Spalding Cycling Club’s fiercely competitive ten mile time league drew to a close with the last two ‘point scoring’ races providing two different winners.
Race 11 was ridden in very windy, testing and unusually busy traffic conditions, which resulted in slower than usual times for most in the field of 19 (17 members and two guests).
Once again Chris Ward took top honours in 23.49mins – a fine ride as he was just 26 seconds slower than the previous week.
That put him well clear of Andy Bowser and Simon Wright, who finished with 25.16mins and 25.42mins to complete the podium.
Sam Bentley was next home in 27.02mins to take the under-18 award, while Jake Norton chased hard to take the under-16 honours in 27.39mins.
Second and third in the under-16 boys’ standings were Will Gurney (33.44mins) and Tom Wright (34.05mins), while in the under-16 girls’ race top spot went to Tilly Gurney (32.27mins) ahead of Sophie Wright in (33.34mins).
Despite the huge time gaps elsewhere in the results, Chris Peel and Gary Bentley both recorded 29.47secs to tie for ninth position.
Best of the guests was Ian Fensom of Fenland Road Club with 24.52mins, while Kayleigh Adams from Spalding Tri was just a bit off her personal best (PB) for the course in 28.15mins.
Elsewhere, Shane Norton (27.51mins) was sixth overall after chasing son Jake all the way, with Rob Boothman (28.26mins), Tim Bryett (30.08mins), Mark Hills (31.27mins), Chris Bettinson (31.57mins) and Derek Chamberlain (34.06mins) the others to clock a time.
For race 12, kinder conditions meant a reversal of fortunes from the previous round with most of the 20 starters posting times closer to their usual results.
After a couple of weeks out, Neil Palmer returned to re-occupy his place at the top of the results board in a rapid 22.52mins, while Ward’s 23.26mins gave him second place.
This week’s tie on time was 24.55mins for third place, posted by Bowser and Chris Pratt, who both just squeezed Simon Wright out of a podium place by eight seconds.
Best lady was Aimee Stocker, with her 26.54mins giving her ninth overall.
The sole under-18, Sam Bentley, put in a fine ride to finish with 25.27mins – beating his race 11 time by 1.31mins.
Quickest under-16 was Tom Wright in only his thirrd time trial, getting round the course in 31.57mins.
That put him ahead of his sister Sophie Wright, who crossed the line 47 seconds later on 32.44mins.
Other times came from Derek Chamberlain (26.45mins), Chris Peel (26.48mins), Ross McGivern (26.56mins), Gareth Richards (27.36mins), Barry Drew (27.54mins), Gary Bentley (29.35mins), Mark Hills (29.47mins), Brian Johnson (31.17mins) and guest Ian Fensom (24.36mins).
p Chris Ward finished sixth at the Alford Wheelers ten-mile event, clocking 23.39mins to claim the award for third vet. Fellow Spalding racer Barry Drew stopped the clock on 28.17mins to place 22nd overall and third place on handicap times.
Drew followed that ride up with a 1.11.08hrs at the King’s Lynn CC open 25 mile time trial. Very strong wind on the exposed course made the race difficult with only eight out the 60 or so starters getting inside the hour.
Despite that, Drew took the award for first vet in the over 60 category.
