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25 miles Sunday, 18th January 2004
Riders brave icy roads for first reliability trial
Witham Wheelers Cycling Club held their first reliability trial of the year on Sunday and despite icy roads 17 riders braved the elements to take part. The traditional early season event took the riders up Somerby Hill to Corby Glen and through the lanes via Ropsley and Welby before finishing at Londonthorpe.
The first group to start, which included Bill Harrison, Steve Munns, Annie Arthur and tandem pair Tony Mendham and Gordon Cakebread completed the course within 1hr 35min 10sec. John Hill, Abraham Cutajar, and Dave Borchard completed the course in 1:49:52.
The second group included brothers Richard and Ewan Edwards, who set the pace during the latter stages of the event, recording a time of 1:20:01.
John Burgess set the fastest time of the day, leaving the main field behind on Somerby Hill and finishing in 1:18:51. Chris Tyrer, Dave Herd, Jon Spendlow and Chris Parr were just off the pace in 1:21:16, with Simon Smith clocking 1:26:40. Unluckiest rider of the day was Peter Pain who snapped his chain at Ewerby, throwing him over the handlebars. Fortunately, Rob Johnson was within shouting distance and he helped him back to the finish.
31 mile hilly Sunday, 25th January 2004
Riders tackle icy route
Riders took part in this week’s 31 mile Hilly event, which passed off without incident despite ice on some of the back roads. The route took riders out of Grantham, up Spittlegate Hill and along Gorse Lane, down to Denton crossroads and on to Croxton Kerrial. They rode through several more villages before returning to Grantham via Croxton again.
Times:
Dave Strickson 1hr 45min, John Burgess 1:57, Jon Spendlow & Chris Tyrer 1:58, Tony Mendham, Rob Johnson, Dave Herd & Peter Pain 1:59, Bill Harrison 2:12, Gordon Cakebread 2:15, Phil Johnson 2:17, Steve Munns 2:18, Annie Arthur 2:21. Matt Pennifold did not complete the course.
41 miles Sunday, 1st February 2004
Riders on trial
Seventeen riders took part in this week’s reliability trial from the Market Cross in Grantham. Group one riders Nigel Podam, Bill Harrison and Matt Pennifold all finished within the 2hr 37min grouping time for the ride. Steve Munns came in at 2:42, with Gordon Cakebread clocking 2:55.
In group two, Chris Tyrer, Peter Pain, Rob Howbrook, Jon Spendlow, John Burgess, Rob Johnson, Dave Herd and Max Retberg worked together well to come in in 2:22:24 in a close finish, but a change of traffic lights split the group. The fastest time came from group three, headed up by Dave Strickson in 2:02.
50 miles Sunday, 8th February 2004
Groups hit their targets
In this week’s 50 mile reliability trial, there were three target groups. Those who completed the course did so within their target times. Group one had a four hour target. Times recorded were: Bill Harrison 3hr 18min, Gordon Cakebread and Tony Mendham (tandem) 3:54 and Phil Johnson 3:59. Annie Arthur and Simon Smith stopped after a few miles.
In group two, Nigel Podam, Richard Edwards, Rob Johnson and Dave Herd all recorded 3:03 and Chris Tyrer took 3:09 to come within their target of 3hr 20min.
Dave Strickson made up the third group, with a target of 2hr 52min. He completed the course in 2:40. |
