Classic League Evening Tens |
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June - August |
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Brighton Mitre (Hilly) 33 miles (GS/490)
Report by Mark Winton: One of the hottest days of the year and racing in the afternoon - what confusion(!) but what a great course. I would say quiet roads, but for some reason I saw two very close calls - one time a car tried to overtake me, realised a car was coming the other way and promptly locked his brakes (one of the scariest experiences I've had on the bike). The second was when a car coming in the opposite direction decided to overtake, this time there was a car behind me. I had worked out my escape route if he undertook the manoeuvre, but luckily he braked too and went back behind the car he was overtaking. Ruth Elliot finished 2nd Lady and earned herself a bottle of wine and her entry back! Jim Cheek finished 10th. I was 13th. Stephen Elliot was 22nd helping the Wanderers claim the second team prize of a bottle of wine (each). Lets hope that more Wanderers ride this cracking event next year.
Total number of finishers: 42 Fastest Rider: Mike Coyle
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Kent CA & Club 12 Hours Championship (Q12/2) on Sunday the 14th August
John Mankelow continued with his unchallenged dominance of the Club's BAR competition. Since the sad demise of the Sussex CA 12 hour, contenders for our 12 Hour Championship and those with an eye on the BAR competition need to ride the Kent 12 hour to qualify. As the only Wanderer entered John retained the Club 12 Hour Championship, as well as the awards for 1st handicap and 1st on Vets Standard. It now also looks very likely that John has won the Club BAR for the fourth consecutive year. Report from John Mankelow: It was blowing a gale - especially across Romney Marsh. I thought I did 217 miles - not my best but not too bad, but the official result was 211 miles. I didn't think my computer was that optimistic! Last year in the heat wave I only managed 186 miles - packing at 11 hours - so at least it was an improvement. I was definitely riding slower than my best effort last year but I only stopped once which was to pick up another bottle from Brian who provided me with some support as well as being a marshal.
Total Entry: 27 Riders Fastest Rider: Garry Banfield
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Southern Counties Cycling Union 100 Mile
Experienced long distance man John Mankelow entered the Southern Counties 100 twice! Luckily for John he didn't have to ride it twice, but he did produce his best Sussex 100 towards the defence of his Club BAR. John looks a good bet to be only the second Wanderer to win four BARs on the trot. The other rider to achieve this was John Honeyball 1974 -77.
Total Entry: 43 Riders Fastest Rider: Keith Coffey
The Sussex CA 100 on 24th July was halted mid race due to Police advice with regard adverse road conditions. Results were issued after 50 miles. The event was won by Oliver Jones of Hampshire RC in 1h54m53s.
East Sussex CA & Club 100 Miles Championship
Jim Cheek continued his blitz on Club Championships with an excellent third overall in the ESCA 100. Simon Barry came out top on handicap and long distance stalwart John Mankelow picked up the Vets Standard prize. Jim, Peter and John also won £10 each in winning the Team Prize.
Total Entry: 47 Riders Fastest Rider: Keith Coffey
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Southern Counties Cycling Union 50 miles (G50/53) on Sunday the 3rd July
Report by Jim Cheek With over 40 roundabouts to negotiate during the length of this course, it certainly was one to keep your head up. Basically, the course does two laps of the 25 mile event, which runs along the A24 and the A264 around the Horsham area, and it has a couple of dog legs thrown in to keep everyone alert. Five Wanderers were entered in a field of 91 riders, with Bec C.C. rider Keith Coffey posted as scratch man. Jeremy and John were there, as usual, along with Joe Pardo, myself and Ruth Elliott - mind you, she took some convincing to actually turn up! Conditions were still, as luck would have it, and many people took advantage of this, producing personal bests. John got one, and so did I! Ruth wasn't so pleased with her result, even though she seems damn fast to most of us - however, I think she has more in the bag.
Total Entry: 91 Riders Fastest Rider: Keith Coffey
After a great, record breaking early season dominated by fast men Jim Cheek and Mark Winton, July sees the long distance men get a chance at glory. July gives us the last of the three Sussex 50s and the three Sussex 100s. Anyone with an eye on the BAR needs to get their entries in.
