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On the 27th February the good weather that had eluded last year’s event seemed to be with us with a brisk but bright day. Jamie Walker, Howard Wimpory and Ben Wimpory set off before 9 with 900 starters on the day. The Cudham ‘test hill’ certainly got everyone’s heart pumping within the first few miles before a brief respite before the descent of Houghstrough Hill and then up the easier side of Toys Hill. Luckily thanks to some good pacing on the flat by Howard Wimpory we managed to catch up to a fast group near Hever which took us to Dormansland before they tailed off on the hill. It was straight past the ‘tea stop’ with Jamie Walker on the front into the Ashdown Forest and up Kidds Hill and then the fast decent to Groombridge. A new Groombridge Hill met us and at this point we had been overtaking people all day without anyone overtaking us which pushed us on to Baileys Hill at quite a tempo where the group fragmented slightly. It was all together straight through the other ‘tea stop’ at Ide Hill where there were many potholes to negotiate on the way down. From Sundridge it seemed to be youth before experience with Ben Wimpory driving a group of around 10 riders along to the foot of Star hill before loosing them after the roundabout. Everyone was glad to see the end of Star Hill as it represented the last major climb of the day. It just left a ‘short’ stretch to Biggin Hill which seemed to last for ages before finally pulling into Jail Lane in 3 hours 48 mins for the 66 mile route which feature 6,000ft of climbing. We were all very pleased with our work on the day and finished 14-16th overall.

This Sunday see’s the running of one of the big season openers for those in the TT scene – The East Surrey Hardriders. We have surely the best representation from the club in living memory with 6 names down on the start sheet. The club members down to ride are – Ed Rieu, Dave Twin, Richard Hallett, Pete Mahoney, Rob Royston and Neil Stanley. They start in the order listed with Ed the first off at 08:13 and Neil the last club member to start at 09:02. So if you’re in the area around those times give the guys a shout of encouragement.

Despite the horrible conditions on Sunday 5 club members mustered the enthusiasm to ride the annual Club Hill Climb and Downhill Competitions. Mr Consistency – Richard Hallet won the downhill again, however the ‘real race’ was won in style by one of our younger members, Ben Wimpory. Despite pulling his foot from the pedal at the start he still managed to put 9 seconds of daylight between himself and his closest rival Pete Mahoney. Great ride!

In fact the day was all about the clubs young riders with our youngest member Christopher Mulford also turning out a sterling effort and putting in a ride that was not too far adrift from some of the clubs fastest riders. Impressive stuff!

See the events page for full result.

Check out these photo’s on Flickr from the Bec Hill climb, some interesting expressions and shows why this aspect of the sport isn’t for the vain – Flickr Gallery.

The Syd’s had a great turn out for these two crazy events at the weekend, with 5 first claimers and 1 second claim rider across the two competitions. One potty individual (Derek Taylor) even did the infamous ‘double’. Some of the times were not too shabby either:

Catford – Yorks Hill
29th – Iain Akhurst 2.13.9
71st – Derek ‘The Double’ Taylor 2.44.5
The event winner was Robert Gough (Arctic Premier RT) in 1.49.2.

Bec – White Lane
56th – Andy Ross 2.28.1
60th – Mark Newton 2.33.2 (Second Claim Member)
72nd – Paul Butler 2.41.3
77th – Derek ‘The Double’ Taylor 2.49.3
88th – Robert Robbins 3.21.6
The event winner was a Junior who rides for Team de Ver by the name of Germain Burton, he flew up the hill faster than all the favourites to win in a course record time of 1.45.3.

The full results are available from the links below::
Full Catford Result
Full Bec Result

Robert Thatcher came 4th in this Cat3 event run by South Western RC for Surrey League at Alfold Crossways. Winning the bunch sprint for fourth in what was reportedly a tough end of season event. Paul Butler also represented the club in this event and was in the mix at the end coming in 11th. The full result is Here!.

With the weather conditions as they were it type of makes you glad it‘s the end of the season. Cold with a strong north wind was what greeted the riders in this well organised event. Dave Twin was the first Sydenham rider off finishing with a 1.00.58 (29th) and didn’t get caught this week by Mark Newton who started 3 minutes after him. Mark finished with a 59.25 (20th). Neil Stanley just crept under the hour with 59.57 (=24th). 17 year old Ben Wimpory rode his first ever 25 and finished with a very impressive 1.03.20 (46th), in the process winning the club’s junior time trial trophy for the fastest 10 and 25 of the season. He also managed to pick up £10 for his troubles in his age category. The overall winner was Steve Dennis, East Grinstead CC in 51.36.

Three first claim and one second claim member were back over in Hampshire to ride the Bentley bypass and yet again got the delights of another windy day. Matt Preston was the first of the quartet to start and had reasonably fresh legs compared to the others who had all raced the previous day. Matt finished with a 1.04.15 which was nearly a minute faster than the same event last year. Neil Stanley was next in with a 58.39. Dave Twin had the delight of Mark Newton off 2 minutes after him and got caught on the second lap. Dave recorded a 59.49 and Mark with a 56.19. the overall event was won by R. Legge of London Dynamo in 53.59.

