Neil Palmer stormed to victory at Spalding Cycling Club’s latest Drop Bar Challenge event.
This takes riders back to the old days of racing before the days of aero bars, aero helmets, skin suits and deep rim wheels.
It was a much better evening than the last two held, although there was still a stiff breeze from the south east which meant that, although speeds were high going down the Delph, from the turn at Iron Bar Drove and along the back straight to North Drove it was much more difficult.
Palmer clocked 24.07mins to finish way clear of the nearest Spalding rider, which was Andrew Gurney (26.54mins).
Results (all mins): Neil Palmer 24.07; Andrew Gurney 26.54; Chris Bettinson 27.18; Andy Richardson 30.05; Barry Drew 30.57; Brian Johnson 32.01; Keith Seaton 32.13; Bill Wood 36.30; Adrian Thurston 38.08; Rob McAlinden DNF. Guests: Chris Ward (Team Swift) 24.57; Andrew Taylor 27.52.
- Last week saw the first round of The Hereward 10-mile Time Trial League – a competition between Spalding, Bourne Wheelers, Peterborough CC and Fenland Clarion.
Over the last few years it has seen something of a decline in entrants.
Sadly Bourne’s Robin Day, who had been instrumental in organising it, passed away and the clubs decided to make it a competition to win a trophy in his name.
The format was also rearranged so that clubs got points for the number of riders they fielded as well as for the position they finished in.
Seven turned up on a night plagued by more or less constant rain and black skies, making riding quite hazardous.
Young talent Josh Wallis rode without fear and as if it was a normal night, securing first position in 21.40mins.
Other Spalding results: Neil Palmer (4th) 23.40mins; Frazer Wallis (8th) 24.34mins; Chris Bettinson (21st) 27.57mins; Barry Drew (28th) 30.52mins; Sarah Bentley (29th) 30.57mins; Gerry Charlwood (30th) 31.26mins.
Spalding finished third overall on the night with 19 points, behind overall winners Bourne Wheelers (27 points) and Fenland Clarion (21 points). Peterborough were fourth on 17 points.
- Spalding had three representatives at the Lincoln Grand Prix Sportive.
The event was a 100-mile ride with approximately 4,120ft of climbing.
Neil Palmer, Mark Hills and Chris Bettinson completed it in 5.45.00hrs, 5.54.00hrs and 5.55.00hrs respectively.
The following day was the turn of the professional riders and top local riders in the Lincoln Grand Prix – 13 laps of uphill Lincoln including climbing the cobbles of Michaelgate.
Spalding’s Josh Wallis gained an entry, so several Spalding members road the 44 miles to Lincoln to support.
The pace of the riding was such that the marshal’s vehicle had to do 40mph to stay in front.
Unfortunately for Wallis, it was not a great day as, after about nine miles, he was involved in a major crash.
Unlike the professionals who had team cars to help tow them back on to the leaders, as a solo rider the pace was to much for him to get back on and he decided that was the end of his race.
- Spalding clubman Tom Wright, who races for the On Form team, travelled to Darley Moor to take part in their criterium and had a very successful day, taking second
place in his category.
- On the social side the Saturday ride – cancelled the previous two weeks due to bad weather – took a spin out to Swaton.
The Sunday riders enjoyed possibly the best day for some time, so eight members took a 62-mile round trip to Rutland Water.
