THE CLIMAX of the Maldon and District CC’s grass track meeting came as Alex Wise and Jack Gibson dived past lapped riders just before the finish of the eight kilometre race.

Wise, whose job involves introducing cycling into Colchester schools, got the verdict by just a bike’s length from Gibson, a Maldon member studying in Wales and currently racing in the colours of Cardiff Ajax.

Other Maldon stars in the meeting at the Lower Plume School included George Wood with several Youth wins and his mother Sue Wood with several wins in the women’s races, though Maldon’s Rebecca Hammond took the three-lap handicap.

Young Colchester Rovers racers were much in evidence at their club’s meet next day at Boadicea Way where 8K winner was Gavin Daley (VC Lincoln), just ahead of Richard Lambert (Cottingham Coureurs). A last lap coming together saw Alan Trolove hit the ground, but the young West Suffolk Wheeler got back up so quickly he only lost two places.

Tricyclists came from across the country to contest three-wheeled racing where Sid Charlton (King’s Cliffe Flyers) dominated, with Ian Matthews (Team Tor 2000) his nearest rival.

A flat-out blast for the line saw Mike Auger (VC Norwich) win the fifth round of the Ipswich Criteriums by a tiny margin from Jonny Shuster of Stowmarket & District.

The scratch group soon made up their 60 seconds handicap and as six of them rode through the main field, three Ipswich BC riders, Tom Castle, new member Graham Collins and Dan Zagni raised their game enough to stay in contact and take seventh, eighth and ninth places.

The evening was sunny but also windy and the Go-Race (novices) field showed their growing experience by racing in groups rather than the ones and twos of earlier races. Paul Thomas of VC Revolution won from clubmate John Sanderson and Jonny Sjolin (West Suffolk Whs).

First woman was Sandra Mackay (XRT/Elmy Cycles), just back from racing on the banked track at the UK Masters Championships. XRT team mate Louise Rickard was second, just ahead of Tanya Griffiths of Woodbridge, previously a non-racing cyclist. The county council worker recently heard of the series and decided to see if her 20-miles-a-day work mileage was suitable training. It proved more than adequate.

No less than 48 riders beat the hour in the Norwich ABC 25 mile time trial on the Attleborough bypass. Winner was Sigma Sport pro Russell Hampton with 50:35 with Nino Piccoli (Team Pedal Revolution), second in 51:09. Conditions were good but not perfect – with the lack of wind leaving riders with no respite. Notable rides came from Philip Jarvis (Colchester Rovers) who took sixth place in 52:57, Richard Carrington (Mildenhall CC, 55:30) and Paul Jay (API, 55:49).

Conditions for the Norwich ABC 10 in the Waveney Valley were less favourable – it was hot and there was an awkward crosswind. Winner was professional David Mclean in 20:27 – making careful comeback just four weeks after breaking his collar-bone in a continental road race. Leading local men were Gavin Moore (Stowmarket & District), placed third in 21:32 and Evert Wijnberg (Plomesgate CC, 22:06).