It was fine sunny evening but a bit cool in a stiff breeze for the field of 19 riders. The fastest two times were private time trials by In Gear duo Pete Tadros (18:02) and Barny Willard (21:01). Both aim to come back next week with a faster finish! Pete is the only rider to have broken 18 minutes (just the once from memory) and wants to do it again. The BLOG recently noted Barny's top placing in the Tour of Malta stage race, although it was said to be Crete, getting wires crossed with my leisurely touring tour in Crete.
It was great to see 14 year olds Ollie Chapman (27:02) and Oliver Grainge (27:46) riding their first club TTs and looking to be closely matched. Unusually both already have two open time trials in their legs. They were well matched in ESCA's Hard Rider and had pretty similar speeds when one did the recent ESCA 10 and the other the ESCA 25. Hopefully they will be able to ride the GHS heats on 6 July at Fowlmead, which is held in conjunction with an open 10 mile TT at the superb and maturing cycle park on the site of the former spoil heap of the Betteshanger colliery just the other side of Dover. If Joe Kingsman rides as well we could aim for the winning team and winners for each age and qualify for the national final on 7 September near Northampton. It is a few years since we have had the winning South East District team and there are some very fast youngsters around but it is something to aim for. In the past some runners up in the age groups have also been offered places in the final. The age limit is under 17 on the day of the final so does anyone know of any more youngsters that can give it a go, especially any girls since there is a good chance to qualify as some of our girl triathletes did quite a few years back now.
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| Ollie Starts The HSCC TT Season Off |
I would recommend the supporting senior event. Why not also take your mountain bikes over for a ride off road for your cool down routine. Check out:http://www.fowlmead.co.uk/
Many thanks to Steve Curtis for timekeeping and Steve Butcher being assistant time keeper and having a first go at timing to learn the ropes. Thanks to Tim Miles for pushing off and Romana Miles for looking after spare tops and lights etc to be picked up at the finish. Steve Butcher lives very close to the course and has the signs, paperwork, numbers and stop watches for next week at Broad Oak. We will be needing more volunteers to look after the kit and bring it along early each week to be in place by 18:15 ready for 18:30 signing on since Stuart Crabb is not likely to be around until later in the season as he recovers from shingles and Connie a heart operation.
After the event several of us popped in to the Plough in Westfield. Sat at the bar was James Sharples who rode with us a few years ago and was pretty quick as you would expect with his genes. His brother John started cycling as a junior with H&StL CC (about the same time or just before Barny Willard) and is now a well known coach: Trainsharp as in In Gear Trainsharp and the new this season women's team Trainsharp RT. He has also guided several of our members in recent years to make dramatic improvements and break hour for the 25. I had not realised but the guy who runs the pub was an Eastbourne Rover and as we chatted about all manner of things, Pete was commenting on several riders who would do better with smoother techniques (watch him in full flight to see what smooth riding is) Barny was explaining his breathing techniques for running, cycling and swimming, a complimentary dish of curry with rice and poppodams arrived at the table to welcome us back. The last two years we have had our end of Wednesday TT series club meal there on curry night and will have to do so again! The curry was rather good and our whip round to pay for it was declined so we will have to go back for another drink next week and may be order a curry up front, presumably the curry and drink deal is still on or just ask for another big dish between a table.
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| Fastest Riders - Pete And Barny |
Ceilidh in St Mary in the Castle Sunday 5 May as part of Jack in The Green
Last year a groups of Dutch cyclists came over from our twin town at the invite of HUB and I joined them for some riding and social events. The ceilidh in St Mary in the Castle (an amazing venue if you have never been there) was great fun: a caller tells all what to do "barn dancing". Several hundred people were there with FiLo supplying the beer. £9 for seniors or £4 for youngsters. I aim to be there with Pippa Sunday evening (I cannot make the Saturday evening, BLOG's show in Battle instead) so if anyone else fancies joining the crowd feel free. No doubt see many of you in town for Monday's procession etc.
Ninfield TT on Wednesdays May 15, 22 and 29 May plus 5 June
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