Topham Targets 12 Hour!

Adam Topham (High Wycombe CC) “broke” the 12 hour competition record in the CC Breckland event. Poole-based Topham covered 306.12 miles in his half-day effort, despite losing time with a puncture. Unfortunately he did not hold the record very long as Andy Wilkinson (Port Sunlight Wh) finished with a stunning 317 miles. Wilkinson appears to have put the record on the shelf but Topham has other ideas and told “E D” “ Wilko passed me for 16 mins at about halfway as I was stood at the side of the road having a pee. He then pulled away for a time. Then I pegged him and must have started catching him, given the end result and the time I later lost. I Punctured at just over 11 hours on the finishing circuit, lost over 5 mins there, then set off with a spare box rim spoked rear from someone else’s helper as we couldn’t get hold of my dad on the phone. So it was my second attempt and first finish (packed in national at 7 hours 2 years ago). At 6 hours I thought it was going the same way because again my feet were agony. But I decided to try increased cadence to reduce the forces through my feet and over the next couple of hours it eased until they were almost fine. Hardest thing I’ve ever done mentally and physically. No idea how but I was absolutely caning it on the finishing circuit. In the last hour or so I upped my power substantially to try to beat the current comp record, albeit knowing I was going to be some way behind Wilko unless he cracked. Folk are saying its on the shelf but I don’t think so, I want the record and will be gunning for it next year”
Provisional Result
1 Andrew Wilkinson Port Sunlight Wheelers 317.97 V
2 Adam Topham High Wycombe C.C. 306.12 V
3 Jonathan Shubert High Wycombe C.C. 294.05
4 Gregory Woodford Reading C.C. 279.19 V
5 Rob Dulson Hainault R.C. 272.22 V
6 Giles Oakley Clevedon & D.R.C. 271.89 V
7 Tim Davies Icknield R.C. 271.12 V
8 Laurence Wright Velo Velocity 269.97
9 Dale Sturman West Suffolk Wh 266.97 V
10 Martin Long Kings Lynn C.C. 264.40

New Forest CC "The Brewery 10"

Adam Topham (High Wycombe CC) broke Ray Hughes’s 9 year old course record to win the New Forest CC 10. Topham lead all the way to clock 21.34, taking 9 seconds off the old mark. The P303 heads south from Ringwood turns at the Woolpack Inn, before heading back through the lanes, a circuit with no reputation for speed. In-form Gary Dighton (Poole Wheelers) looked impressive but had to settle for 2nd place with 21.57.

Julia Shaw (Drag2zero) stopped the clock on 22.13 for third place and of course first Lady. Like most of the field Shaw’s season is nearly over, the goal of selection for the world championships in Copenhagen achieved. Happy? “Yes, top ten would have been nice” The slight dissatisfaction in her voice is a good sign. No specific targets have been identified as yet for next year; Shaw’s biggest dilemma appears to be “Two weeks off the bike or two months”

Topham too is just about finished “the Rudy Project & the Brighton Mitre 25” are all that’s left of his season. Last Years winner, Steve Whitewick (utag –Yamaha) entered too late and was disappointed not to get a ride. Whitewick, however would get his racing fix later that day in the Glenn Longland 2 day.

The New Forest 10 is sponsored by the local Ringwood Brewery and the prize winners had earn’t their beer. The brewery produce an award winning ale called “Old Thumper” a sobriquet that could fondly be applied to Ray Hughes (Clarence Wheelers), Ray seems to have been around forever and clearly loves his racing, along with stoker Wendy Pails, they won the tandem event with 23.43. Hughes then went off last in the solo competition, his 22.37, good enough for 4th place!

