Racing round-up
Richard Burchett (Crawley Wheelers) took part in the 5th of the eight Rounds forming the British Masters Cycle Racing Percy Stallard Series on Sunday 2nd July. The event was run by Addiscombe CC and held on 53 miles of gently rolling roads west of Horley. He avoided a nasty crash on one of the descents at around 35 miles as his group caught the one in front to finish 16th from 20 overall and 9th from 12 in his race category.
Gina Boakes was alone amongst Lewes Wanderers competing in Round 12 of the Sussex Cycle Racing League Track League at Preston Park outdoor velodrome. She claimed a fine 3rd place from the nine racers to contest the 6-lap Scratch Race.
On the evening of Thursday 6th July Gavin Richards took third spot on the podium at Eastbourne Rovers’ 10-mile time-trial as his time of 22 minutes and 52 seconds bettered seven others.
Lewes Wanderers hosted a round of their Evening 10s time-trial series on Monday 10th July. Gavin Richards took the spoils with a time of 23 minutes and 29 seconds. Darren Haynes took runners-up spot with 25:14. Graham Faultless was fourth with 26:36 and Peter Baker fifth in 27:19.
Peter Baker by Chris Hough
Peter Baker was down at Preston Park outdoor velodrome on Wednesday 12th July for Round 13 of the Sussex Cycle Racing League Track League and the Omnium Championships. He was 7th from 10 in the 6-lap Scratch; 5th from 10 in the 3-lap Tempo; 4th from 10 in the 8-lap Elimination and 5th from 9 in the 8-lap Points to claim 5th overall.
Roadworks on the evening of Thursday 13th July reduced Eastbourne Rovers planned hilly time-trial to a 5.2-mile blast from East Dean, past Birling Gap and on beyond Beachy Head. Peter Baker placed 6th of the eleven entrants in a time of 16 minutes and 16 seconds.
Joe Benians tried his hand, and legs, off-road on Saturday 15th July in Round 3 of Bedgebury Boars’ Cross-Country Race series. He finished 36th out of the 48 finishers around the gruelling and technical Pinetum-based course.
The following day the effort was much the same, but the pace somewhat higher as Sally Turner (HUUB Wattshop) was fastest of the eleven females and 32nd from 98 overall in a Veteran Time Trials Association 10-miler near Tring in a blistering time of 20:48.
The latest round of Lewes Wanderers’ “Evening-10” Series took place on Monday 17th July. Gavin Richards was delayed by traffic lights being set up on the A22-based course during the event, but was well-beaten by Kate Mankelow as her 23:24 eclipsed his event-winning time of the previous week and his time of the night of 24:33; which was still good enough for second. Graham Faultless secured bronze with 26:33 ahead of Alex Steer with 27:05. Dave Beale was 5th in a time 2 seconds shy of half-an-hour and Peter Baker 6th in 30:46.
Goodwood Historic Motor Racing Circuit was the venue and a3crg were the hosts for a closed-circuit 10-mile time-trial on Wednesday 19th July. Richard Burchett (Crawley Wheelers) was 30th from 108 overall in a time of 22:31.
Round 14 of the Sussex Cycle Racing League Track League was on Wednesday 19th July with Peter Baker representing Lewes Wanderers. He took 6th place from twelve in the 6-lap Scratch Race; 6th again from eleven in the 5-lap “Snowball”; 6th from a dozen in the 2-lap Dash and 4th from eleven in the 8-lap Points Race.
