Category: Race Reports

It was an early start for Mark Newton (2nd claim)and Dave Twin to travel some way down the A3 to ride this course. Around the Hindhead tunnel the first signs of rain appeared on the windscreen, thankfully the mood was lifted by a whole batch of supercars going past. By the time the guys started warming up the conditions were starting to improve. On the course the damp roads did make it a sketchy through the first roundabout. Generally it was a headwind on the way out and tailwind on the return leg back past the start. The breeze drying the roads quite quickly. Dave finished with a 1.02.03 (53rd), being passed by Mark in the process for 4 minutes. Mark recorded a 56.05 (23rd) and another 2nd claim member David Rumm produced a 54.35 (16th). The overall winner was James Rix, Team Bottrill/Vanguard in 48.42.

Although a few degrees colder down near the coast than at home, you sensed it was going to be a good day as the hot air balloons where already taking off from Leeds Castle on the way down. With the clear skies it didn’t take too long for the temperatures to start to rise. With the light winds there were a lot of good times and some personal bests. There were 5 people down as Sydenham members, the fastest of whom was Ben Wimpory in 1.51.10 (5th), who rode in 2nd claim colours as it was an association event. 2nd fastest was Richard Birtwhistle who seems to struggle getting under the 2 hour barrier on this course with 2.00.02 (18th), however he did pick up the Novis Cup as fastest 1st claim member. Robert Royston turned in a 2.08.53 (34th) and Dave Twin a 2.11.12 (40th). 2nd claim member Doug Bentall started a minute after Dave and caught him about 5 miles into the event. A ding dong battle then commenced, although Dave finished ahead Doug finished in a PB time of 2.10.22 (38th). Jon Couson riding his first 50 decided he was going to slow at the end of the first lap and headed back to the hall. The overall event winner was Chris Fennell, The Independent Pedaler in 1.41.22 setting both a course record and Kent record.

There were concerns when people arrived due to the misty/foggy conditions. Although it didn’t lift completely the event took place. The car was only showing 7 degrees as I set off for the start and it didn’t seem get much warmer for the whole event. The sun didn’t appear until the drive home back up the M20. The event only had 45 people on the start sheet but due to the conditions there were only 33 starters. Dave Twin’s time was 1.05.29 (21st), but was beaten by just 13 minutes by Nic Fennell, Thanet RC in 52.29.

This appears to have become the season opening event of choice for the Sydenham and usually gets a good take up of club members even though not everybody rides on the day. This year was no exception, with 6 riders down on the start sheet. However on the day Pete Mahoney and Richard Birtwhistle were nonstarters. The conditions were relatively mild and the forecasted rain held off. The actual course did have a number of rather nasty potholes to avoid probably in part a result of the previous week’s bad weather. The times of this year’s starters were Robert Royston 1.18.59 (27th), Tony Day 1.19.59 (31st), Kevin Beament 1.21.27 (33rd) and David Twin 1.24.48 (39th). The overall event was won by Liam Maybank of Twickenham CC in 1.04.19

A little chilly but the winds weren’t too bad for a for this rolling course. It was a reasonable turnout from the club. 2nd claim member Mark Newton returning from injury was the fastest with a 57.29 (16th). First claim member results were Richard Birtwhistle with 59.19 (25th), Kevin Beament did 1.04.58 (46th), Dave Twin 1.06.09 (51st) returning from holiday the previous day and Nick Gritton 1.07.41 (52nd) on a road bike which was to be sold in the evening on Ebay! The overall winner was Rob Stephenson, Southborough & District Wheelers in 53.45.

The layout of the field was a little strange for this event and as a result Dave Twin had the joys of Kevin Beament off 1 minute behind him. This seemed to be a bit of an incentive for both riders as they turned in much better times than the previous week, probably also helped by very warm conditions even at that time in the morning. Dave came out on top with 1.01.27 (57th) and Kevin finished in 1.02.14 (62nd). Bob Loader also rode bringing up the back of the field in 1.27.07 (80th). Jon Coulson was a nonstarter. The overall winner was Chris Bartley, AS Test Team in 48.24.