The first year of the new inter-club competition between GS Avanti, 7 Oaks Tri and ourselves has come to an end, and if this were our school report card it would say something like ‘Could Do Better’. It’s been a great opening year for the competition with excellent turnouts and some really close racing we’ve just lagged behind the other two clubs when it comes to getting numbers of riders on the start line. The final points totals and placings are as follows:

1) 7 Oaks Tri – 331 pts
2) GS Avanti – 306 pts
3) Sydenham Wh – 214 pts

Steve Thurgood, Dave Twin and second claim member Mark Newton all made there way to Hampshire Saturday afternoon to ride on the Bentley by pass. Although the day was muggy warm there was a really strong wind and on top of this a fine but strong drizzle appeared. Dave managed to part company wit his bike before the start on a the damp roads, reaching the start with a rather sore hip and bleeding elbow. Steve was the first club rider off finishing with a 58.11 and achieving his aim of a sub hour personal (2.50 better than his previous). Mark finished with 55.12 (13th) and Dave achieved a 59.02. the overall was won by Jerone Walters, sigma Sport in 51.03.

With Ed Rieu just getting back into the swing of racing and Dave Twin coming back from holiday, the duo entered this event with the idea of getting some hard racing miles in their legs to assist them with the remaining events in the season. Twice up and down Harrietsham is hard enough, but the wind on the day played havoc with the field. At 28 miles Ed decided he had had enough and packed. Dave carried on finishing with a very slow 2.14.39. Second claim member Mark Newton finished with 2.03.12. The winner was Jason White, Cycle Premier who finished in an incredible 1.55.54.

Neil Stanley rode the Finsbury Park CC 25 on F1/25. The outward leg was into a strong headwind with the reverse being true for the return. The less than perfect conditions didn’t hamper Neil’s progress who proceeded to smash his pb for the distance by 51 seconds finishing in 57:18 for 27th. The event was won by Sam Barker Planet X RT in 51:42.

Neil Stanley, Steve Thurgood and Mark Newton rode the De Laune CC 25 on Q25/8 on the 1st August. Steve did what we believe is a pb of 1:01:16 finishing 28th, Neil managed a 59:20 and finished 18th (a pb for him on this course) and Mark came 11th in 57:38. The event was won by dave wheeler from in gear in 55:03.

Three Sydenham riders were down to ride twice round Romney Marsh but on the day Neil Stanley did not start. The conditions were rather overcast but a little muggy with a light breeze early on but this got up as the morning went on. Dave Twin wound up being the only club rider to finish as Bob Loader packed at the end of the first lap. Dave finished with a 2.03.26. At the time of leaving the event was being led by Steve Berry of San Fairy Ann with a 1.50.55.

A mixed bag all the way round for club members on this sporting course. This was another warm morning with the wind mainly behind you on the way out. Steve Thurgood was the first of the trio to finish in a PB time of 1.01.01. Neil Stanley was the second rider home, but unfortunately due to a lack of marshal on the last roundabout managed to go straight on to the following roundabout. He then had to retrace and turn to the finish and recorded a time of 1.01.32. when he looked like he would be under the hour again. Dave Twin was neck to neck with Neil had the far turn but at 20 miles the gears started slipping then totally locked up. Thanks to a kind soul called Richard heading off to his club run Dave got a push all the way back to the hall. The winner of the event was Steve Dennis East Grinstead CC in 52.07.

Another trip over to Hampshire to ride the Bentley bypass proved to be rather good for the Sydenham. The joys of warm weather with a blustery wind which was mainly blowing from the west meant some good time generally amongst the field. This included a new course record for Alex Dowsett, U23 Trek Livestrong/Radioshack of 47.50. Of the Sydenham riders, second claim member Mark Newton was first to finish in 55.47 (7th), Bob Loader was next in with 1.16.50 (86th). Dave Twin followed with his second fastest solo 25 time of 57.58 (17th) and Neil Stanley came in with 58.15 (18th).

Report from Neil Stanley

Saturday started bright and early with a 10 on G57/10, all went very well the weather was near perfect and the traffic was very light which was handy for the roundabouts. I came home 11th in a time of 22:21 and a new pb for a 10, with the event being won by keith coffey of bec cc in 20:55. Mark Newton was also riding and came 2nd in 21:08, a PB for him and his highest place finish in an open event.

Sunday was again another near perfect apart from starting at 06:42…not fun although it was worse for Bob Loader as he was off at 06:09 Bob went round in 2:33:45. I went round in my fastest ever time for a 50 and my first time under 2hours in 1:59:34, just managed to cross the line before bob and the first thing he did when we got back to the hq was congratulate me and shake my hand for breaking the 2 hours.

So that was pretty much the perfect end to the weekend, the less said about the football team the better!!!

Steve Thurgood was the only Sydenham rider to enter this event and was greeted by sunny, yet slightly windy conditions. This was the second time Steve had ridden this particular circuit, and managed to achieve a personal best with a 1.2.16, which was an improvement of 43 seconds over his previous best for that distance. The event winner was David Wheeler of In Gear Quickvit RT, finishing in 54.20.