Category: Race Reports

In very hot conditions with a stronger breeze than the inter club event the day before three club members from the club rode. Mike Thorogood was the quickest carrying on his recent form in 58.05. Dave Twin followed in 1.00.23 and Tim Morton recorded 1.04.11. The overall event was won by Pete Tadros In – Gear Quickvit RT in 54.09.

On a windy, damp morning Bob Loader, Robert Royston and Mike Thorogood were found down on Romney Marsh to fight it out for the Singer 50 (scratch) trophy. With a rising wind making it harder on the second lap, Mike came out best of the trio with a very impressive time of 2.01.02 (finishing 5th overall), Robert recorded 2.24.02 and Bob 2.37.10. The overall event was won by Gary Banfield of Kent Cycles RC.

A warm and blustery morning greeted the 3 Sydenham riders who took part. Harry Royston was the first off of the trio riding his first ever solo 25 and recorded a time of 1.16.14. Rob Royston followed in 1.03.09 and then Dave Twin who turned in a 59.39. The overall event was won by Sean Yates of the In- Gear Quickvit RT in 53.02.

New member Richard Hamstead took part in this “Sprint Event” involving a 750m swim, 19.3km bike ride, and 5km run in the scenic grounds of Blenheim Palace. Richard finished inside the top half of the field with an overall time of 1:32:10 and hopes to improve on this with more Time Trial practice in the coming months. The event was won by Andrew Fargus in a time of 1:03:59.

In very blustery conditions Dave Twin, Ed Rieu, Luke Evans, Jamie Walker and Ian O’Hara rode this 80km road race around 9 laps of the Benenden/Cranbrook circuit. A breakaway formed in the second lap consisting of Ian O’Hara, Malcolm Whitehead (VC Deal) and Matt Smith (Gemini) but this was short lived and by sixth lap the bunch was back together. Several attempts at breaks containing Sydenham riders were foiled until Ian got away with Malcolm Whitehead in the 8th lap. With the benefit of a number of Sydenham and VC Deal riders marking moves in the bunch a lead was built quickly. Malcolm Whitehead proved the strongest in the final climb with Ian finishing second. Dave, Luke and Jamie all finished in the bunch choosing not to contest the sprint because of confined conditions in the last 400 metres. Ed did not finish and used the event as a training exercise.

On Sunday 15th May Dave Fleming rode the Epsoms Daniel and Gracies RR an LVRC event on a hilly course at Elstead in Surrey. Dave got in a break of ten riders which stayed away for the whole race and despite getting cramp at the bottom the finish hill managed to recover to take 5th and 2nd in his age group. This was the 2nd event in the Yellow Jersey series and Dave is now lying 2nd 5pts behind John McMillan Kenton RC.

Sunday 22nd May Dave Fleming rode the Ciclos Uno LVRC race at Eastway. After 3 laps Dave broke away taking one other rider with him. They worked well together lapping the field and with 2 laps to go Dave pulled away to win the race.

On a cold and very blustery morning the club fielded 5 solos and one tandem to ride in the hard conditions. Robert and Harry Royston were the first club riders to return in a time of 24.15 taking 2nd in the tandem event. The solos then followed with Dave Twin recording 23.50 (28th), Richard Hamstead 28.57 (71st), Mike Thorogood 22.51 (16th), Tim Morton 25.21(46th) and Ian O’Hara 22.47 (15th). The overall event way won by Pete Tadross In-. Gear RT in 20.50.

So there’s no traffic, its always hot and stretches of the course run along side the beach. He’s going well and obviously doing alright for himself judging by the brand new Trek TT bike(just like Lances). However surely he misses Polhill, Badgers Mount and Cudham Lane?…… Probably not!!

On Sunday 24th April the clubs annual open 25 time trial was held on the Q25/20 (Harrietsham) course. The morning started vary misty but as the breeze got up this soon cleared. Due to the breeze the conditions were found to be hard on the longest leg from Ashford to Leeds. The 9 members of the club who rode recrded the following times: Richard Hamstead 1.18.26, Tim Morton 1.06.06, Mark Newton 1.04.01, Mike Thorogood 1.00.00, Jamie Walker 1.07.48, Ian O’Hara 1.02.39, David Twin 1.00.52, Richard Hallett 58.40 and Glyn Tully 1.16.02. The event was won in a new course record of 53.31 by Paul Mill of Team Edwardes.
The event had 80 starters and loads of support from club members. I think it might be nice to mention a big thankyou to: Robert Royston – Organiser Ian O’hara – Sponsorship, mail shots and start sheet Tracey and Emily Thorogood – Catering Bob Loader – Pusher off Ed Rieu, James Thorogood, Graham Ward, Dave Mulford, Ron Beale, John Hambrook and Kevan James – Marshalls Harry Royston – Signing on and result board Neetu O’Hara – Recorder

Dave fleming rode this LVRC event and got away in the break which went from the gun. Ex pro John McMillan started the break and Brian Dacey DeLaune,Geoff Mindham Norwich and Dave Fleming went with him. They worked well together until about half way through the race when first McMillan and then Dacey started attacking the result of this was that the elastic eventually snapped for Dave who rode the remainder of the race on his own lapping some of the backmarkers in the field and finishing 4th and 2nd in his age category.

