Tim Lister topped the charts at Spalding Cycling Club’s latest ten-mile time trial event on Tuesday night.
Despite it being a blustery evening, the wind gave very little help to the 16 club riders and one guest in either direction on the out and back course between Spalding and Crowland.
In thee absence of Josh Wallis, Lister took advantage and claimed the top spot in 21.51mins.
Matt Ellis, who has normally taken advantage, chose to ride his road bike and only managed fifth.
Despite the conditions, there were five personal bests (PB) times – notably from Mark Hills, who clocked a fourth on the run.
- Thursday night saw a Spalding contingent head over to the criterium races at Rockingham.
In the Cat 2/3 races, Matt Ellis got away in an early two-man break and went on to take the win – completing 30 miles in 1.07.00hrs.
Keiran Buffham set off with another rider to chase them down and succeeded in taking fourth spot in 1.09.00hrs, while Frazer Wallis managed ninth spot and picked up his first points as a Cat 3 rider in 1.11.00hrs.
- On Friday evening Josh Wallis raced in the national criterium championships at Stockton-on-Tees.
Racing at such a high standard, the competition was very tough. He managed to move up to the tail of the lead group, but ultimately finished in the chasing group.
Wallis managed 18.96 miles in 59 minutes at an average speed of 25.8mph, with a maximum of 34.7mph.
Although not in the leading group, he learnt a great deal about racing at that level which hopefully will help in future races.
- Saturday saw Spalding’s Keiran Buffham compete in the VC Lincoln East Midlands Road Race.
On a fairly flat and fast course he got in an early five-man breakaway, but got pushed into fifth place on the final sprint, completing the 53-mile regional category A race in 1.58.54hrs.
- On Sunday Neil Palmer represented Spalding in the East District Cycling Association 100-mile time trial.
The event is something of a test of strength and speed on a normal day but, with the temperatures so high, it was even more the case.
Fortunately, he had an early start time of 7.15am – but even by then it was starting to heat up, which made his time of 3.47.39hrs all the more impressive.
On a course of two halves, the first silky smooth tarmac and the second concrete with ruts, he averaged 26.4mph and at one point maxed out at 36.7mph.
Impressively, he beat the club record – which had been set by Matt Stephenson back in 1997, by 6.16mins.
- Spalding’s Matt Ellis rode the Junior National road race championships at Witham-on-the-Hill near Bourne on Sunday.
The race consisted of six laps of an 11-mile circuit, for which he averaged 26.9mph.
He kept attacking, getting in breakaways and forcing the pace, but none of the breaks stayed away and it ended up in a bunch sprint.
Unfortunately, sprinting is not Ellis’ forte and he finished 23rd after a hard and aggressive race.
- Spalding’s midweek riders took a 50-mile ride to Corby Glen and back on Monday.
That was followed on Thursday by a 65-mile round-trip on one of their favourite trips to Sudbrook Golf Club north of Belton – a ride which has some spectacular scenery particularly on a clear sunny day.
The Saturday club ride, which comprised of 15 riders from the age of ten up to 79 – something that you don’t probably see happen in many other clubs – took a 44-mile loop out to the OK Diner near Great Casterton on the A1 and back.
