The VC Baracchi all-stars win prizes in New Year’s Day time trial

Velo Club Baracchi riders came away from the CC Breckland New Year’s Day open 10-mile time trial with prizes in the bag for shining performances.

On a sunny A11 road Chris Womack could have won the prize for fastest veteran on age standard with his time of 25:48, but was awarded second place.

He had forgotten he was having a birthday when he completed his entry form and failed to claim another six seconds allowance for the extra year in age, thus missing the top veteran prize of £20 by three seconds instead of winning by the same margin.

This could not be changed after the event so he will receive a fiver less for second.

Paul Dennington, John Dupen and Womack won the team prize.  This award is for the shortest total time for three riders from the same club.

Dennington was not yet ready to ride his new time trial bike and achieved 24:57 on his previous equipment, a road bike with tri-bars.   He was the sixth-fastest finisher of the twenty-four who completed the course.

The next-fastest VCB rider was Dupen with 25:35.

Steve Summons, the fourth-fastest VCB rider, gave his new brand new time trial bike a spin and achieved a very pleasing time of 26:13.

When the season starts properly in the Spring he and everyone else will hope to be going a lot quicker but this was an excellent start for Summons on an unfamiliar machine.

There was a strong tailwind on the way out and Fergus Muir of Tricycle Association East, riding his trike, said, “Even I ran out of gears. It was very hard coming back.”

The timekeepers had to stand out in the open as the layby they use for the finish is officially closed to traffic and they were reported to be frozen by the experience.  It was about five degrees but the wind chill factor affected everyone.

The winner, with a great time for this time of year, was Mark Arnold of Team Pedal Revolution

with 21:31 from Stuart Pryce of Strada Sport with 22:42 and Patrick Ellis of Diss & District CC with 24:00.

John Thompson has arranged 50-mile reliability rides for the club to take place on Sunday January 13.

As always the start/finish is Oulton Community Centre, Gorleston Road.  The start times are 4 hours – 8.30am, 3.5 hours – 9am, 3 hours – 9.30am.

His own ride last Sunday was to Acle via Gt Yarmouth, returning via the Reedham Ferry.

• Registration for the Beccles Cycle for Life on May 12 has now opened and details, including a link to a new on-line booking option for solo riders, can be found on www.becclescycleforlife.org