Category: Race Reports

Rob Robbins finally got the rewards of a steady road campaign on the Hillingdon circuit over the last few weeks. His previous best results were a 4th place and a 10th place, however clearly he’s got the venue, and the competition, sussed going for an early one on the last lap to claim the victory by a bike legth from the chasing bunch. Getting your first road race win and moving moving up a category in the process sounds like a good weekends work in anyones book!

Saturday Morning
Mark Newton rode the East Sussex CA 10 on G10/87 up and down a very wet and windy A22 through Upper and Lower Dicker where he recorded a time of 22.57 which was good enough for 6th place. The event was won by Christen Yates in 22.02.

Saturday Afternoon
Mark, Ed and Nick rode the Farnborough and Camberley CC 25 H25/8 up and down a windy A31. Nick did a very respectable 58.08 (12th), Nick 58.57 (24th) and Ed (36th) 01.01.30. The event was won by L Harding 53.13!

A misty morning with a rising wind is what greeted the riders as they set off from the start in the slip road by Marley Tile. While a number of the members helped with marshalling duties etc, three others actually rode. Rob Royston was the first on the course returning with a time of 1.04.04. Ed Rieu was next finishing with 1.03.38 (although be believes he went a minute faster). Dave Twin was last off and ended up with a 1.02.48. The winner was Paul Mill of Edwards Cycles in 54.52 (course record on new version of this course).

Matts exceptional good form continues and there is no let up on the results:
1st in VTTA 10 on 21st March Full Result Here
1st in Southern Counties 10 (SPOCO SE)on 6th April
8th in Maldon E/1/2/3 Road Race. Check out the conditions in these Photos

On a fine and fairly warm morning Tony Draper and Les Clarke made a fine Nomad sandwich in the club Hilly; taking first and last place. Kristian Cave said he would gone a lot quicker had he not had to wait for his Dad Steve on all the hills. Steve Cave was riding “shotgun” behind behind Kristian; presumably in training for the Redmon GP in ten years time.
Steve and Kristian completed the “Tour of Flanders” sportive last week, climbing many of the bergs that are part of the Pro event, not bad for a fouteen year old. Of course, once again, Kristian had to wait for Steve on all the hills. Congratulations.Everybody seemed quite pleased with their times.Many thanks to Duncan for putting out and collecting the signs (that’s one more lap than the riders), Paddy and Bob Loader for marshalling and Norman for being pusheroff and spotter. Timekeeper was me. All we need next year is a few more Nomads out. President Richard (with his aide de camp Pete) graced us with his presence after the event proclaiming “Today is a training day” before preceeding off in the general direction of Hastings.

Full rider placings have been published and are accessible via the calendar on the ‘Events’ page.

On a morning best suited for staying in bed rather than cycling a 25 mile 3 up TT, a strong Sydenham team of the in form Mark Newton, Matt Miles and Nick Varley ventured out to Brenzett for the re-routed (due to Operation stack) KCA event on Q25/12. The rain was coming down hard and the cold was starting to bite as Team Sydenham made its way to the start line. Matt set a fast early pace and the trio soon found their rhythm, warmed up and settle down for a full on wet ride. They made good progress on the outward leg only slowing down to pass an ambulance dealing with the consequence of a “touching wheels” incident. Pushing for home from the turn with the wind in their faces, the threesome crossed the line together to finish in a time of 55.03 good enough for an excellent second place. The event was won in 54.08 by Neil Archibald, Gary Birch and Phil bull of VC Elan/Harry Perry Cycles.

After heavy rain and strong winds on the previous day the riders at start were met by sunshine and rather damp roads. The club was well represented with 6 riders and they paid off when it came to the results. Mark Newton did another storming ride to record 1.10.16 (4th), Nick Varley 1.14.48 (15th), Richard Hallett 1.16.18 (20th) Dave Twin 1.17.59 (34th), Ed Rieu 1.21.58 (46th) and Bob Loader 1.37.20 (75th). In the process the club won both the scratch (Mark, Nick and Richard) with an aggregate time of 3.41.22 and the age standard (Mark, Richard and Bob) with a total plus of 21.21. The overall event was won by Matt Bottrill, De Rosa RT in 1.07.25 setting a new course record in the process.

See links for RTTC posted result and pictures.
Click here for full result – CTT
Click here for photos.

Starting this season possibly going even faster than he was at the end of last year Mark Newton rode this sporting event on the undulating GS/194 course. Riding without the aid of this bike computer which packed up just before the start he recorded a superb time of 57.24 which was good enough for 2nd place! The only man to go faster was Tim Mardall who recorded a time of 56.21. I sense an open win on the cards for Mark some time soon…..no pressure!

