Year: 2007

Last weekend was a busy one with the good whether getting a large number of members out riding a number of different events. Some of the reports/results that have come in are a bit sketchy but hopefully the summary below is correct.

New Q9.5/19 Course!
A marshalling error which put the finish for this event in the wrong lay-by and a windy day resulted in times being a bit meaningless on this event. However for the record Dave Twin completed the shortened course in 00:21:44.

KCA 10 Q10/22
Nick Gritton and Dave Mulford rode this event on the Sunday recording times of 00:24:54 (14th) and 00:33:23 (39th) respectively. The event was won by Paul Burrows of Kent Cycles in 00:21:52.

Surrey League 123
According to Nick Gritton recently rejoined member Matt Miles rode this event on the Cutmill circuit and notched up another good result coming in second. Unfortunately we have no more info on this even after scouring LondonCycleSport.com.

Open TT G25/53
Mark Newton and Bob Loader represented the club in this event and Marks fine form continues with a 00:58:10 catching and passing a certain Bob Loader in the process. Bobs time for the event was 01:15:??. The winning time was 00:51:21 from Michael Hutchinson.

Matt Miles returning to the club joined Jamie Walker and Ed Rieu to start the SERRL event on the Chilham circuit with 87 other riders including Sydenham second claim and club treasurer Ian O’Hara for a full field of 90 on a warm Sunday morning (22 April 2007). Ian was straight off the front with a few other riders and stayed away the whole day of this 90K race taking in 4 12.5 mile laps that include a drag up the hill at Mowlash with a finish up the brutal White Hill. Ed fell out the back of the last group after about three laps but Jamie and Matt stayed with the main pack through to the finish up White Hill. Matt started a long chase to the front group to close an approximate 40 second deficit. At the finish, Ian took third behind Gareth McCullough (Medway Velo) and Mark Powell (GS Invicta). Matt nearly closed the gap and finished fourth after nearly closing the gap. Jamie finished in a splintered group and Ed finally made it to the finish after riding a lonely last lap of the race. A warm welcome back to Matt and well done on a great ride to him and the other Sydenham riders.

Matt Lucas, riding as in a second claim capacity for Hasting & St Leonards CC was the sole club rider in this association event. Starting towards the end of the field when, temperatures were on the up and with the flying Pete Tadros off a few minutes behind, Matt managed to improve on recent performances with a sub hour ride (only just) of 00:59:58. The event was won by Pete Tadros in just under 53 minutes!

Ed Rieu was the only member of the club riding this event on what from the roadside looked like a cracking morning. Those watching from the roadside consisted of Dave Twin, Graham Ward and Matt Lucas who were on marshalling duty at Hamstreet, which is the turn at just over half distance. Ed put in a good ride recording a PB of 01:03:47 which the marshals attribute to the enthusiastic shouts of encouragement that were aimed in his direction at the aforementioned roundabout!

A bright but chilly morning is what greeted Dave Twin, Richard Hallett and Nick Varley when they turned up for the start of this spoco event. Dave was the third man to start and within the first 3 miles downhill stretch had managed to catch his minute and two minute men. It was then a case of waking the marshals up, being the first man on the road. Dave did a 1.49.13, Richard a 1.47.00 and Nick a 1.55.01. The overall event was one by James Dear of In-Gear Quickvit R.T. in 1.39.27.

The in form Mark Newton and Matt Lucas turned out to ride this event on the flat lands around Romney Marsh. It was a bright and cold morning with a slight breeze which felt stronger than it was due to the exposed nature of the course. Mark recorded and impressive time of 01:12:08 for 7th overall with Matt coming in nearly 4 minutes back at 01:15:54 22nd overall. The event was won by Paul Burrows Kent RC in 01:07:45.

In this race which from the London Cycle Sport report looks like it was full of attacks Mark Newton secured a very respectable 14th place after winning the opening club 10 of the season the day before. Whilst we are not sure of his final finishing position we also spied Jamie Walker in the photos of this event.
LondonCycleSport.com

Damp road surfaces with the threat of diesel on the first roundabout is what greeted the five members of the club who rode. With a tail/cross wind on the way out and head/cross on the way back Mark Newton was the first club member off. He turned in a very respectable 24.05 (14th). It wasn’t long till the others followed, Ed Rieu 25.19 (26th), Dave Twin 24.53 (22nd), Matt Lucas 24.41 (20th) and Nick Varley 26.36 (35th). The overall event was won by Ben Instone of A3crg/Bikedoc/The Tri Store in a course record of 21.18.

Those who have ridden with Jamie this year will have suspected he was going strongly and the proof of that is evident from his 8th place in the Peter Young Memorial RR this weekend. Report and pictures (as always) on LondonCycleSport.com.

Only one team represented the Sydenham in this year’s event, made up of Richard Hallett, Dave Twin and Mark Newton. What greeted them on the morning was severe winds and colder temperatures than of late. The guys flew out to the Ashford turn, but then had to stuggle into the headwind on the longest leg, before getting the benefit of the wind again on the final leg to the finish. They recorded a time of 1.01.23 to take 5th. The winners were Phil Bull, Gary Birch and Neil Archibald of V.C.Elan in 57.21.

Whilst most people seem to opt for riding the rolling roads of Surrey, Nick Varley was the only starter from the club to ride this hilly event in Kent. Also enjoying the sunny but blustery conditions Nick finished with a 1.02.37, but believes he could of gone faster once he has made some adjustments to his recently built bike. The overall winner was Paul Burrows of Kent Cycles RT in 54.43.

Glorious weather greated the riders for the 43rd running of the East Surrey Hardriders, even if it was a little windy . As a result there were some improvements on times within the club members compared to the previous couple of years. First rider off was Bob Loader who suffered a number of problems including a puncture and having to go back and retrieve his cycle computer. He eventually finished with 1.51.18. Ed Rieu recorded 1.22.35 (34th)but was beaten by Jamie Walker with 1.22.10 (32nd) on his road bike.
Dave Twin finished 19th with 1.17.34 and Richard Hallett came 13th with 1.15.38. Ian O’Hara was a non starter. The Overall winner was Pete Tadros In-Gear Quickvit RT in 1.07.51.