Club News
21st March 2004
On Saturday,
in the windiest conditions that they had ever ridden, the TVCRA series opener
at Ilton was unbelievably very tough with winds gusting up to 50mph. For safety
reasons all the races were shortened rather than total cancellation.
Taking over 10 minutes extra to complete the first 2 laps of the open 3.5 mile
circuit the Elite group stayed together, but soon after the start of the third
lap an ejection of pace from the bunch saw the group shatter with the pair Roy
Smith(Team Training FX) and eventual race winner Greg Sandy (Team Alcan) on
there own. With under a lap to go Greg Sandy applied the pressure and left Roy
standing in his wake, crossing the line an impressive minute clear.
In the 4th Cat race the riders with strength showed early on with the race splitting
apart right from the gun. The eventual top 5 staying together to the end. Unfortunately
Alec Lesley of Somerset Road Club (Bicycle Chain) had chain problems & lost
200 meters with just 2 laps remaining. He rode strongly in the conditions to
regain the leading 4 riders by the start of the last last lap, eventually finishing
4th. Other riders finished in ones and two's, showing some great resilience
to just get to the finish line, including Nick Mace 7th & Jason Coles a
close 8th, well done to all.
Several riders had their events abandoned due to gales over the weekend, but
roving chairman Tom COX travelled to Sussex for a 25m 2-up T.T. over an undulating
course to finish 6th overall & first vet team for the 3rd year in a row
with a combined age of 120! Conditions were extremely
windy with gales throughout the event making it impossible to hold the
tri-bars at any stage during the event.
In North Devon Wheelers sporting hilly 32mile hard time trial, Greg Sandy(Team Alcan/Bianchi) recovering from his previous days wet & extremely windy win, repeated the dose in yet more extreme conditions beating the second place rider by over 4.5 minutes. Martin Pearse of Somerset Road Club (Bicycle Chain) was another brave rider to finish a credible 8th.