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Another Club Record falls to Jim
Report from Adrian Hills It was a good night with more than the usual number on the start sheet, 26 this year! Jim Cheek - continuing his good form won the event in a course record. New member Ruth Elliot managed to win the handicap by a large margin, helped by her excellent ride that equalled Jeremy Meades to the second. Felix English also produced an impressive ride, particularly when one remembers he is a year and three quarters younger than Adrian Mole. Ian Landless somewhere near the other end of the spectrum, won the vets prize with a margin of four minutes over super-vet, and last year's winner Peter Baker. Thanks go to Mick Kilby for timekeeping, Chris Martin for pushing off (this time robbed of the chance of dropping John Mankelow who was a DNS). Also for Tony Gale who saw us safely onto the A22 and Anne Baker who guided us up Earwig Corner.
* Includes 38 second late start
East Sussex CA & Club 50 Miles Championship
Report from Jim Cheek: Although the G50/89 course is tough and rolling, the weather conditions were fantastic for this event. All I can say is that it was lucky that we were all on the road by 6.47am because the temperature was already in the 20s before the off! Disappointingly there were only 47 riders down on the start sheet, possibly something to do with the previous week's SCA 50. In comparison, though, this was a much faster ride. As this was a club championship event, there were 6 Wanderers entered to fight it out for the honours. To me it seemed fast heading down to the Boship roundabout, and even faster back. However, on the second leg, the wind picked up (either that, or it was fatigue - or maybe a mixture of the two) and it was a real crawl getting down to the turn. Cramp was also starting to affect my right calf, so I had to resort to a more spinning pedalling style. I knew that I had Peter Baker two minutes behind me, and Mark Winton a further two minutes back, so I was trying to judge my speed against them. I seemed to have gained time by Boship the first time round, and on the second leg I noticed that Mark had sat-up. Later on I found out that his 'head fell off' - sounds a bit dangerous. Continued...
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ESCA 50 Continued.....
The rivalry between John and Jeremy continued, with John coming out on top this time. I was pleased to get a new PB and get 4th in the overall contest (also getting a 25 miles PB at half way) and remove the memories of the previous week's 50.
Total Entry: 47 Riders Fastest Rider: Mike Coyne
Sussex CA 50 miles (G50/10)
Report from Jim Cheek: For a second year running the SCA 50 has been held on a revised course involving 3 laps of a tough circuit based around the A24; A283 & B2135. Six Wanderers were entered in a field of 60 riders altogether. Mark Winton was a DNS - I guess he was still in Holiday mode? Other than that, myself, John Mankelow, Peter Baker, Jeremy Meades and new member, Ruth Elliott all raced. It was a pretty cloudy and drab morning, and the wind seemed to increase as the morning wore on. You would think that heading south down the A24 would be a fast experience but it was a struggle all the way. The only relief came from the more lumpy bit of the course, along the B2135, running from north of Steyning to West Grinstead. For this section there was a tail wind. However, it wasn't fast for everyone! I was chatting to John Mankelow at the end and reckons he lost a few minutes due to getting stuck behind a herd of cows! A few others had the same problem, and I don't know whether Peter was drafting cows either? I didn't see Jeremy afterwards, but was told that he'd packed. In her first 50, Ruth Elliott managed to bag the first lady prize, with an impressive 2.21.55, although she didn't think this was very good herself. In my chat with her afterwards she was telling me about her Iron Man experience, which makes a 50 mile time trial seem like a walk in the park by comparison!
Total Entry: 60 Riders Fastest Rider: Malcolm Cox
Club 30 Miles Championships
Report by Adrian Hills A fine morning greeted ten Wanderers and four others including Andy Thomas who rode his fixed wheel machine from Tunbridge Wells. Oliver Tuckley also chose the single cog. Adrian Hills added an extra wheel to give his trike an airing. Despite going off-course Jim cheek won by a large margin and was only seven seconds slower than Boyd Johnson, a visitor who "can do 20 minute tens".
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