Evening 10 Rd 3
Lewes Wanderers hosted their third 10-mile time-trial of the year, and their inaugural “Women’s Evening 10”, on Monday 15th June. It was a big success as eight riders took to the start line on The Broyle from 7:30 onwards.
Fastest woman was a closely fought contest with Olivia Webb needing a new personal best to overcome Madelaine Lee-Smith. Olivia improved on her mark from seven days earlier by 9 seconds to set a new best of 26 minutes and 6 seconds, just 6 seconds ahead of Maddy.
It was a similarly close three-way battle for third place on the podium. Georgina Wise (Destination Bike RT) took the step with a time of 27:31, just 4 seconds ahead of her clubmate, Ella Chatfield, with Lorna White (Eastbourne Rovers) only 16 seconds behind Ella.
Mugs Gohl ducked a single second inside 29 minutes to take 6th, eighteen seconds ahead of Alice Gilmore, with Justine Ridgway (unattached) 8th with 32:57.
Gridded to set off several minutes behind the women’s race, where ten men who had their own competition.
Fittingly for an event designed to promote equality and diversity, the overall honours were shared by a rider on a road bike and one on a time-trial machine. Calum Elms continued his meteoric rise by taking a massive 75 seconds off his personal best set just the week before. He and Mark Edwards (Eastbourne Rovers), who’d punctured in the rain last week, both recorded a blistering 21:19.
There was yet another PB in third place as Chris Hurcomb improved by 37 seconds over his rain-affected time in Round 2 to record a new mark just 3 seconds outside 24 minutes and take runner-up in the road-bike class.
Third in that category and 5th overall was Dan Street (24:54) ahead of Neil Edwards (25:17), and Darren Haynes (25:37) in 6th and 7th. 10th overall, behind Olivia and Madelaine, and third in the TT-bike class was Peter Baker (26:17), while Steve Barry was 15th with 28:18.
Evening 10 Rd 4
The fourth of Lewes Wanderers’ 10-mile TT series took place on the baking hot evening of Monday 22nd June and incorporated a 2-up category with riders competing as a pair taking turns to set the pace.
Fastest of the five pairs came from the host club as Chris Hurcomb and Dan Street teamed up to set a mark of 23 minutes and 22 seconds. The runners-up were also both Lewes Wanderers as Neil Edwards and Darren Haynes recorded 24:19.
Fastest pair on time-trial bikes were Ben Gregory and Ian Weston (Eastbourne Rovers) with 27:19, but they had to share the crowded third step on the podium as the fastest female pairing of Ella Chatfield and Georgina Wise (Destination Bike RT) posted exactly the same time! Fifth coupling were the VC Merlin duo of David Padwick and Emma Simkins with 29:12.
There were also a number of racers competing solo. Victor outright this week was Calum Elms with 21:45, 23 seconds ahead of Robert Lovatt (Strada Wheels RT).
On debut, Adam Goward recorded an impressive 25:13, despite having to follow a tractor for part of the course, while 9 seconds behind was Peter Baker, who was fastest solo TT-bike rider. Also on debut, Nick Miles posted a 27:34, while Erica Martin (Eastbourne Rovers) was the fastest solo woman with 28:41.
East Grinstead Hilly
Peter Baker ventured north the following evening to where the Sussex, Kent and Surrey borders meet as East Grinstead CC hosted a 14-mile time-trial on a tough hilly course. Peter covered the clockwise route starting and returning to Dormansland in 40 minutes and 51 seconds to take a fine second place.