sussex. Kate Thomas took advantage of the course and the conditions to take 6 seconds off her personal best which she reduced to 22 minutes and 41 seconds. Clubmate Joe Benians may have threatened his own PB had he not taken a wrong turn off a roundabout and had to turn around to rejoin the course which he covered in a swift 20 minutes and 43 seconds.
Back in East Sussex Southborough & District Wheelers hosted a 11.5-mile TT over rather more rolling roads from near Frant to Mayfield and back on the same evening. Andrew Booty completed the course in 36 minutes and 30 seconds to place 10th in a field of twelve.
On Sunday 24th July Peter Baker and 29 others were expecting to take part in the Sussex Cyclists’ Association annual 30-mile time-trial only for overrunning roadworks on the A24 to truncate the course to a maximum possible of 13.55 miles. Twenty-five riders were still up for the challenge and Peter finished 16th in a time of 34 minutes and 34 seconds.
