There was a weekend of record-breaking in the Waveney Valley as new course bests were set by several winners in the Norwich Amateur Bicycle Club double bill of time trialling, writes Fergus Muir.
Jason Bouttell (VeloVelocity) set the tone when he knocked over a minute off Gary Empson’s 2010 record for the Redenhall-based B10/43, reducing it to 19:10 in good but not exceptional conditions.
The Newmarket electrician has been mostly racing mountain bikes this summer, including several races on the Continent.
In contrastingly wet and windy weather next morning Verity Smith (Stowmarket & District) set a new women’s course record of 1:00:45 for the 25 mile version coded B25/50, up and down the same A143 road. Meanwhile among the men, visitor James Rix (Crawley Whs) did not hang around in the rain – taking just 50:35 to revise Harley Matthew’s week-old new record of 51:37.
Stuart Fairweather (VeloVelocity) was third in 55:30, while teammate Paul Jay – with his eye on a good points haul in the “SPOCO” Sporting Courses competition was sixth in 56:32. James Rix was also best on age standard, so the top Vets prize cascaded down to Simon Daw (Velo Schils, 56:46, plus 11:35)
The 70 cyclists who finished the Suffolk Byways 117 kilometre Audax ride followed a route from Blaxhall to the coast at Aldeburgh, through Minsmere to Dunwich before heading inland through Heveningham to Framlingham for lunch and returning to Blaxhall.
There was a simple observation question to be answered at Walpole – as proof of passing - but the early (fastest) arrivals like Steve Long of the Diss CC, hardly hesitated and pedalled steadily though. Later little groups stopped by the former phone box- now converted into an information point – and adjusted maps and route sheets and swigged at bottles.
Sights of the morning included deer, a hawk (unspecified) while Walpole Old Chapel was busy for a special event.
The day had started dull and cool but by lunch the sun was out and Michael Kennedy, Suffolk CTC, was one who took a short detour at Framlingham to see the castle walls bathed in autumn sunlight.
The Hillyfields venue for the VC Revolution cyclo-cross at Colchester lived up to its name with a bottom-to-top climb that must have had several making resolutions to go on a diet.
Senior winner Stephen James is a stone lighter than last season and that must have helped him break clear of a leading group who had hung together at the front through the first half of the race, each member wary of “blowing up” if they risked attacking.
James, from Wetheringsett, is over 40, but has not yet opted for the shorter Vets races. His nearest challengers, James Madgwick, second, and Kieran Jarvis, were both only just out of the junior ranks.
Junior riders dominated the Women’s race with Lauren Higham from Stevenage taking here third win of the season, but only after a close race with Elspeth Grace Welwyn Whs) winner of the previous round at Basildon.
Jimmy Piper (MS Society) made light of the climbs to win the 50-plus Vets, 1:02 clear of Richard Muchmore (Renvale) Florence Barnett (King’s Lynn CC) and Harley Gregory (West Suffolk Whs) were the top girl and boy in the Under 12s.
In the grey, wet Maldon & District CC Road Races based at Steeple in the Dengie peninsular, former Maldon member George Wood, now in the Richardsons/Trek team, won the Senior race alone, with Tommy Power taking second spot with a finely judged effort around the wet corner 250 metres before the finish.
Peter Blenkinsop of Stowmarket team Fast Test took the supporting race for third and fourth cat riders, from Harry Wood (Maldon & District) and Andrew Holmes (VC Revolution) in a bunch finish.
Rebecca Goodson of Velo Schils (1:47) was women’s winner in the climb of Monsal Head in Derbyshire, with Ipswich rider Rebecca Johnson taking fifth spot on 2:07.
RESULTS
VC REVOLUTION CYCLO-CROSS: Winners and Leading Local Riders: Senior/Junior: 1 Stephen James (Renvale), 2 James Madgwick (Bloodwise/QSW), 3 Kieran Jarvis (OnForm), 7 Cameron Hurst (XRT/Elmy Cycles, 1st Junior). Women:1 Lauren Higham (LIV AWOL), 2 Elspeth Grace (Welwyn Whs), 3 Katie Scotter (ViCiOUS VELO), 7 J Newstead (XRT/Elmy), 8 C Guest (Ford CC), 10 S Pateman (Ipswich BC). Vets 40/49: 1 Matthew Webber (Forest Side Riders), 5 A Birt (Ipswich BC), M Powell (Stowmarket & District), 8 A Chamberlain (TPH), 9 A Hurst (Colchester Rovers), 10 N Keane (Renvale). Vets 50+: 1 Jimmy Piper (MS Society), 2 R Muchmore (Renvale), 3 C Harrison (Ford CC), 6 M Bowen (West Suffolk Whs), 9 S De Boltz (IBC), 10 D Copeland (IBC). Youth: 1 Oliver Stockwell (Welwyn Whs), 5 Jake Crossley (Colchester Rovers). Under 12: 1 Florence Barnett (King’s Lynn CC), 2 Harley Gregory (West Suffolk Whs, 1st Boy), 5 O Everett (SDCC). U10: 1 Louis Oppen (CC Ashwell), 10 Isabel Beale (Lee Valley Youth, 1st Girl).
NORWICH ABC 10 WORTWELL: 1 Jason Bouttell (VeloVelocity) 19:10 (Course record), 2 David McGaw (Cambridge CC) 20:07, 3 Tom Fitzpatrick (CC Breckland) 20:56, 4 L West (CC Sudbury) 20:58, 5 A Stuart (VC St Raphael) 21:00, 6= K Dorling (Team Bottrill) and Red Walters (Sotonia CC) 21:11, 8 M O’Brien (Plomesgate CC) 21:12, 9 P Jay (VeloVelocity) 21:16, 10 L He (VC Baracchi) 21:25. Women 1 Cindy Berry (Bowlphish) 24:12, 2 Julie Baker (Colchester Rovers) 24:36.
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