Provisional Result

1, A TOPHAM (HIGH WYCOMBE CC) 21.34
2, G DIGHTON (POOLE WHEELERS) 21.57
3, J SHAW (DRAG2ZERO) 22.13
4, R HUGHES (CLARENCE WH) 22.37

5, A GREEN (VC ST RAPHAEL/WAITES CONTRACTS) 22.41

6, T ICKE (POOLE WHEELERS) 22.45

7, J PRIOR (UTAG-YAMAHA) 22.48

8, J HEFFERNAN (NFCC) 23.04

9, J SIBLEY (UTAG-YAMAHA) 23.13

10,S MARTINGALE (SOTONIA) 23.33

Local Cycling News

As usual the dog days of summer take their toll on the local racing calender. Jay Eastwood brought the curtain down on the Moreton Road Race Series,

open time trials are few and far between and club events will come to an end in a couple of weeks. James Gilfilan (Team Feat)gave the Alp D'uez Triathlon a miss, perhaps his efforts in the RAAM finally caught up with him. Perhaps not, Gilfillan finished in an excellent 4th place in round 5 of the Rudy Project TT series in Worcester.

The final round of this national series will be promoted by the Poole Wheelers. The undulating, 16 mile course through Wareham Forest and around Bere Regis was tested by Bournemouth Jubilee in their 32 mile event back in June. Claire Day (Born to Bike)looks set for her best ever placing in the British Best All Rounder Competition, (BBAR). Day is currently lying in third place in the table, Riders best times over 25,50 & 100 miles are combined to give an average speed. With times of 58.24, 1.58.39 & 4.11.45 giving an average of 24.934, Claire is in with a great chance of a medal and with her team mates handily placed the team award looks secure. Adam Topham (High Wycombe CC) easily won the Poole Wheelers club 10 on Sunday on the Ski Slope course.

His 30mph plus ride of 19.46 giving him a winning margin of 1.04 over Paul Jones (BJW) August is a lean month but September will arrive with more races, settled weather

and for those who like it when the road goes up, Hill Climbs.

Bournemouth Cycling Centre's Alan McRae says “Starting from scratch, in just 4 weeks, nearly 500 individual track cycling opportunities have been provided" What Alan really means is things are going well at the new track!!

CLUB EVENTS

POOLE WHEELERS 10 07/08 P415 17 STARTERS
1, A TOPHAM (HIGH WYCOMBE CC) 19.46
2, P JONES (BJW) 20.50
3, T ICKE 20.54

BJW 8.5 09/08 P429 17 STARTERS
1, D PICKERING 19.24 (COURSE RECORD)
2,S McLAUGHLIN 19.28 (course record for 56 secs, see above )
3,C ROWE 21.03

NEW FOREST CC 10 09/08 P303 35 STARTERS
1,A BRYSON 21.50
2,JULIA SHAW (DRAG2ZERO 22.34
2, A GREEN (GA CYCLES) 22.34

CC WEYMOUTH 2 UP 10 09/08 P451 STARTERS 6 PAIRS, 6 SOLO
1, T ICKE & G DIGHTON (PW) 21.08
2,P DUNN & P STOCKLEY 23.31
3,W KEBLE & S PINK 24.40

SOLO
1, B RIGLAR 22.59

B&DWCA 10 10/08 P164 17 STARTERS
1,S BARNES (GA CYCLES) 23.13
2,D KOSS (SOTONIA) 23.41
3,M DARCY (TEAM FEAT) 23.42


POOLE WHEELERS 10 10/08 P402 20 STARTERS
1,T WALLIS (SOUTHAMPTON TRI) 21.41
2, T ICKE 21.53
3,R DAVIDSON 22.34

BOURNEMOUTH ARROW 10 11/08 P311 19 STARTERS
1, W STEPHENSON 22.54
2,D KENNY 23.19
3,B BOARDMAN (NFCC) 23.31

Rob Jefferies Remembrance Ride

On a chilly, damp, Bank Holiday Monday, over 70 cyclists turned out to show their respect for the late Rob Jefferies, who died after being hit by a car whilst out training. They filled the chain link ferry across to Shell Bay, where even more were waiting. Rob's widow, Jane, Daughter Eve and stepson George had all courageously come out to ride. Jane admits to being “not very fit” but, complete with wicker basket on the front of her “sit up and beg” she led the bunch across Studland Heath.

