Year: 2009

Andy Ross has taken the honours this year in a very respectable 00:06:30, coming out top of the 7 starters. The slightly less prestigious downhill competition, although a win is a win, was won by Richard Hallett. All the times for the climbers are accessible via the Events page.

Are there better things to do on a Sunday?
I’m referring of course to last weekend’s hill climbs, presented courtesy of the Catford and Bec clubs. Overnight rain meant that York’s Hill was greasier than usual but at least it was pleasantly warm which brought the crowds out to witness the annual gurning competition on the final kick to the top. Having neglected to fit ski-skins to my pro-race3s I managed a skittish 2:40, good enough for 42nd from 72 starters (or as I prefer, the 7th fastest Vet!) Andy Ross did well, coming in 32nd with 2:29 which was about the same as last year – we agreed the conditions did affect the times. Iain Akhurst also represented the club, 23rd at 2:22, placing 3rd Vet. The event was won by Robert Gough, Chippenham Wheelers in 1:58, the only rider under 2 minutes, with Jody Crawforth second and Matthew Melville third. Honoured guest entry, Max Pendleton, famous father of famous daughter turned in a 2:52 and the lantern rouge did 3:50

It looked to brighten up for the afternoon’s Bec and conditions were fine for the early starters however rain and cold dampened spirits and times from about the midway point. Still, a good crowd turned out to cheer raucously, inspired by the gutsy climbers, fuelled by quality tea and cakes. I’d preferred White Lane so I was disappointed to do a 2:28 which was about what I’d done in training but was good enough for another 7th fastest Vet, 49 of 75. The one to watch for the Club hill climb, Andy Ross, came in 35th in 2:19. The event was won by a rider who was seventeenth off but even in the dry his 1:46 was impressive and held everyone off – Mike Smith, Milton Keynes, was happy to walk away with the £1,000 prize money. Gough and Crawforth were the only other riders under 2 minutes.

On reflection, now the shock and pain has died down, these two famous hill climbs are good events to do. Once. Just to say you’ve done them. But then again, I’m thinking about what would happen with different tyres, or pressures. Or what I could do on a dry day, or with more training. I’ve a sneaking suspicion I’ll be back next year…..

Report by Robert Robbins

Neil Stanley rode the Epsom CC 25 on Sunday 27th Sept on the g25/53. The event took place in pretty much perfect conditions with the exception of the traffic for late starters like Neil off at no.112. All in all though it was a pretty good day for Neil finishing in 58:43 setting a new PB by 7 secs and finishing 21st overall. The race was won by Steve Dennis in 50:54. Mark Newton was also down to ride but unfortunately was a DNS on the day due to having an op on his back on the Friday before the event.

400m swim 25km bike 8km run

This was my second Sevenoaks event after competing in April. The day was overcast with little wind making for perfect conditions. After being held up by slow swimmers in the swim, I headed out onto the undulating bike course and made up 9 places however my chain fell off so after a Tour de France like mechanic effort I jumped back on 30 seconds later. Despite this I still beat my last time on the bike by 4 minutes and finished overall in 1.34.37 5 minutes quicker than last time and 30th overall and only 30 seconds behind the under 19 category winner.

Report by – Ben Wimpory.

This surrey league handicap event resulted in mixed fortunes for club members Dan Lucas and Rob Robbins due to the slightly generous 7 minute head start the 4th Cats were given in this 50 mile event on a relatively flat circuit. According to Rob there was little fighting spirit from the 3rd cat contingent and despite his numerous attempts to stir things up the 3rds never managed to get their heads down enough to make up any significant time on the 4th cats lead. Dan on the other hand is new to road racing and on this occasion profited from being in possession of a 4th Cat licence (which we doubt he will have for long) and he picked up his first points getting 6th in bunch sprint.

Another trip over to Hampshire and yet more disappointment. Due to road works the course was changed, with the new course incorporating a nice hill. As a result times were generally a lot slower. Dave Twin had the delights of his seat pin dropping again on the bumpy road surface, not content with that the tri bars decided they would like a closer look at the front wheel. Not the best riding position. Dave eventually finished with a 1.03.58. The other club rider present was Mark Newton, even he found the going tough finishing with a 58.54. The winner was Steve Dennis East Grinstead CC in 53.25.