Riding his first event in 3 years Mark recorded a pretty impressive 23:59 at a Maindenhead CC event on the H10/2 course on Thursday 22nd June. The full result is available HERE.

When you get up at 4 in the morning and there isn’t a cloud in the sky and the recent wind seems to have dropped you hope for good things! Of course once you get to the event the cloud is building up big time and the wind is reappearing. On top of that it start drizzling on the return leg. It also looked like it was going to be a good turnout of both first and second claim members with 4 first and 3 second entered. However on the day only 4 actually rode. Of those riders the results were David Twin 1.04.52 (29th), Kevin Beament 1.05.03 (30th), Bob Loader 1.33.21 (51st) and 2nd claim member Richard Tully 57.12 (7th). The event was won by Pete Tadros In¬-Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT in 52.55.

As per previous years there was a good turnout from the club for this sporting event, with 4 members turning up to ride on a chilly Good Friday. The wind seemed to be with you slightly on the way out and against on the way back. The fastest on the day was Richard Birtwhistle with 1.44.04 (19th), followed by Robert Royston 1.51.08 (37th), Dave Twin 1.55.52 (48th) and Kevin Beament 1.57.13 (50th). The overall winner was Mark Smith of Crawley Wheelers in 1.34.33.

Thankfully the weatherman got the forecast of rain wrong and conditions generally were good for this early season classic. After a couple of years of a shortened course due to the broken bridge which has now been replaced, it was back to the full distance. There was a good representation from the club on the start sheet, but unfortunately Paul Bellamy due to having metal work taken out his shoulder and Kevin Beament going off skiing meant there weren’t as many riding. The conditions resulted in some quick rides, with the winner John Dewey, Team Bottrill/HSS Hire finishing in 1.02.53. First claim rider times were as follows: Richard Birtwhistle 1.18.13 (48th), Robert Royston 1.18.41 (52nd), David Twin 1.19.25 (56th) and Ed Rieu 1.31.20 (86th). For a while there was a thought we were in with a chance of the vet team prize unfortunately that was not to be. Second claim members times were: Mark Newton 1.11.44 (21st) and Winsome Levy 2.08.44 (94th).

This was the nominated event for the club’s 2up trophy but sadly only one team entered being Robert Royston and Dave Twin. Driving down the chaps discovered that half the dual carriageway near Faygate was coned to allow for traffic to go in and out of a tough mudder event. This would make racing very dangerous and there were worries that it might get cancelled. On arrival at the HQ it was discovered that the course had been revised to do 3 circuits of a shortened version of the course meaning the distance reduced to about 22.5 miles. There had been rain earlier but conditions were improving as the team started the event. Unfortunately due to the damp roads Robert got a puncture just over halfway round the first lap. Thankfully spares were on hand and the duo were able to continue. They eventually finished in 1.01.23 (8th) last of the teams that actually started, but at least they won the club trophy! The winners were James Stuart and Chris Holmes of Norwood Paragon in 46.35.

There was also a solo event following the 2up in which 2nd claim member Mark Newton finished in 48.49 (7th) and a rare sighting of Nick Gritton finishing in 58.31 (50th) on a road bike. This event was won by James Boyman of Farnham RC in 44.11.

Richard Hill had a camera attached to his bike for the 4 Up around Brands Hatch. He has put it up on YouTube HERE for anyone who would like to take a look.

