The first hillclimb of the season, and although there was a shortened course for the riders this time, it was the same name at the top of the time sheet. Kim Little raced up and finished in a time of 3.49, though he was only just ahead of junior rider James Hywel-Davies who impressed with a time of 3.54. Third went to Nigel Brown (4.02) with James Chant next up.
There were more fast times from the junior riders, new member George Smith finished with a time of 4.22, followed by Barney Cox (4.26), Rowan Birch (4.31) and James Howell (4.39).
Fastest of the women riders was Sarah Wheeler, beating Jenny Lucas and Sarah Roberts.
Special mention should be made of Liam Teesdale, who rode to and from Semley and competed on his sister’s 20″ inch wheeled mountain bike.
Full results are here
It was the first round of the National mountain bike championship on Sunday, held in Essex at Codham Park on what was reportedly a not very technical course. Nigel Brown (riding for Westbury) got a great result in the over 50s race, coming home in third place at the end of four laps, in a time of 1.11.52, despite having had to start towards the back of the grid.
Paul Hopkins (Merida UK) finished in fourth in the Veterans’ race, just over a minute behind winner Ian Taylor after five laps. Andy Parsons (Offcamber) was 26th (from 60 starters) in the same race while Kim LIttle (Merida UK) was seventh in a competitive Masters race.
The East Dorset CA may have sadly folded, but fortunately some of the Dorset clubs are running the some of the time trials which made up the EDCA series as stand alone events. Vince Hounsome, James Chant and Chris Mullett all took part in the Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 24 mile tt at Wimborne on Sunday, on a great route which has little or no flat road. Vince was quickest of the three in 16th with a time of 1.00.52. James finished in 1.02.19 in 19th and Chris was 21st in 1.04.52.
James and Chris were also in action at the Yeovil CC 5 mile tt on Tuesday. It was a classic out and back tt conditions, very quick on the way out and hard work coming home. James finished in 12.41 (5th) while Chris completed the course in 14.03 (13th) on his road bike. Connor Geddes beat twin brother James by 11 seconds (14.39 and 14.50) while Toby Easby had his first ride on one of the GDW Youth Academy bikes with a time of 17.22. Ash Martin (Bike Shed-UEx) won in 10.51.
