Competition News

Two Wheelers rode in the ECCA 10 last Saturday.   It was a favourable day for a change on the Six Mile Bottom course - cool with a slight cross-wind.  Merv managed to equal his time from three years ago with a 24:26 while Phil Young did a 22:19.  

As we currently do not hold our own 25's, the Revenge Cup is incorporated into the Norlond 25 held on the A1.  On a breezy morning, Merv retained the trophy with 1:06:50.

Tony M rode the Shaftesbury CC road Race. This was a 117 km event based around a 25 km loop near Roxwell. The pace was quick from the start with 8 riders escaping and staying away till the end - 6 of these contested the final sprint.
Tony managed to finish in the second bunch in 32nd place out of 60 starters. This was his first open road race for 22 years! Ironically the 2nd placed rider this year had been racing in that earlier event. Tony was well chuffed to have finished such a long, fast race - the average speed was 25mph!

As this race was rearranged from an earlier date due to an accident on the course, more than half the entrants could not turn out due to other commitments.  However on a pleasant but breezy afternoon Peter and Merv were both able to put in an appearance and recorded 25:00 and 25:53 respectively.

On a windy day, Paul & Steve clocked 30:35

Nick Cramer rode this event . The course was just under 60 miles and involved 5½ laps that took the riders through Newport, Clavering, Rickling Green and back to Newport. Nick was on his best behaviour , "no attacking, chasing, leading or anything else that would waste energy ". He made himself stay at the back for 3½ laps, which was hard - not in effort but in self-discipline! The finish line was along a narrow lane.

An excellent turn-out of club members on a glorious sunny morning - why can't all Sundays be like this?
Tony continued in dominant form and there were solid performances from several newcomers.

Despite it being yet another windy afternoon. Merv rode this event on a new course west of Bedford.  His time was 26:13.

Nick Cramer took part in the Easterley CC " Falling Leaves Road Race " on 2nd September. This is involved a 50 mile, 7 lap circuit, on a course he had ridden earlier in the year. Nick reported " The circuit took us riders past the smashing Audley End House but then terminated into an awful hill that big riders hate! "

On a windy day that made the return much faster than the out, Phil continued his excellent form with 22:13 whilst SteveW did 24:20, Peter did 24:36 and Merv completed the set with 25:15.

The rain stopped but it was cool and breezy at Panshanger. This is a tough course combining some steep hills and tricky surfaces - congratulations to the four riders who braved it!

Nick Cramer rode the London Phoenix Grand Prix (cats 2,3 and 4) - the latest round of the Eastern Road Race League. He reports a return to form after a couple of disappointing results.

An excellent evening at Cole Green; warm enough and with a very light breeze.
There was an excellent entry with two riders - Michael Jewis and Mark Tappenden - making their debuts. Both were comfortably inside 30 minutes so there is obviously more to come. Chris Wells also had a good ride with a PB for the course. Mike East had a less happy evening as he had a mechanical problem on the first lap.
At the top Tony Marriott was comfortably ahead of his rivals with Alex Powell, (his form honed in the Pyrenees?), just pipping Nick Cramer for second place.

With his time of 27:52 Merv won the King Vet Award on the Leaden Roding course.

It was a warm but windy afternoon when Merv recorded 1:13:37.

Phil and Merv rode in the Bedfordshire Roads 25 on the slower course on the A1 from Tempsford to Baldock and back. Phil recorded 59:46 and Merv managed to improve slightly, recording 1:5:52.

It was a damp evening but the wind was fairly light and from the south-west. Some excellent times were returned including PB's Tony, Richard, Ian, Chris and Mike.

Wheelers

To cap an exceptional season, Tony broke through the hour barrier for the first time with a 59:07.  Merv's time in this event was 1:06:21.

Merv rode in the Eastern Counties 10 on a course near Leaden Roding. This was an an alternative course due to roadworks on the intended course. He recorded a 27:00.

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A reasonable evening on the E64 (A414 to Harlow).  Great ride by Tony to go under 23 minutes.

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