The irrepressible pair of Neil Palmer and Chris Ward enjoyed fine wins at the final two rounds of Spalding Cycling Club’s ten mile time trial league campaign.
With the added attraction of the Fisherman’s Arms Trophy being decided within round 12, many were using the opportunity to finish their preparation for the forthcoming club 10 mile championships.
Round 11, held on what was arguably the best evening of the year with virtually no wind and warm temperatures, produced a crop of fast times.
Palmer, as ever, posted the fastest on the night with a rapid 22.20mins.
Around 1.40mins passed before second placed Adam Ellis crossed the line in 23.56mins, with Callum McPartlin (Spalding Triathlon Club) chasing him hard to clock 23.59mins as best guest.
Third in the club standings was Ross McGivern (25.05mins), with Simon Wright pushing in hard to cross the line just 6 seconds behind him on 25.11mins.
Best under-16 was second claim member Matt Ellis, who was riding in his Sherwood Pines SRAM RT team colours.
His time of 26.12mins was good enough for sixth overall – not bad given that he and father Adam had done a 75-mile ride earlier in the day.
The only lady member racing was Natali Tooley, who posted 28.31mins.
Other Spalding times came from Mark Hills (25.40mins), Derek Chamberlain (26.13mins), Chris Peel (26.24mins), Barry Drew (27.22mins), Rob Boothman (27.29mins), Geoff Hughes (29.06mins) and Bill Wood (30.49mins).
Spalding’s club secretary Gary Bentley was on for a good time, but in a last out of the saddle sprint effort on the line a mechanical problem caused him to crash out in spectacular style – fortunately with no lasting damage.
A host of guests also competed, including ex-member Paul Wade, who following recovery from an accident, is now back on the bike. He posted 28.51mins.
Bourne Wheelers’ Gareth Richards just managed to hold off son Bryn, as they posted 26.26mins and 27.02mins respectively, while their club mate Molly Peel put in a PB ride of 29.55mins.
Another regular guest rider, Spalding Tri’s Richard Young, posted a fine ride of 26.56mins.
Round 12 saw a return to more unsettled weather, which meant slightly slower – but nevertheless impressive – times for a field of 17 club members and seven guests, which included a tandem.
This time, the top-placed Spalding rider was Ward in a time of 22.54mins, which was just 14 seconds slower than the fastest rider of the night.
That honour went to Jeremy Hargraves (Fenland Road Club), who posted 22.40mins.
Another guest, M Williamson, took the third fastest time with 23.02mins, finishing just ahead of Neil Palmer on 23.12mins.
Adam Ellis was the third club member home in 24.41mins, while Tooley again headed up the ladies competition with 29.48mins.
A good turnout ensured a great race in the under-16 category, with Matt Ellis once again first home with 27.52mins.
Behind him, Will Gurney and Tom Wright battled it out for the rest of the podium places with 30.15mins and 32.22mins respectively.
Sophie Wright, the sole under-16 lady, posted 34.08mins.
Other Spalding times came from Andy Bowser (24.54mins), Ross McGivern (26.09mins), Sam Bentley (27.19), Chris Peel (27.48mins), Andrew Gurney (28.19mins), Chris Bettinson (28.38mins – PB) and Barry Drew (28.59mins).
Supplier of the previous week’s drama, a recovered but probably still sore Gary Bentley, made it safely round in 29.51mins – but this time it was the turn of Rob Boothman to suffer, albeit with a puncture, to record the dreaded DNF.
The tandem was piloted by Spalding’s Ben Moore and stoked by Richard to a very respectable 26.20mins, while P Matthews (Fenland Road Club) put in a time of 27.36mins.
Elsewhere, a second outing for Paul Wade proved slightly slower with 30.25mins and Bourne Wheelers’ Molly Peel finished with 32.13mins.
