Local cycling news round-up

Red Lodge resident Piccoli, who was also event organiser, started last and put in the fastest time, taking just four seconds over twenty minutes to cover the Higham to Westley and back course. Next fastest was team mate Nik Bowdler (20:09), followed by Mark Arnold (20:20). Nearest challenger was John Dowling of the Hemel Hempstead CC, 27 seconds adrift of Arnold.

The event had been scheduled for the Spring Bank Holiday weekend but was postponed after rain and flying spray made it unsafe to race on the original date.

The course, just west of Bury St Edmunds, was being used for the first time for several years and it did not show its best face. The final mile, mostly climbing up a slip road away from the A14 dual carriageway, was dead into the wind. Many a dream of a fast time perished before riders reached the finish timekeeper.

Nevertheless notable rides came from Dave Green (RAFCC) who was fifth in 20:52, Will Bamber from Denton near Bungay 21:35, and Simon Boyle (Stowmarket & District, 21:52).

Visitor Barry Charlton was the star of the Diss & District 25 on the Bressingham to Thetford road.

He won the event in 52:51, beating Mark Arnold (Pedal Revolution) by 52 seconds. Charlton’s time is a new course record, beating Martin Pyne’s 19 year-old mark by exactly a minute, and giving the Stoke-on-Trent man the unusual distinction of holding both the tricycle and bicycle course records. Pyne, now aged 53, was also riding, finishing in 59:41 and helping James Eman (55:38) and Bobby De’ath (58:41) to win the team prize for the Anglia Velo.

Conditions were warm, but with a tough headwind on the outward leg to Thetford.

“Finally, after four years of trying” said the Beccles rider Chris Guy (Extreme Sports Therapy) after victory in the last counting race won him the Lotus Cars Cycle Race League at the last gasp.

Guy, team mate Ben Nicholson, Phil Hetzel (Ipswich BC), and Mike Auger (VC Norwich) formed a successful break. On the last lap Guy and Hetzel went clear and Guy took the flag. Previous league leader Martin Hunter (Colchester Rovers), feeling stiff after his heavy crash in the VC Norwich race at Wicklewood, finished in the bunch.

Alan Trolove of West Suffolk Wheelers took 26th place out of a field of 100 riders in the National Youth Circuit Championships at Hog Hill. Winner was Germain Burton (De Ver Cycles).

In the Mersey Roads Club 24 hour time trial provisional mileages credited to local riders include 442 by Rob Dulson (Hainault RC), and 369 by single fixed gear rider Tom Deakins (Flitch Crono). VC Baracchi rider Mike Rainton’s mileage in the same event looks likely to be confirmed as 329.

Well over 1,000 riders took part in the Dunwich Dynamo night ride from London to the Suffolk coast. One of the more unusual machines was the replica Dursley Pederson, complete with wooden mudguards, ridden by Cally Callomon from Walpole, near Halesworth.

Dieter Rowe (VC Norwich) won the Redbridge road race after a long breakaway ride with Jamie Caldwell of the St Ives CC.

This weekend the Ladies Essex Giro 2-Day based near Saffron Walden brings top class women’s racing to the region.

On Sunday August 8th West Suffolk Wheelers promote the Eastern Region Grass Track Championships at the Priory School, Bury St Edmunds, starting at 11am.

Results:

Diss & District 25, Bressingham

1 Barry Charlton (Lyme RC) 52:51, 2 M Arnold (Pedal Revolution) 53:43, 3 J Eman (Anglia Velo) 55:38, 4 G Moore (Stowmarket & District) 57:22, 5 A Leggett (Stowmarket & District) 57:44, 6 S Gorbutt (Diss & District) 57:51.

Ladies: 1 Carrie Hook (Colchester Rovers) 1:13;2 T Prewer (VC Baracchi) 1:14:49.

Vet on Std. 1 Chris Nudds (CC Breckland) +18:29 (59:16), 2 C Bunnett (King’s Lynn CC) +17:54 (1:2:48).

Redbridge Road Race. Matching Tye:

1 Dieter Rowe VC Norwich - 2 hours 24 mins 53 secs

2 Steven Griffiths Orbea - For Goodness Shakes - @ 1 sec

3 Jamie Caldwell St Ives CC

4 Graham Galvin East London Velo

5 Roger Maidment East London Velo

6 Basil Moss Cambridge CC