The weather closed in but riding along, sharing tales of Rob, spirits were lifted, cyclists are a resilient lot, of course they are, it goes with the territory.

Dropping down into Swanage, where Rob lived, the bunch came to a halt at the pier. More tales were told, a few photographs were taken and, cyclists being cyclists, a few cups of tea were drunk.

It was a fitting tribute to a very popular man. Well done to Chris Ball, who, touched by the loss of a “very close friend” pulled this ride together. Several of the group had ridden the Hounslow 100 the day before but still found the legs to pay their dues to the Big Man. Spare, also a thought for Bryce Dyer, who was riding with Rob on that fateful day. Bryce had helped in the aftermath of the accident and no doubt that will live with him. However he was happy to be back "in the wheels" and was very appreciative of the support shown.

"See you up the Road Rob"

Eve And Jane Jefferies.

Weekly News Round up 01/04/2011

• Bournemouth based, Bryce Dyer (VC ST Raphael) picked up his second win of the season after a busy weekend of racing. First up for Dyer was the Sotonia 10 mile time trial in the New Forest, the Bournemouth University lecturer recorded a time of 22.29 to finish in 5th place behind winner Harry Bulstrode (Southampton RC). Fast improving Nick Spencer (BJW) just got inside the top ten in 23.13. Dyer then moved onto Swindon for the Corinium CC 2 day race and despite his efforts in the Sotonia event he placed third in the opening 2.4km prologue time trial. A 30 mile circuit race followed, Dyer avoided the crashes to finish safely in the bunch to leave himself 3rd on GC after day 1. Dyer teamed up with Neil Rutter (Swindon RC) for the third stage, a Two up 10 mile time trial. The pair rode strongly to win the stage by 24 secs, with a time of 23.10 and Dyer took the overall by 6 seconds.
• Gary Dighton (Poole Wheelers) took the honors in his own clubs Circuit of Poole Harbour race. The former Olympic Games rider got the better of Paul Jones (BJW) on the testing course,the Poole man finished behind Jones a week earlier in the BJW 42KM, Dighton’s time of 1.05 08 was 33 seconds quicker than Jones, the pair were well clear of Steve Birtwhistle (PW) in third. All three are in action this weekend in the East Dorset 24 on the Badbury Rings course. Adam Topham (High Wycombe cc) will start as favorite and will hope to avoid the punctures that have given him two DNFs already this year.
• Mountain Bikers, Mark Chadbourne and Roland Tilley (Ridebike.co.uk) were both in action at Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire. The opening round of the British cross country series saw the two Poole based riders struggling for form with Chadbourne salvaging 6th place and Tilley finishing in an uncustomary 16th position.
• Cambridge University student Dan Ahearn from Brockenhurst won the New Forest cc 16 mile time trial on the Beaulieu course. A clear winner the previous week, Ahearn did not have so easy this time, his time of 39.14 was only 38 secs up on the promoting clubs Colin Humm in 2nd place with Tony Green (GA Cycles) in 3rd with 40.19. Commonwealth Games Bronze Medalist Julia Shaw (drag2zero) finished in 4th with 40.20.

Experienced roadman/sprinter, Steve Moss (Bournemouth Arrow/Hotel Collingwood) grabbed second place in the 3rd cat race at Thruxton Motor Racing circuit, Moss's young teammate, Will Stephenson salvaged 11th in the sprint with old campaigner, Pete Wilson in the bunch. Other locals in action included, Richard Horton (Bournemouth Jubilee Wh)in the E12s, Steve Crutcher (Off Camber) and Poole Wheelers, Gordon Skillen and Jordan Wade in the 3s. Richard Stephenson came 12th in the 4th cats event.