The only good news was that the road works is actually the re-surfacing of one of the doggy bits of course. Hopefully this will improve time next season.

7 members were down on the start sheet to ride this event, but both Tim Livsey and Grant Beerling were DNS on the day. Of the five remaining riders Bob Loader was the first to brave the very breezy conditions which got worse for the later starting riders, eventually getting round in 2.44.01. Rob Royston followed and recorded 2.10.16. Even Mark Newton couldn’t get under the two hour mark finishing in 2.00.25. Neil Stanley recorded a 2.09.18 and looks like he may well have won the Novis Cup (handicap trophy) which needs to be confirmed. Dave Twin finished with 2.12.48 partly due to a slipping seat post. The winner was Kevin Tye ODLS.com Racing in 1.52.16.

All we have are the bare essentials on this one, namely:
7 Mark Newton Sydenham Wheelers 00:55:18
27 Neil Stanley Sydenham Wheelers 00:59:49
84 Bob Loader Sydenham Wheelers 01:13:46
Winner
1 Keith Coffey Bec Cycling Club 00:53:45

Being the modest fast man that we know Bob to be, he has kept to himself a couple of very impressive performances that he put in last month. The first of these involved setting Kent Vets age record in the CC Breckland 12 on 16th Aug with a very lengthy 190.23 miles. Riding on the back of the form that a 12hr slog in saddle produces he lined up the following week to ride the Team Swift 100 and set another VTTA Kent age group record with 05:13:06.What can you say about the man!!

Many thanks to Duncan Leith for bringing these performances to our attention.

Four club riders travelled over to the Bentley by pass course the other side of Guildford looking for reasonable 25 times. The morning was a little chilly for first club rider Matt Preston, riding his first 25 he recorded 1.05.06. David Twin was next off on a borrowed Cervelo from Ian O’hara he recorded a 1.00.39. Then came Ed Rieu beating Dave by 8 seconds with a 1.00.31. Finally it was fast man Mark Newton with a 55.41. Both Ed and Mark thought that the course was around a minute slower than the previous week’s event on the same course due to the rising wind. The event was won by Wouter Sybrandy of Sigmasport.co.uk in 51.31.

Ed Rieu and Mark Newton ventured out to the potentially quick H25/8 course when the wind blows in the right direction over at Bentley. An afternoon start made for a large field +100 riders and for the early starters the wind blew favourably. Ed was off early and had a fantastic ride clocking a very impressive 59.49 and a new PB. Mark was amongst the late starters (first time riding after 16.00 !) clocking a seasons best of 54.43. The event was jointly won in 50.41 by Adrian Lansley North Hampshire and Jerone Walters www.sigmasport.co.uk.

Paul Butler finished 4th for the second time this year in a bunch sprint at Hillingdon on Tuesday 18th August in a 4th Cat Circuit Race. New club member Rob Thatcher gave Paul the “perfect lead out” in Paul’s words and 4 riders all lunged for the line for the win (Paul swears he came 2nd but was too pleased to argue!). Paul has now gained more than the 10 points required to go up to 3rd Category so things are about to get that much tougher for him!

The week before both Paul and Rob rode a Surrey League 4th Cat Circuit Race at Dunsfold Park on Sunday 9th August and Rob crossed the line easily in the top 10 only to hear the sound of the bell! The organisers have since apologised as all riders and spectators agreed it was the final lap but that’s bike racing, even though it shouldn’t be. Neither Paul or Rob had enough left to contest the sprint for a second time. Rob’s first points will have to wait….

Ironman Antwerp 70.3
Sunday 2nd August 2009
1.9k Open Swim/90k Bike/21.1k Run
Paul Delicata travelled to Antwerp to compete in his first half iron man event. He arrived on Wednesday and enjoyed perfect weather conditions until the morning of the race when the heavens opened and continued to do so until the 50k mark on the bike. The weather brightened up considerably for the run and he finished in a time of 5.02.23.

Splits – Swim 33.35, Bike 2.44.36, Run 1.39.26 – Total 5.02.23

Leybourne Lake Sprint Triathlon
Wed 22nd July 2009
550m Open Swim/16k Bike/5k Run
Andy Fruin and Paul Delicata both competed in the evening sprint triathlon at Leybourne Lake. In wet and windy conditions both competed well and clocked solid overall times.