Jamie Walker and Dominic Whiten rode the Old Ports/Surrey League 4th Cat at Crowhurst on Sunday 1st May. The bunch set off at a quick pace but stayed together until half distance when Shannon Durrant of Pearsons Cycles broke away. Despite a spirited chase Durrant maintained his lead to a solo victory. Jamie had a great ride and finished 16th in the main bunch whilst Dominic finished with a small following group.

On this sporting 25 course, Mike Thorogood turned out a 58.24 on yet another cold morning. This resulted in 6th place overall and his 2nd KCA medal of the year. The overall event was won by Gary Banfield of Kent Cycles RC in 56.15.

Dave Fleming rode the Epsom Spring Classic Road Race on a very hilly course at Bletchingley on 17th April. He missed the break of four which went on the climb into Bletchingley midway through the first lap and immediately started a lone chase getting to within 75yards of them but was unable to get on and continued on his own for the next 36miles to finish 4th and 3rd in his age group.

Ed Rieu and Dave Twin went up to Eastway to ride this LVRC event. A small break went away quite early on in the race, never to be seen again. Dave managed to get in the second break and finished 7th of this 11 man group. He also managed to finish 7th overall in his age group. Ed unfortunately got lapped and treated the event as a speed training exercise.

Four club members (Luke, Ian, Dominic and Matt) rode this event on which took place over 9 laps of the Leigh circuit in superb sunny conditions. The super keen Ian O’Hara went away after 3 laps shortly being joined by Richard Friend (Gemini) Reg Smith (Chevin Cycles) and Nigel Brazier(VC Elan). Suffering from the exertions of the previous days Surrey League event Ian could not hold onto the lead group and drifted off the back of the break. Meanwhile Matt had clipped of the front of the bunch with two other riders whilst effectively marking moves for Ian. This group of three was soon reduced to two and Matt and Cesar (VC Deal) worked well together to put time into the bunch but did not managed to gain much on the leading trio. After picking up Ian with two laps to go Matt and Ian fought out the sprint for fourth with Cesar who despite being out numbered grabbed the 4th spot from Matt 5th then Ian 6th. In the meantime Luke had got away from the chasing bunch with a small group eventually coming in 13th. Dominic also rode well and finished in the bunch.

A fantastic sunny day saw Bob Loader, Dave Twin and Mike Thorogood riding this sporting time trial on the Qs/4 which is essentially two and bit circuits of the Horsmonden road circuit. There was hardly any wind on the first lap but it got up on the second. Bob recorded 1.22.03, David a 1.05.41 and Mike a 1.04.31. All three members picked up prize money in different categories. The overall event was won by Nigel Polkinghorne of Exeter Wheelers in 1.00.23.

Richard Halletts good start to the season continues with another 2 top tens:-
CDCA Hardriders on 20/03/05 getting 8th in 53.58.
Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers Sporting 42km on 27/03/05 getting 4th in 1.02.23.

On a slightly misty, mild morning with hardly any wind David Twin, Bob Loader and Richard Hallett rode this 41.20 mile event on the GS/196 course starting from Handcross down to the back of the South Downs near Shoreham by Sea and back. Bob recorded 2.13.28, David a 1.46.33 and Richard finished 5th with 1.40.31. If Richard’s chain hadn’t come of getting wedged between the 12 sprocket and the frame he would have probably finished 4th! The overall event was won by Tim Stevens of 34th Nomads in 1.36.42.

On a very misty, cold morning everyone soon discovered that it was a tailwind out to the turn and headwind on the way back. Graham Ward was the first Sydenham rider to finish in 27.21, followed by Mike Thorogood in 23.03, David Twin in 23.47 and finally Tim Morton in 25.57. Mike’s time gave him 3rd place overall and fastest vet on scratch. The overall event was won by Gary Banfield of Kent Cycles RC in 21.57.

News from across the Atlantic is that our man abroad Mark Yeulett has managed 2nd place in the vets category of his first race of the season.