The 2017 season continues to be full of various success stories for Spalding Cycling Club.
Be it riders achieving personal best times (PB), returning to racing after injury, or others completing various distance challenges successfully, it has so far been a fitting 90th anniversary for the club.
While most of the club’s members have focused on the more standard time trial distances of 10, 25 and 50 miles, racing secretary Sarah Bentley – the club’s 2016 women’s best all-rounder – has looked to the 100-mile and 12-hour distances as challenges this year.
Riding the East District Cycling Associations’ 100-mile time trial on the rolling Attleborough, Queniborough and Wymondham course, she averaged over 21mph to finish on 4.57.30hrs a time which could mean an award for second or third place in the Vets results (although the outcome is, as yet, not confirmed by the official results).
- A strong sense of déjà vu surrounded round seven of the ten mile time trial league competition.
In 2016 the Out and Back course was used due to re-surfacing works on the normal course – and this season rounds six and seven have been held on the alternate course for the same reasons.
A look back at the 2016 event report shows similar weather conditions; fine but with the return leg not made easy by a difficult headwind especially in the very exposed sections of the Delph.
Competitor numbers were roughly the same too, with 24 in 2016 and 20 in 2017. The comparisons continued with the results. Second in 2016 with 23.12mins, Ben Moore took first place in the club standings with 23.11mins this time around.
Matt Ellis’ 23.32mins this year was significantly quicker than his 2016 time but couldn’t quite match his 22.20mins set in round six.
Overall, the fastest three times came from guest riders Neil Palmer and Josh Wallis of Velo One with 22.15mins and 23.00mins respectively.
The third time came from a new member to Bourne Wheelers and first time visitor to Spalding events, Tim Lister.
Despite being slightly nervous, he posted a very creditable 24.31mins and the club look forward to seeing him again.
Noticeably fewer ladies have raced in recent weeks with Sarah Bentley and second claim member Tilly Gurney (Bowlphish Racing) the notable exceptions.
Bentley put in another great ride, finishing with 29.14mins to finish just 11 seconds slower than the rain swept round six but quicker than her 2016 ride time of 30.00mins. It was an impressive recovery from her after the sub five-hour 100 mile time trial.
Gurney, meanwhile, followed up a great ride in the Wallingford Criterium with a strong Bowlphish team by adding another PB to her collection with a fine 27.50mins – a 1.25mins beating of the previous best time.
Having finished on 35.30mins in 2016, Bill Wood made a welcome return to competition after surgery with 39.23mins, while Team Swift’s Chris Ward also continued his recovery with 25.57mins.
Fenland Road Club’s Ian Fensom was fastest of a quartet who finished in the 25th minute on 25.01mins, ahead of Ross McGivern (25.08mins), Frazer Wallis (25.20mins) and Andrew Gurney (25.42mins).
Other Spalding rider times: Simon Wright 26.08mins, Mark Hills 26.29mins, Tom Wright 27.44mins, Richard Flatters 28.04mins, Nigel Howard 28.51mins, Brian Johnson 31.35mins and Derek Chamberlain 32.16mins.
