A number of personal best times were clocked as Josh Wallis stormed to victory at Spalding Cycling Club’s latest ten-mile time trial event.
Due to a road closure of the Spalding to Baston road, the club had to switch its regular Tuesday night event to an alternative course on the B1037 (Spalding to Crowland) road.
It was a near-perfect night with sunshine and not too strong a breeze, with Wallis roaring to a PB time of 20.38mins to take top spot.
Behind him, Neil Palmer upped his game from previous weeks to take second in 21.30mins, pushing promising youth Matt Ellis into third in 21.41mins (PB).
Other times (all mins): Tim Lister 21.59; Kieran Buffham 22.08 (PB); Andy Bowser 22.52; Adam Ellis 23.02; Mark Hills 24.42 (PB); Andrew Gurney 24.55; James Bramma 25.34 (PB); Rob McAlinden 26.19 (PB); Barry Drew 28.50; Ben Cleghorn 29.37 (PB); David Thornley 30.09; Brian Johnson 30.16 (PB); Keith Seaton 33.22; Edward Gurney 35.27; Adrian Thurston 36.25. Guest Riders – Earl Taylor (Velo One) 22.47; Rob Wilkinson 24.06; Mark Booth (Kettering) 24.08; Maddie Gammons (NJC Biemme Echelon) 24.22; Ian Fensom (Fenland RC) 24.57; Luis Maino 27.12.
- Andy Bowser, Frazer Wallis Chris Bettinson competed at the Rockingham Circuit Races in the category four group, riding approximately 24 miles in 57 minutes.
They were caught after 20 minutes by the category two group.
Spalding’s Wallis was among that category two group, but was unable to keep up with two breakaway riders. However, he won the bunch sprint to finish third.
- Sunday saw a flurry of activity for Spalding riders.
Six members competed in the Lincs Road Race Association ten-mile TT at Gunby near Skegness, which had an amazing 112 entrants.
The course was undulating with a couple of long drags and a South Easterly breeze – which meant it was a quick five miles out, but harder coming back into the breeze.
Spalding times (all mins): Neil Palmer 21.08, Tim Lister 21.57, Matt Ellis (junior rider) 21.45, Adam Ellis 22.34, Mark Hills 24.48, Barry Drew 26.55.
Chris Ward, who currently rides for Team Swift, finished in 21.51mins. That followed on from a course PB of 52.39mins in the Notts and East Midlands Veterans Association 25 TT on Saturday.
- Spalding’s Chris Bettinson fared well in the Velo 99 Masters Road Race.
He was in the leading group of five that tried several breakaways, but ended up being blocked in the final sprint.
Despite this, he finished an excellent eighth after completing the 30 miles in 1.21.00hrs.
- Club members Keiran Buffham and Josh Wallis competed in the East Midlands Road Race, representing their Active Edge Race Team.
On a 70-mile course with around 2,800 feet of elevation, Buffham finished with a PB of 2.45.00hrs. Unfortunately for Wallis, he collided with another rider – knocking his back wheel out.
Despite fixing the problem, he never managed to catch the leaders and finished in 2.42.00hrs.
p On Monday, the weekday social riders took on a 48-mile loop to great Casterton garden Centre and on Thursday a slightly longer ride of 61 miles to Whitwell.
These rides tend to be at around 15 mph average and operate a ‘don’t leave anyone behind’ policy and always include a cafe stop.
Any newcomers to the area who fancy trying out a ride are welcome to contact Barry Drew on 01775 724969 or 07837 838082.
- The Saturday riders took a visit to The March Hare at Corby Glen.
These rides tend to be around the 40-mile distance and are not too fast, operating a no drop policy.
They usually leave from Gibbons Cycles on Winsover Road in Spalding at 9am.
- Spalding CC’s Tim Lister kept up his good form as he finished third as a guest rider in the Sleaford Wheelers ten-mile TT in 22.01mins on Thursday night.
