Simon leads Wheelers home
8:59am Thursday 1st May 2008
Andover Wheelers new club event season got underway recently with the 8.25 mile Monxton time trial.
There was a surprisingly large but welcome turn out for this first event with everyone keen to gauge their fitness after the winter break. Although conditions were dry and bright, a strong headwind on the outward leg to Grateley greeted the 25 competitors and made it hard work to the first turn. But after that it was a tailwind all the way to the next turn at Kentsboro with some riders nudging 40mph in places.
The final leg to the finish, although not as quick, saw the riders keeping the pace high and able to maintain a good effort to the finish. Fastest Wheeler on the night was Simon Healey in 18 mins 38secs followed by Adrian Slack in 19.25secs and Nick Adnitt in 19.59secs. Local rider Jake Prior, riding for VC St Raphael won the event overall in 18.18secs.
The following week saw less windy but more even conditions all the way round the course. Again fastest Wheeler was Simon Healey in 18.57secs followed by Adrian Slack in 19.39secs, but 16- year old Max Webber showed his potential by being third Wheeler home in 20.13secs. Lizzy Yates was fastest lady in 24.04secs.
On the Sunday between these two time trials, the Wheelers put on another Come and Try' event but the weather put paid to a large turn out. The ten riders who braved the wintry conditions made it all worthwhile and, regardless of the weather, put in some excellent rides.
Dom Clacy was fastest on the day with a time of 21.57 secs followed by Steven Winter in 23.7secs. Wheelers youngster Tom Bolton was due to ride at Thruxton which was cancelled due to the weather but he decided to ride the time trial and recorded a solid 24.26secs.
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