The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A host of records rolled at round six of Spalding Cycling Club’s ten mile time trial league as warm weather attracted a big field of 29 riders.
They a enjoyed a warm, dry and superfast evening with three course best times (CBs) and seven personal best times (PBs) clocked.
Of the field, 20 were members with four families represented by two members each, nine guests – including four former members of the club – and TT debutant Kieran Buffham, who finished with creditable result of 27.35mins.
While the fastest overall time went to Neil Palmer (Velo One), it was Ben Moore who was the fastest club member in 22.47mins – just two seconds shy of his PB of 22.45mins set in round two.
He finished just behind Chris Ward (Team Swift) on 22.29mins and was pushed hard all the way round by Andy Bowser, who set a new CB for himself (22.53mins).
A battle between Velo One’s Josh Wallis and Adam Ellis ended with the former posting a PB of 23.15mins to finish only seven seconds ahead of Ellis.
Just 17 seconds separated Simon Wright’s new CB of 24.15mins from Ross McGivern’s new CB time of 24.32mins.
More PBs were posted by Mark Hills (24.40mins), Frazer Wallis (25.46mins) and Chris Bettinson (26.39mins).
In the dash to the line Frazer managed to hold off Ian Fensom who recorded 25.54mins while Bourne Wheelers’ Rex Stamp recorded 26.36mins – believed to be a CB for him.
After a series of 28 minute rides, Richard Flatters finally got inside with a fine 27.06mins, which was a PB for him.
In the same fine style, under-16 rider Tom Wright also managed a PB of 28.50mins.
The under-16s competition was won by Matt Hull with 27.47mins, which is believed to be a PB. Will Gurney was second on 28.20mins ahead of Ed Gurney (36.24mins).
Fastest lady overall was guest rider Maddie Gammons (RP Vision), who improved her time from the 26.51mins posted in round one to 26.07mins.
She was ahead of Team Swift’s Louise Day’s on 26.35mins, while the fastest lady club member was Natasha Tooley.
She rode strongly, crossing the line on 27.22mins ahead of a fully recovered Sarah Bentley (27.56mins) and the PB-setting Nicole Flatters (32.19mins).
Other Spalding times: Barry Drew (27.36mins), David Thornley (28.06mins), Paul Kendall (29.33mins) and Bill Wood (34.12mins).
- In contrast, McGivern set the pace at round five of Spalding’s 10 mile time trial league on a night when wet weather wreaked havoc with the course.
A small field of seven riders lined up for the event, with the course waterlogged and covered with fresh tarmac in places.
One of only two of this year’s field who took part in 2015, McGivern took top spot. His time of 25.53mins was just 30 seconds ahead of second placed Mark Hills – but almost four minutes quicker than his 2015 time.
Hills posted 26.23mins, while third place overall went to Velo One’s Josh Wallis in 26.57mins. Simon Wright was the third club member home with 28.43mins. The other guest rider, Ed Holliday, chose the worst night of the year to make a rare appearance and posted 29.02mins.
Gary Bentley was the other 2015 entrant and he recorded 30.29mins – which was well over two minutes faster than his 2015 finishing time of 33.18mins.
Sarah Bentley was unlucky enough to have a fall on the newly tarmacked Iron Bar Drove corner, but managed to remount and complete her race with a time of 33.45mins.
