The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The course record was shattered by visiting rider Neil Palmer as Spalding Cycling Club hosted their first time trial of 2017.
The five-mile championship traditionally serves as the season’s opening event, with 34 riders taking on the short and sharp one lap trip around the Pode Hole circuit.
Last year, a new course record of 11.01mins was set by guest rider Max Williamson – and that was regarded as one which would stand for some time.
However, it fell exactly one year later with Velo One’s Palmer, a former Spalding club member, bettering it by one second (11.00mins).
In the Club Championship standings, the absence of the 2016 winner Ben Moore saw a new name at the top as Andy Bowser took the crown with a fine ride of 11.27mins.
He was just four seconds faster than second placed Matt Ellis – now a first claim member of the club again.
Improving on his 2016 time of 12.17mins, Ellis posted 11.33mins to take the youth category win. He was 2.19mins quicker than Will Gurney in 13.52mins.
Completing the podium was the 2016 best novice rider Frazer Wallis, who clocked 12.15mins.
For Mark Hills there must have been a sense of déjà vu when he saw the results.
Joint fourth in 2016 with Simon Wright on 12.47mins, this year saw Hills and Andrew Gurney stop the clock on 12.26mins for joint fourth once again.
There was also a change at the top of the ladies’ standings as Sarah Bentley and Natasha Tooley were non-starters.
That opened the way for 2016 junior ladies’ BAR winner Sophie Wright to post 15.53mins, with Helen Wallis and Nicole Flatters following in on 16.33mins and 18.29mins respectively.
Tom Wright – the 2016 junior men’s BAR winner – completed the course in 13.46mins, which was good enough for tenth in the club competition overall standings and first under-14, while Ed Gurney took second place with 17.32mins.
Spalding also offered a warm welcome to new members Nigel Howard, Gary Hignett (who rode cyclo-cross last season in SCC colours) and the returning Brian Johnson. They posted 13.57mins, 15.42mins and 16.10mins respectively.
Paul Kendall was also in action, but his race ended prematurely.
- Other Spalding CC times: Ross McGivern 12.31mins, Keiran Buffham 12.45mins, Chris Bettinson 13.05mins, Richard Flatters 13.40mins, Barry Drew 14.18mins, Derek Chamberlain 14.22mins, Katie Wright 18.53mins and Kimberly Fisher 19.45mins.
As is now the norm, a group of regular guest riders took part too.
For Velo One, the above-mentioned Palmer set the new course record.
He was chased hard by team-mate Josh Wallis in 11.17mins, while PHMS’s Will Tidball finished on 11.22mins.
Using the event as preparation for their own club league, Bourne Wheelers were also out in force with times set by Bryn Richards (12.09mins), Lee Thomas (12.47mins), Gareth Richards (13.32mins) Chris Peel (14.38mins) and Molly Peel (14.51mins).
Vision Innovation Leisure’s Maddie Gammons also finished with 12.50mins, with Jess Woodworth, of Team Onform, clocking 13.21mins.
