Club Champion Adam Topham
Time Trials
Adam Topham set a new Senior and Vets HWCC record this weekend on the Poole Wheelers p415 . Adams time was 19:19 . Adams time was superb considering the wet and windy course .
Adam came second to Chris Ball who did an incredible 18:51
Adams time is record breaking for HWCC . Adams time updates Steve Gollas 19.30 by a substantial margin. Its not often a HWCC senior record goes over one of the standard distances and this one is by far the fastest ever time trial done in the Clubs name at an impressive 31.06mph.?
Road Racing
?Python Summer Road Race 15th August
James Norris took part in this Elite race over nine laps on a flat course around Holyport and near to Windsor. Totaling over 85 miles. The neutralised section was policed by the motorbike marshals and kept to a sensible speed allowing all the riders to warm up over several miles. Once on course the attacks came thick and fast, without any definitive breaks happening the first two laps were rapid. Soon there were lots of tired legs and gaps opened up leading to a break of fifteen, after another lap a second break formed containing the major teams. On the fifth lap both breaks joined and the peloton assumed that’s all the major placing’s were now gone. Possibly because there were now too many in the break but they sat up and the whole race came together – The race was back on! With only two laps to go, it was going to come down to a bunch sprint. James’s races normally take part over sixty miles and the last twenty was pushing new limits on his legs. He held a good position in the melee but up against stronger adversary’s could only manage finishing around 20th to 30th place. No results were given above 20th. This has now set the benchmark for next seasons races…Podium
Goodwood Circuit Races 22nd August
3rds: Gareth Batson was out flying the flag for HWCC at the weekend jumping into a field of eighty seven riders on a wet sunday on the motor circuit. Not feeling on top form Gareth used the first five laps to see how the legs felt. Once warmed up he started opening things up on the front, testing his oppositions legs. Creating chances and watching for attacks he marked several of the strong riders, this led to him riding away from the bunch for two miles waiting for others to come across. During the middle part of the race the rain started to come down; the first shower was fine and the warmth of the tarmac kept it dry. Then the rain became heavier and the track now became as slippy as a banana skin covered in oil!
On his final lap Batson prepared him self for his last major attack, moving up the bunch he heard the familiar sound of carbon on tarmac. Slamming on the anchors he was able to avoid the carnage of at least fifteen bikes and riders scattered on the deck, but now distanced from the front of the bunch the placings were gone and he finished feeling strong but thirty seconds down.
E.1.2s: James Norris also pulled on the race jersey. The first few laps were make or break and learning this new style of racing was going to take some practice combined with strong legs. A break formed on the first lap and gained 45 seconds, unfortunately not containing either a Wilier or Felt rider both teams set about pulling it back. Norris found a strong wheel and set about hanging on whilst both teams shared the work on the front taking massive turns and shelling riders out the back in the process. Once the break was within reach the teams jumped across and the race was split in two. That just left twenty riders to fight out the minor places. The rain started to make things interesting and rear wheels twitching out of corners.
With two laps remaining the rider in front of James thought it would be a good idea to lean his bike into a corner… he crashed. Laying out like sleeping policman in front, James’s wheel connected into his ribs at 40k shooting him over the bars and sliding down the road. With the adrenalin running he found his bike, checked himself and proceeded to finish the last two laps for pride.
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NEWS
HWCC Debutants runs
Every Saturday morning we will be running Debutant Club Runs from Thame . We are calling these ride Debutants runs as newer members who need to build skill and confidence in group riding can gradually improve their strength and endurance. These runs do and can include current members who might need to rebuild some form – possibly following a period off the bike – before embarking on the main Club runs.
contact Alisdair below for meeting points and Times alasdair@macvarish.co.uk
The debutant runs will fill an important space in the Clubs activities
and they will be an ideal stepping stone to our main Club runs as
riders mature and get stronger.
Paul Morrissey HWCC press sec and Sprocket Editor
