Competition News

As it is harvest time it was probably a good bet that SW would again be delayed by a tractor. And so it came to pass. In a two-up with PF they posted a time of 29:55 which gave them third position out of six. PY did the event as a solo and his time was an excellent 29:06.

In good racing conditions MP recorded a course PB. His time of 1:08:03 was enough to win the First Vet on Standard Award by two and a half minutes.

RESULT

1. Phil Young 1 hour 3 mins 34 secs
2. Peter Walton 1 hour 7 mins 47 secs
3. Merv Player 1 hour 9 mins 03 secs

RESULT

1. Phil Young 59 mins 41 secs
2. Peter Walton 1 hour 4 mins 14 secs
3. Merv Player 1 hour 7 mins 18 secs

HWCC's Revenge Cup is incorporated into this event. PY's 1:03:34 not only won him the trophy but also gave him the Handicap Award (58:10). PW's (1:07:47) was an improvement on his previous year's time whilst MP's 1:09:03 was 22 seconds slower. MP's time gave him second Vet on Standard but won him the Charlie Cole (Luton Wheelers) Trophy, and also enabled him to win the Edgar Mascall Trophy for the sixth year with one event still to go.

SW did a time of 25:48 on this course despite being held up by a tractor.

Originally billed as a 25, this event was shortened to a 10 due to roadworks. BP's time of 25:20 left him 22nd out of the 47 finishers.

Racing an undulating course alongside the A1 south of Stilton, with a gusty crosswind, MP was able to ride on the tribars (as opposed to the previous week). His time of 27:03 was 5mins 43secs behind the winner.

One of the problems of setting yourself standards that you can't hope to reach, let alone maintain, is that you always feel that you could (or should) have done better. Driving to the event in a violent storm and breaking his glasses 15 mins before his start time PW achieved the distance of 220.821 miles. It did not rain during the day although many wished that it had (because it got so hot), but the brisk SW wind made parts of the course very difficult to ride. The difficulties of riding into a strong headwind are not always offset by being blown back on the return.

On a very, very windy course just west of Cambridge MP rode a TT where one of the biggest decisions was whether to ride using the tri-bars or opt for a safer, more upright position. His time of 27:21 reflects his quest for care rather than speed.

RESULT 81" restricted gear

1. Brian Evans 25 mins 27 secs
2. Paul Fennel 25 mins 43 secs
3. Peter Walton 27 mins 12 secs
4. Barry Page 27 mins 16 secs
5. Steve Watson 27 mins 19 secs
6. Jason Thorpe 30 mins 09 secs
7. Richard Henderson 31 mins 05 secs

Result Scrubbers

1. Tony Marriott 26 mins 42 secs
2. Josh Tongue 27 mins 47 secs
3. Brian Hill 30 mins 07 secs

RESULT

1. Peter Walton 22 mins 40 secs
2. Barry Page 22 mins 50 secs
3. Phil Young 23 mins 12 secs
4. Brian Evans 23 mins 44 secs
5. Graham Knight 26 mins 14 secs
6. Michelle Erskine 27 mins 29 secs

Driving to the event in torrential rain didn't augur well but starting later on in the race meant that both PW and MP enjoyed fine weather although a strong easterly wind wasn't the greatest of benefits. PW managed 23:56 whilst MP's 25:26 saw him narrowly beaten into second place in the Vet on Standard competition.

On a warm morning with a north-westerly wind PW's time of 1:01:56 was good for a man of his size (and shape).

MP's time of 25:26 time was enough for him to win the First Vet on Standard Award for the third year running out near Leighton Buzzard.

A variety of weather gave the three Herts Wheelers different stories to tell. Sometimes heavy showers, wind (gusty or breezy or light), and occasionally sunshine and still conditions meant that the start times of the riders were reflected in their final placings. PW 23:24, BE 23:42 and SW 25:20.

On a day more suited to swimming than cycling SW recorded a time of 26:50 on this Leaden Roding course.

RESULT

1. Barry Page 22 mins 58 secs
2. Peter Walton 23 mins 15 secs
3. Brian Evans 23 mins 30 secs (243 Watts Avg)

In this Middle-Markers (slower than 1:00:00) event on the A1 at Tempsford in similar conditions to the previous week, MP's time of 1:04:26 (2 secs faster than last week) was enough for him to win the First Vet on Standard Award.

With PY and PW starting a minute apart it was always going to be about how far PW could get before being overtaken by PY. This duly happened at the north turn. However the wind also veered to become a north-westerly thus favouring the larger PW. The two swapped places several times on the return leg before PW managed to recover 12 seconds of the minute that PY had earlier gained. PY 1:00:47, PW 1:01:35 amd MP 1:04:28.