Stuart Fairweather takes victory in the Plomesgate CC 10 mile time trial

The Plomesgate 10 womens winner by just three seconds Cindy Berry of Pedal Power Ipswich. Picture: FERGUS MUIR (Image: Archant)

His 22:20 on the Orford-Tunstall-Bentwaters and back course was 20 seconds quicker than Andy Proffitt of Ipswich Bicycle Club, who in turn was ten seconds up on former star roadman Russell Hampton.

The closest result was among the women where Cindy Berry (Pedal Power Ipswich) had just three seconds in hand over the fast improving Mandy Bunn (CC Sudbury) while frequent winner Verity Smith (Stowmarket & District, 26:17) was relegated to third spot.

To those accustomed to busier roads further inland, the course through Tunstall Forest seemed wonderfully quiet.

The first hint of a rider approaching was often the soft sound of bike tyres coming through the trees. Locals, however, thought the road unusually busy.

Robin Hawes the third counter in the winning Plomesgate team was ready for any monsters in the forest! Picture: FERGUS MUIR (Image: Archant)

Certainly the spring-like weather brought out agricultural traffic and several of the top finishers had encountered farm tractors with unquantifiable effects on the result.

Times were well down on Lloyd Chapman’s 2017 course record, partly due to the breeze which, though light, faced competitors on the appreciably longer return leg.

Notably there were three sets of fathers and daughters competing. Derek Cawston (Wolsey RC, 27:50), managed to hold off his son Ethan (28:59).

Andrew Stewart (Hadleigh CC, 28:41) and daughter Lizzie (31:35) are mainly triathletes with Hadeigh Hares but are clearly getting serious with a bike-fit lined up.

Plomesgate 10 tandem prizewinners Graham Collins and Becky Ridge. Picture: FERGUS MUIR (Image: Archant)

Trumping them all were the Johnson family of CC Sudbury where dad Gary (26:42), mum Sarah (31:14) and daughter Isabella (29:37) all rode.

Photographing riders side-on across Tunstall Common it was noticeable how much lower the fastest riders manage to position themselves – wind resistance being by far the biggest barrier to progress at 20-plus miles per hour.

Lowest of all, at a guess, was Robin Hawes whose 24:28 backed up Plomesgate clubmates Jim Hardwick (24:08) and Chris Tye 23:50) to tie up the team prize.

Sole tandem was ridden by Graham Collins and Becky Ridge (23:07) who set off with such a burst of power that they pulled the back wheel over.

Mandy Bunn (CC Sudbury) missed out on the win at Plomesgate by just three seconds. Picture: FERGUS MUIR (Image: Archant)

VeloVelocity rider Daniel Bloy, now 40 and so officially a veteran time trialist, won the Wisbech Wheelers 10 outright in a time of 21:31 beating his nearest challenger, James Gelsthorpe of new Lincolnshire team Velo-One/ Staples Vegetables by 17 seconds

There was a light wind, by Fenland standards but the several climbs over flyovers above the A47 were as tough as ever. Wendy Gooding (Team Bottrill) however made light of these climbs to lower the women’s course record to 25:24.

Rounding up cycling news from other quarters – The Eastern Counties CA 10 at Six Mile Bottom was won by Liam Maybank in 19:03 while local riders inside 21 minutes included David Harding (Chelmer CC) 19:43, Sam Wightman (also Chelmer) 20:00 and Paul Rooke (West Suffolk Wheelers) 20:56. Chelmer’s Peter Horsnell, now in his 90th year, was comfortably inside “evens” with 28:48.

In the March Hare circuit races there was a fifth place for Chelmsford rider Matt Clements (Richardsons/Trek) while Gabriel Fowden of Pedal Power Ipswich was eighth.

The funeral of Terry Anderson, the noted time trial and Audax organiser whose death was reported last week has been fixed for Thursday 5th April 1.30pm at Chelmsford Crematorium, Writtle, CM1 3BL

On Easter Sunday the Mark Bell Memorial Race, based at Ashdon in Essex, is a new road race held on the Radwinter circuit and at 109 miles exceptionally long. The brainchild of Alan Rouse, the event commemorates Mark Bell, 1961-2009, a former winner of the Grand Prix of Essex, and both the amateur and professional road championships of Britain.

Lower category roadmen contest the Chelmer CC Road Race on the same day, while others, including much younger riders, race on closed roads around the streets of Fakenham in Norfolk in the afternoon – see the Active Fakenham website for details.

RESULT – Plomesgate CC10 Sudbourne:

1 Stuart Fairweather (VeloVelocity) 22:20, 2 Andy Proffitt (Ipswich BC) 22:40, 3 Russell Hampton (MG Cycling Team) 22:50, 4 Neil Hughes (VeloSchils) 23:06, 5 Simon Daw (VeloSchils) 23:42, 6 Adrian Pettitt (Stowmmarket & Dist) 23:49, 7 Chris Tye (Plomesgate CC) 23:50, 8 Ant Birt (Team Bottrill) 23:53, 9 John Bradbury (CC Sudbury) 24:00, 10 Andrew Leggett (VeloVelocity) 24:01.

Women:

1 Cindy Berry (Pedal Power Ipswich) 25:22, 2 Mandy Bunn (CC Sudbury) 25:25, 3 Verity Smith (Stowmarket& Dist) 26:17, 4 Kate Lucas (Norwich Amateur BC) 27:01, 5 Jan Smith (Great Yarmouth CC) 27:12.

Tandem:

Graham Collins & Becky Ridge (TPH Racing) 23:03

Best Vet on Age Standard: Chris Dyason (Cambridge CC) +3:48 (actual 25:14)