A busy week for Spalding Cycling Club’s members in three different races produced a new title award for Sarah Bentley and a crop of personal best (PB) times.
A team of five entered the LRRA 10 Mile Time Trial Championship on the fast Ulcelby to Gunby course – and, having won the team award in 2015, expectations for good results were high.
The team were happy to be rewarded with three PB times and a season’s best time of 27.15mins, which enabled Bentley to take the ladies’ award.
Fastest on the day was Ben Moore, who finished with 22.05mins – some 40 seconds quicker than the PB set recently on the Spalding course.
Carrying good form onto the shorter distance after stunning 25-mile rides at Wisbech, Andy Bowser crossed the line on 22.25mins, which was a clear 1.19mins quicker than his PB.
Not to be outdone, Ross McGivern’s 23.44mins was his first sub-24 minute race time and a minute quicker than his previous best.
Just a few seconds off his 2015 LRRA 10 time of 23.31mins, Simon Wright completed his ride with 23.50mins while Barry Drew, who had posted 26.58mins in 2015, improved to a PB time of 26.15mins.
- With no club event scheduled for last Tuesday evening, four Spalding members travelled to contest Boston Wheelers’ evening Club 10.
A cold evening with a head wind on the return leg still produced fast times, with Andy Bowser the first Spalding rider home in 23.39mins, while McGivern posted 24 minutes.
Mark Hills recorded 26.59mins and Dave Thornley made up the team results with 28.49mins – which is believed to be a PB for him.
- Bourne Wheelers’ Hereward League event on Wednesday – using the fast, undulating Aslackby course – was shortened to 7.9 miles.
The full course usually produces fast times – and the shortened course was just as good, with the top four overall on the night exactly the same as that from the Peterborough round.
First in for Spalding was McGivern, who was the only one inside 19 minutes. He averaged 25.1mph to post 18.57mins to take 12th overall.
Simon Wright’s ride time of 19.36mins made him the only other Spalding CC rider inside the top 20 overall.
Separated by just one second, Chris Bettinson and Gary Bentley posted more solid results with 21.53mins and 21.54mins respectively.
Of Spalding’s lady members Sarah Bentley was quickest on 22.07mins and Natalie Tooley riding this course for the first time came in on 22.14mins.
Tom Wright put in another fine ride of 23.22mins which was 1.03mins faster than his predicted time for the race.
