Pete Lawrence has finally cracked the 20 minute barrier! The elite short-distance time triallist took just 20.23 to better his personal by over half a minute in the Whitewebbs event on the vaunted F20/10 on Saturday evening.  Pete is now the fastest club member over 10 miles this year. Conditions were good as he lined up for the long drag uphill at the start, and Pete knew that he had a chance to do yet another pb, but his delight at his actual finishing time was all-consuming! He took 14^th place in a star-studded field. Perseverance pays for Pete! He’d been to the course the previous Tuesday and “only” managed 21.13!! Chris Grieg also produced a fast time, clocking 22.35, though he said: “I don’t get on with the course – the drags are a bit too long for someone my size.” It’s off to the P613 for you, then, Chris!

 

Belper 25

Greg Lewis and Dave Johnson went course-hunting up to the Derby to Stoke-on-Trent road, only to find the potentially super-fast A25/11was doing what it is often prone to do; blowing a hooley. The long drive was wasted, and the lads found their speed was down to less than 20mph on some of the exposed drags on the course. Johnson had vowed never to return some years back after suffering the same fate in a 100 mile tt – his slowest ever. Lesson learned! To add injury to insult, he turned one roundabout too early, and was disqualified. Greg did better with his route finding, and passed the timekeeper with 59.01. Not bad – he came back from the turn at an average of over 30mph!

 

Icknield 12 hour

Ralph Dadswell competed in this madness, riding his trike as far as he could in 12 hours – surely a long day in the office, and made tougher by that strong wind. Ably assisted by Chris Grieg, whose

long arms made him the ideal man to hand up food and drinks every hour throughout the event, Ralph commented that the definition of his tan lines had improved, though that of his muscles had not. All this before starting a brand-new job placement the next day, Ralph’s distance for the race was 234 miles.

 

Shaftesbury 50

Another personal best to report! Richie Davies produced a storming 1.58.37, his fastest ever 50 mile race by over a minute and a half. Richie reports: “I nutted myself good and proper. I posted 22.37 for the first 10 miles, and 55.40 for the first 25. I knew I was on for a Pb with an hour still to go! I had to lie down shortly after the finish, but recovered after a couple of minutes”.

 

Crabwood 10

Barry Watkinson blasted to his fastest 10 mile event for many a year with an excellent 21.58. The track rider was delighted to get under 22 minutes.

 

High Wycombe Firth 30

Chris Starling bested a small but select field buffeted by the strong wind on the Thame road. Starling, starting a minute behind Dave Johnson, slowly reeled in the older man, but Johnson put in a burst towards the finish to hold Chris at bay.

Chris ran out the winner in a rapid 1.8.15, with Johnson’s 1.8.31 good enough for 2^nd. Alan Simmonds excelled with 1.13.22 for 5^th place. Mark Wakley, whose previous night’s curry was causing him to suffer more than most from the hot and windy conditions, still got round his first ever 30 in 1.18.30. He had to leave very soon after the finish, but no-one knows why……..

Southern Sportive

Rich King, despite ongoing thigh injury troubles forcing a curtailment of training, got round this very hilly event, with its 1200m of climbing at a stately 23kph. Good determined riding on half a leg, though!

 

HWCC Evening League 22

Another windy old race to report, covering 2 laps of a rural 11 mile circuit near Thame in Oxfordshire, where Dave Johnson had set himself a target of 50 minutes, but the wind on the Haddenham Straight pushed him outside that as he tired on the second lap. Dave managed the fastest time of the night, however, with 50.18 (first lap 24.59). Stewart King, a pure track rider, impressed with 55.38 (27.36), though he may have been preoccupied with thoughts of moving house to Kent the following day. Ralph Dadswell finalised his preparation for the weekend’s 12-hour with 57.45 (28.47), but was, no doubt, still feeling the effects of his 100 mile tt of just 2 days before. Rich King, in his first ever attempt at this race, scored 1.3.23 (31.13)

 

Dave Griffiths Memorial Road Race

Ossie Assem continued his campaign of road racing at the weekend. As his comments indicate, he is rapidly turning into an indispensible Super Domestique for his team, working to get a man in the breakaway, then tirelessly chasing down any attempts by others to bridge up to the leaders. Last week he got his leader the win, and this week, their man was third. Ossie says: “We got our man in the key break of the day, and then worked to stifle the pack. Our man got a good third, despite cramping near the end. It was a tough race with guys springing attack on attack. I finished in the pack, coming 33^rd.” Hope your boys are sharing their prizes with you, Ossie!

Dave Johnson

davidrmjohnson@gmail.co.uk