Fine drizzle is what lone club representative Dave Twin faced when he went off for his warm up along the course. Thankfully when he started the conditions were improving on the dampness front, but the breezy cross winds and muggy feel did not help the ride, especially having not been back from holiday. Dave eventually finished with a 1.05.39 (26th). The winner was Dan Tolhurst, PMR@Toachim House in 54.02

Very warm, muggy, but cloudy conditions is what the riders were greeted with when they started this two lap of Romney Marsh event. Bob loader was the first of the three Sydenham entrants to start off number 13 on the day. Dave Twin was off number 27 and Richard Birthwhistle number 45. Dave had already passed Bob before he then got held up at one of the level crossings and was then joined by Richard shortly afterwards. Both obviously should have had a faster time if they hadn’t suffered this delay. The times were Bob 2.50.02, Dave 2.08.58 and Richard 2.01.44. Richard therefore wins the Singer Trophy again. The overall winner was again Chris Fennell of Thanet Road Club in another course record of 1.44.00

Steve Thurgood and David Twin once again headed off to ride the Molash course to try and improve on previous attempts this year. Thanks to warmer and less windy conditions both came out with positive results. Steve finishing with 1.02.29 (25th on scratch and on vet standard) and Dave with a 1.02.41 (26th on scratch and 18th on vet standard). As per previous Kent events the winner was Chris Fennel of Thanet Road Club in a course record of 50.21.

There was fog as Steve Thurgood and Dave Twin headed down to their crazy early starts for this nominated event for the Novis Cup. Thankfully for the riders the conditions down on Romney Marsh were still and sunny. The other club rider down to start was Robert Royston but he was a DNS. Steve was first man off at 6.01 and Dave was fourth at 6.04. The first lap was not to bad but both found the second lap hard work due to the increasing wind which made the final section straight into it very hard. Steve finished with 2.12.42 (28th) and Dave with 2.10.55 (27th) to take the silverware. 2nd claim member Ben Wimpory did a 1.53.06 (5th) and the winner was Christopher Fennel of Thanet Road Club who set a course record of 1.45.36.

Despite it being a bright morning when leaving home what greeted the riders at the HQ was like sea mist with strong winds. These winds made the Chilham fork to Ashford section very fast, but the return leg very hard. Dave Twin, the sole first claim representative found it hard going at this point finishing with a disappointing 1.04.35 (69th). Others found the conditions easier including second claim member Mark Newton who finished in 56.54 (13th) and the overall winner Christopher Fennell, Thanet R.C. with 51.16.

Once again the temperature gauge was reading 1 degree on the car as we approached the hall for this event that as per usual had a massive prize list. Unfortunately none of which ended up in the pockets of the 3 Sydenham riders taking part. Yet again Dave Twin was one of the first off and noticed the cold conditions on the decent and to the first turn, eventually finishing in 1.04.52 (61st). Steve Thurgood hit the course next and finished in 1.02.57 (52nd). Last club rider off was Ian O’Hara riding his first time trial in a number of years, finished in 1.02.31 (49th). The course has masses of potholes, but even this didn’t seem to slow down race winner Jonathan Parker, Team Botrill who finished in a new course record of 50.48. The woman’s course record also fell to Bronwen Ewing, Rye and District Wheelers in 59.39 (29th).

Steve Thurgood requested an early start and as David Twin asked to be near Steve on the start sheet as they were travelling together, it resulted in Dave getting an earlier start than Steve. As this was another cold day it was just what was needed! The outward section of the event wasn’t too bad but once you turned you felt the headwind. Dave felt the effects of the cold in the last 5 miles finishing in 1.04.55 (58th). Steve survived better in 1.03.38 (47th). 2nd claim member Doug Bentall finished in 1.06.26 (66th). The overall winner was Conall Yates, In-Gear Quickvit in 53.51. Hopefully weather conditions will improve shortly!

After the mild weather during the week it was a bit of a shock on Saturday afternoon to be greeted by much colder conditions including a hail down pour as Steve Thurgood and Dave Twin got their bikes out of the car. The conditions generally meant a warm up was needed, but probably a longer one than what actually took place. The breeze was also a bit more than expected. As per usual though this didn’t seem to affect a lot of the field with some very fast times being turned out. This included Jon Coulson who did a PB of 56.24 (34th). Steve did a 1.01.07 (68th) and Dave a 1.01.53 (77th). The winner was J.Dewey, Team Bottril in 49.05.

Velouk.net for full result.