Hayward best VCB rider in last local open 10 of the year

Paul Hayward was the fastest of four Velo Club Baracchi riders took part in the last local time trial of the season on Saturday.

The Norwich Amateur Bicycle Club’s 10-mile event on Saturday was the only weekend event to go ahead, as torrential rain then washed out the planned 25-mile NABC one on Sunday.

As it turned out, Saturday’s weather was good, with some sunshine, but the south easterly wind surprisingly did not seem to provide any help in either direction so many riders described it as a hard day.

Hayward’s time, 23:11, was a little disappointing but he was placed 14^th overall in the field of 63 finishers.

Stuart Supple, who has also achieved faster times this year, recorded 23:51.

John Swanbury and Ali Banks, both riding solo rather than on the tandem as they often do, recorded 25:40 and 25:59 respectively and it was Banks’ only solo time of the year.

Paul Jay of Team VeloVelocity was pleased with a return to winning form in 20:57, followed by Martin Reynolds of Cambridge CC in 21:26 and Gavin Lewis of Velo Schils Interbike RT in 21:30.

Local rider Denise Hurren of Team VeloVelocity was the top lady rider in 23:42, which placed her 20^th overall in the combined list.

Her closest challengers were Sarah Senderski of Team Bottrill in 24:54 and Jennifer Smart of Team VeloVelocity in 25:34, while Jan Smith of Gt Yarmouth CC just missed out on the podium with 25:36.

Keith Dorling of team Bottrill was the winner of the veteran top prize,  His time of 21:38 beat his age standard by 6:01.

John Thompson rode the “Richard Ellis Memorial ” 200 km Audax from Dunmow, which took in Newport,  Granchester, Hawstead, Manningtree and Bures on the return to Dunmow.

He described it a “lumpy ride through Essex lanes, although with some respite on a few flat miles into Cambridgeshire to Granchester.”

The strongest headwinds were on the leg from Hawstead to Manningtree and he said, “On leaving the Manningtree control it was a blessed relief the wind had dropped and what was left of it was behind us.”

He finished in around 13 hours 15 minutes.

This Sunday the Holmes Cup 50-mile reliability trial from the Blundeston Plough departs at 9am.  Some VCB members may gather at 8.30am at the Cotmer Road roundabout to ride out to the start.