Richard Hallett and Mark Newton’s 2008 TT season commenced with 70 other early season riders in near perfect conditions but with some challenging and slippery roads on Redhill CC Sporting TT GS/478 (18 miles). Mark recorded a respectible 44.09 for joint 4th place and Richard 45.38 (12th), the event was won by Dave Dent Wightlink / Wight Mountain RT in 42.08

The award for the first competitive points of the year goes to Rob Robins. Showing a very good turn of form in the Hell Of The Ashdown sportif, 12th fastest home on the 100k route in 3hrs 53 min, Rob has turned his attentions to shorter and faster events getting a 4th place in the 4th Cat race at Hillingdon on Saturday (02/02/2008).

The results of this years club TT competition are listed below. A very deserved winner in Mark Newton:

Mark Newton	80 Points (10,10,10,10,10,10,10,10)
David Twin	68 Points (9,8,8,9,8,8,9,9)
Robert Royston	67 Points (10,9,7,9,8,7,8,9)
Nick Varley	62 Points (7,7,9,9,10,10,10)
Ed Rieu		50 Points (8,5,7,8,9,6,7)
Andy Evans	30 Points (1,4,8,6,7,4)
Jamie Walker	22 Points (3,6,6,7)
Andy Fruin 	10 Points (6,4)
Matt Lucas	 9 Points (9)
Matt Preston	 6 Points (3,6)
Grant Beerling	 8 Points (8)
Nick Gritton	 7 Points (7)
Richard Hallett  6 Points (6)
Harry Royston	 5 Points (5)
Jim Oliver	 2 Points (2)
Luke Evans	 1 Point  (1)
Dave Mulford	 1 Point  (1)

It was a little chilly but not too much wind as the five entrants from the club started this end of season event. Rob Royston was first clubman off and finished in 58.48. He was however caught not long before the line by in form Mark Newton who had started two minutes behind Rob. Mark recorded a 56.32. Nick Varley folowled shortly afterwards with 56.51, with Ed Rieu at 1.00.53 and Dave Twin completing the quintet in 59.25. The overall event was won by Dave Dent of Wightlink/Offshore RT in 52.36.

The ongoing battle for supremecy between Messrs Newton & Varley continues and the gap between them dropped to 15 seconds from 24 seconds the previous week but Nick’s efforts were not enough to level the 2 event G10/42 series which Mark took 2-0. Mark recorded 22.21 (9th) and Nick 22.36 (11th), the event was won by Christian Yates (in-gear Quickvit RT) in 20.50.

With patches of fog still around when they arrived at the hall, the three Sydenham riders were hoping for a calm morning riding twice around Romney Marsh. The first lap appeared to be following expectations, but come the second lap the wind was getting up. The usual close run thing between Dave Twin and Grant Beerling whenever they ride continued with Grant taking the honors in 2.07.25. Dave was 7 seconds slower with 2.07.32. Robert Royston was the fastest club rider with a 2.05.13. The overall winner was Kevin Tye ODLS.Com Racing in 1.49.41.

Mark Newton and Nick Varley where out representing the club on the afternoon of Saturday 1st of September in the Redmond CC Open 10 mile TT up and down the A24 (G10/42). The event attracted 80 quality riders, Nick completed the course in 22.16, and Mark in 21.52 (4th and 1 second off 3rd !) putting Mark 1-0 ahead in the 2 event G10/42 series with the second race next Saturday – can Nick level it ? The event was won by Christian Yates (in-gear Quickvit RT) in 20.53

Mark Newton managed to get away with racing on the day he should have been supporting the club marshalling the LVCR. Mark took his chance with relish recording 57.57 for 4th place, the event was won by Jim Cheek (in-gear Quickvit RT) 56.16

Youngest club member Christopher Mulford completed the ‘Summer In The Park’ series, organised by Team Darenth finishing a very good 6th overall in the ‘Under 8s’ category. Christopher has also been racing at palace where he secured a brilliant 2nd place in the ‘Under 10s’! Crystal Palace, as we all know, is a tough course which makes this result even more impressive.

When we got up in the morning it looked like it was going to be one of those perfect days. Unfortunately by the time the four members from the club, who were all off near the end of the field reached the start line, a stiff breeze had developed. This however didn’t appear to slow them down too much. Mark Newton recorded a personal best of 56.27 (3rd), Nick Varley a personal best of 56.39 (4th), Ed Rieu a personal best of 1.00.27 and Dave Twin 1.00.51. The winner was Richard O’Rourke of Flitch Fitness – Bike & Run in 53.19.

Mark Newtons enjoyment of G10/57 continued on Saturday in the Old Portians 10 mile TT as his PB came down by 31 seconds to 21.38 (5th) – Ian O’Hara the event favourite may have spent too much time on the turbo due to a 30 minute delay in the start time, as he recorded 21.10 for third place. The event was won by Lee Turner in 21.00.