Paul Delicata – Swim 11.09, Bike 26.39, Run 20.03 – Total 57.51 – 12th Place
Andy Fruin – Swim 14.18, Bike 26.03, Run 21.36 – Total 1.01.57 – 21st Place

Steelman Olympic Distance Triathlon @ Dorney Lake
Sunday 5th July 2009
1.5k Open (Non Wetsuit) Swim, 40.2k Bike, 10k Run
Held at the fantastic setting of Eton Rowing Lake, the water temperature was deemed too hot for wetsuits and so athletes embarked a non wet suit lake swim. Conditions were warm and windy, but otherwise ideal. Paul Delicata clocked a solid time of 2.28.04.

Splits – Swim 33.25, Bike 1.11.40, Run 40.43 – Total 2.28.04

South Cerney Olympic Distance Triathlon
Sunday 21st June 2009
1.5k Open Swim, 40k Bike, 10.3k Run
Paul Delicata continued his build up to Ironman 70.3 Antwerp by competing in the South Cerney Olympic Distance Triathlon near Gloucester. In near perfect conditions he clocked a massive PB in 2.17.59, finishing in 33rd position.

Splits – Swim 25.36, Bike 1.08.34, Run 40.42

Only two mad fools from the club decided to ride this twice up and down the Harrietsham course event. With the weather looking good with clear blue sky and no wind on the way down it is amazing how it only takes a few miles and things change. By the time Dave Twin started it was under cloudy skies with a wind that gradually rose to make the second lap rather hard. Dave had the delights of his bike coming apart around him and really blew up on the second lap finishing with a rather disappointing 2.11.59. This was mad even worse when Mark Newton passed him in the final few miles finishing with a 2.00.37 (4th). Mark though couldn’t believe he had actually been caught for five minutes by Malcolm Davies of Kent Cycles R.C who recorded 1.55.11. This was the winning time and looks like it might also be a course record.

Four riders represented the club riding twice around the G25/83 25 mile course. On a day when for once the wind was a bit lighter (although it did pick up a little near the end) the times generally reflected this. Bob loader was the first club rider off finishing in 2.30.08. Neil Stanley riding his first 50 and returning to racing after a bout of swine flu, finished with a very impressive 2.02.12. Ed Rieu recorded a 2.07.21 and finally Dave Twin a 2.03.05. Keith Coffey, Bec CC was the winner in 1.50.40.

Ian O’Hara attended the European Masters Track Championships at Manchester – riding the 3km Individual Pursuit, and the Points race and the Scratch in the 35-39 age category. With a rather heavy hangover Ian qualified second fastest (catching his French opponent on the final lap) for the final of the Pursuit where he faced of against Joel Stewart. Ian’s evening ride was somewhat slower than the morning and he took the Silver medal.

In the 120 lap Points race Ian managed to take an early lap along with Joel Stewart, and Chris Bush. After 80 laps Ian was still in second place but then lost out on a series of sprints to Alan Bornet of France who moved him out of the medals by 1 point!

Heavy rain hadn’t long passed through the area leaving the roads rather damp to begin with, the rain had also washed some debris across a couple of points on the course which resulted in quite a few riders getting punctures. Steve Thurgood was the first of the Sydenham quartet to start on his new Cervelo and finished in a very impressive 1.02.59 in his first 25. Nick Varley made things look easier with a 58.19. Dave Twin was one of the victims with a puncture having to ride the last couple of miles on a flat front tub to finish with 1.02.58. Bob loader came in with a 1.15.17. The event was won by Ben Instone, www.scientific -coaching.com/SRM in 52.14.

Two mad fools decided to ride this event based on two circuits of the basic Horsham course followed by two circuit of a circuit in the lanes a lot further down the A24 based around Washington, Steyning and Partridge Green. The strong wind blowing up from the coast took its toll on the field with many people struggling in the conditions.

Bob Loader who in his comeback trail has now gone 10, 25, 50 and 100 finished with a 5.49.41 (71st). Dave Twin managed a 4.35.00 (28th) which included a stop to borrow an allen key to tighten up one of his armrests which had come loose. The winner was Andy Miles of VC Elan in 4.06.07.