A record number of 51 entrants lined up for Spalding Cycling Club’s traditional season-opening 27-mile hilly time trial event.
Many names on the starting line for the Edenham course were making a second or third appearance at the event, while this year it also attracted riders from Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
Fine conditions with very little wind at first made for some fast times – but a rising head wind on the return leg put paid to any challenge to the course record of 56.59mins, set in 2015 by Brett Harwood.
Only three riders got inside the hour, with Peterborough CC’s James Gelthorpe first in 58.02mins. He was just four seconds quicker than James Perkins (Team Bottrill), with Alford Wheelers’ Adam Coffey third in 59.30mins.
With five ladies racing, 2015 winner Louise Day (Team Swift) had a bit more competition but was unable to pull off a repeat win – posting 1.15.12hrs for second place behind Ann Walsham (Maxx RT) with 1.13.55hrs.
Third fastest in the ladies’ race was Spalding’s junior category rider Tilly Gurney in 1.22.18hrs, followed in by Natali Tooley (1.24.18hrs) and Sarah Bentley (1.25.34hrs).
Fourth overall – and fastest Veteran on standard time – was Neil Palmer (Velo-One Cycling Team) with 1.00.18hrs, who was once again so close to getting inside the hour.
At the other end of the age categories, Sam Walsham (Team BikeBox Alan) posted the best junior time of 1.02.19hrs, while Spalding’s Will Gurney recorded 1.31.08hrs in what is believed to have been his first open time trial.
The team event was won for the second year running by Peterborough CC’s squad of James Gelthorpe, Jason Burrill and Steve Wood.
A special mention must also go to Lincoln Wheelers’ Peter Holland, who makes this event every year a bit different by riding a tricycle. He completed the course in a very respectable time of 1.41.37hrs.
First home for Spalding, Ben Moore put in a strong ride to finish 12th overall – stopping the clock on 1.02.58hrs to win Group D.
Not so lucky was Mark Hills, who sadly did not finish his ride.
- Other times from Spalding members: Simon Wright 1.14.09hrs, Andrew Gurney 1.15.04hrs, Derek Chamberlain 1.16.32hrs and Gary Bentley 1.17.44hrs.
