Wessex RC 24,Dighton Smashes Course Record!

Gary Dighton (Primera-sports.com) smashed the course record on his way to winning the Wessex Road Club hilly 24 at Wimborne. Adam Tophams three year old, 52.47 seemed destined to stay high up on the shelf but Dighton swept it away, clocking 51:41 on a near perfect morning in Dorset.

Danny Axford (Artic Tacx RT) was also inside the old mark with 52:20 but could not match the sheer effort of Dighton. Gregg Parker (VC ST Raphael/Waites Contracts), 53.39, was two minutes quicker than his winning time of twelve months ago but that was only good enough for third place. Parker had beaten the Primera man at Thruxton the week before but carries a bit too much muscle for the rolling course and was happy with his ride.

Newcomer Wayne Pitman (Poole Wh) took a few scalps and looked strong in fourth place. Dave Dent (Wightlink/Offshore RT) has been plundering mainland races for a good few years but he returned across the water to the Isle of Wight in 6th place after his first race of the year. The P427 Badbury Rings course is described as “sporting” but despite the constant up & down, there are plenty of opportunities to "get down on the skis” and with only a light south easterly breeze few were complaining. Disappointingly on this pleasant spring morning, seven riders were DNS, deciding not to help the Wessex Road Club celebrate their 90th anniversary, it was their loss!

1, GARY DIGHTON (PRIMERA-SPORTS.COM) 51.41
2, DANNY AXFORD (ARTIC TACX RT) 52.20
3, GREGG PARKER (VC ST RAPHAEL/WAITES CONTRACTS) 53.39
4, WAYNE PITMAN (POOLE WH) 54.17

5, SIMON HEALEY (ANDOVER WH) 54.47
6, DAVE DENT (WIGHTLINK/OFFSHORE RT) 55.10
7, SEAN WILLIAMS (WIGHTLINK/OFFSHORE RT) 56.42
8, CLIFF ROWE (BOURNEMOUTH JUBILE WH) 57.06
9, TERRY ICKE (POOLE WH) 57.41
10, DARREN LEWIS (POOLE WH) 58.21
11, JOHN CHAPMAN (CC WEYMOUTH) 58.59
12, STEVE PINK (CC WEYMOUTH) 59.28
13, STUART PECKHAM (NEW FOREST CC) 59.49
=14, PETE WILSON (BOURNEMOUTH ARROW) 1.00.31
=14, MARK STERLING (I-TEAM CC) 1.00.31
16, VINCENT HOUNSOME (GILLINGHAM & DIST WH) 1.00.52
17, PETER WARNER (BOURNEMOUTH JUBILEE WH) 1.00.59
18, GARY CURE (BOURNEMOUTH ARROW) 1.01.48
19, JAMES CHANT (GILLINGHAM & DIST WH) 1.02.19
20, MICHAEL COURAGE (BOURNEMOUTH JUBILEE WH) 1.03.39
21, CHRISTOPHER MULLETT (GILLINGHAM & DIST WH) 1.04.52
22, KEVIN RIDGE (BOURNEMOUTH JUBILEE WH) 1.04.54
23, GORDON SCOTT (CHIPPENHAM & DIST WH) 1.05.21
24, JEFF HORSEMAN (WESSEX RC) 1.06.32
25, NICK FRIEND (WESSEX RC) 1.07.54
26, PHIL HARVEY (BOURNEMOUTH JUBILEE WH) 1.07.56
27, FRED NEWTON (WESSEX RC) 1.11.28
29, SARAH WISE (L) (MUD, SWEAT N GEARS) 1.11.39
30, KATIE KING (L) (ZAPPI’S CC) 1.13.07
31, CHRIS JOLLIFFE (NEW FOREST CC) 1.13.08
1ST VET I GARY DIGHTON
1ST VET 2 DAVE DENT
1ST VET 3 TERRY ICKE
1ST TEAM POOLE WH, PITMAN, ICKE, LEWIS 2.50.19
DNS
WILL CLARK (POOLE WH) AP
JOHN BURROWS (POOLE WH)
PAUL JONES (PRIMERA-SPORT.COM)
WILLIAM SIMMONS (BOURNEMOUTH JUBILEE WH)
PAT DUNN (CC WEYMOUTH)
MIKE ANDERSON (VC ST RAPHAEL)
COLIN WHITE (ZOOM TRI)