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This page last updated
9 January 2010

© Copyright Wessex VTTA 2010

 

VETERANS' TIME TRIALS ASSOCIATION

WESSEX GROUP


Group Notes

21 December 2010

by Ken Blowe

The Group's penultimate promotion for this year on August Bank Holiday Sunday had a total entry fractionally under that in 2009 -74 Solos plus a Tandem Pair and early starters saw some drizzle & light rain at the Arundel turn.
This factor probably caused Brian Hall of Hampshire RC to come off without a mark or any damage to his bike as he turned onto the roundabout there.
His injuries turned out to be relatively minor after his wife took him to the local Hospital in Chichester later on in the afternoon but they could have been worse had he not been wearing a crash helmet.

Jack Brown (a3crg) was FOS + 21.50 ahead of Jerry Bromyard (RN & RMCA) + 16.57 & Don Parker (Brighton Mitre) + 16.14 whilst Steve Walkling VC St Raphael) was fastest rider with 53.18, Nick Dwyer (Lewes Wanderers) and Paul Jones (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) were 2nd and 3rd fastest with 53.39 & 55.29 respectively.
In addition thirteen other riders were inside the hour.
Fastest lady rider was Steve's wife Lesley with a time of 1.1.11, a3crg (Graeme Stirzaker, Jon Hepper & Darryl Barr placed 4th, 5th & 6th fastest respectively) won the team prize with a combined time of 2.51.02 and the father & son pairing of Peter & Tom Baker (Lewes Wanderers) recorded 54.09 on their tandem - one second slower than they recorded in last year's race.

Despite a disappointing low entry (only 19 teams) for the long running 2 Up Team time trials events at the end of September there were some very fast times recorded on a nearby course to that used for the past few years using roads between Bere Regis and Corfe Castle.
Jon Wynn and Kevin Price (Northovers VT) were the fastest club pair in the under 50 event with 55.14 ( also FOS + 12.16) with Jon Sibley and Martin Edwards (Utaq Yamaha.com) second fastest with 55.53 and the 1st Chard Wheelers team of David Moran & Andrew Lawrence 2nd FOS + 10.48.
The over 50 race saw the a3crg pairing of Jack Brown & Graham Stirzaker achieve a plus of 24.04 (actual time 1.2.13) which beat Terry Icke & Gary Dighton of Poole Wheelers (56.31) by 30 seconds on Standard.
Fastest time of the day (53.19) was recorded by Julian Jenkinson (this years BBAR winner) and Steven Whitewick of Utaq Yamaha.com with the Poole Wheelers duo second in the club category.
Nine of the seventeen teams who rode recorded times under the hour for the distance.
Earlier discussions with Peter Warhurst after entries had closed led us to think that, after attempts to relocate the event nearer to the centre of the Group's boundaries as discussed at the 2009 AGM had failed for a number of reasons and the absence of anyone willing to put on the event next year, 2010 would be the final promotion of what was once an event attracting full fields.
Luckily the riders approved of the course and the HQ at Bere Regis Cricket Club had been rebuilt in its entirety since we last used it about a decade ago and its facilities were excellent.
Peter, however, had a change of heart & agreed to act as Event Secretary for one final year.
Hopefully we might be able to persuade someone in the Dorset area to take this on for 2012 and, as they say watch this space! Only a dozen & a half members attended the Group's AGM held on Sunday morning, 7th October at which all the previous years officials were again, not unsurprisingly, elected unopposed.
By the time this is read all of them will be over 75 years of age (indeed two are past 80) and so there is an urgent need to get younger Veterans in the Group to get involved sooner rather than later since none of us are immortal even though others seem to think we are.

The 2009 Dinner and both Group events made money but last years successes on the racing side (costs of Standard medals & plaques, and other engraving costs generally) meant the Group made another small loss.
However the funds are still at the same level as the beginning of the decade and the Treasurers proposal not to increase subscription or the cost of standards attempts was approved.
' 2011 Subscriptions & Standard Fees will therefore both be £ 10 with joint Membership £ 11.

2010 was again a very good year for riders of all ages - Julian Jenkinson of Utaq Yamaha (CTT BBAR winner at his second attempt) changing places with the 2009 winner Nik Bowdler, now in Team Ped Rev, (3rd this year), Stephen Whitewick (Utaq Yamaha) achieving age category awards in CTT National Championship events at 10 miles (Age 45-49) 20.27 and 25 miles (53.20) as well as taking the British Time Trial Championship for Masters 50-54 over 19.9 miles with 44.30 & John Woodburn (VC Meudon) once again winner on Target Time as well as being placed in Fastest Veteran category in the season long Rudy Project Series) being the pick of these.
In addition Julian wins the Group BAR Trophy from Nic with Tom Cox (NorthoversVT) 3rd and three other riders (Barry Quick of Reading CC, Robert Watson from North Hants RC and Mary Corbett of Sotonia CC) also figuring in the National Competitions.
For good measure Julian was the Group's leading rider in the VTTA National Three Distance Competition (+139.03).
Terry Icke (Poole Wheelers) was a close second in this latter competition and is submitting a claim for a National Age Record at age 66 for his time of 20.23 at 10 miles ' Lesley Walkling (PBscience.com) 2010 Ladies BAR winner, , Stephen Whitewick (Utaq Yamaha.com) & John Woodburn are also seeking National records at 10 miles at 44, 50 & 73 years of age respectively with the latter also having a claim at 25 miles in 55.39 as well as winning the Wessex Short Distance Championship for distances up to 50 miles.
A total of twelve other riders (including all the above named) set Group records at various distances with Claire Newman (Crabwood CC) the most successful - seven at ages 50/51 over all distances up to 50 miles. Fourteen riders achieved one or more Standard rides with Bob West (VC Venta ) claiming eight in all ' four each on bicycle & tricycle.
Roger Cook (Salisbury RC) got six (four on a bike and two on a trike) and Barry Quick achieved five at 65/66 years including one at 12 hours.

Next year's events had not been finalized by the AGM date but the next day's South DC CTT Committee Meeting approved these although the loss of most of the courses on the A303 west of Andover means that the Sotonia CC will now be incorporating the 10 Miles Wessex Group VTTA Championship in their event on Course P140 west of Totton on 17th July.
Dates for your diary are as follows -
Sunday 8th May : Andover Wheelers 25 (Inc VTTA Wessex Championship) P612/25
Sunday 17th July : Sotonia CC 10 -see above
Sunday 24th July : Bognor Regis 50 (Inc.VTTA Wessex Championship) P901/50
Sunday 28th August : VTTA Wessex 25 P901/25
Sunday 25th September : VTTA Wessex 2 Up TTT 25 (2 events on P435 at Bere Regis)
Entry fee for all events remains at £7 per rider (£14 per team in 2 Up).

Pressure on my available time and the need to meet the deadline for copy for this issue means that many fine achievements in the last three months of the season are not included.
I will however be sending an update of rides for publication on our Group's website in due course. We welcome Bob Jolliffe of New Forest CC who joined our ranks at the beginning of October having decided to start racing again at the shorter distances after very many years absence from competition though he has been very involved in the local cycling scene ]and is a current CTT DC committee member.

ANNUAL DINNER & PRIZE PRESENTATION

This takes place at The Rose Bowl, Botley Road, Hedge End, Southampton SO30 3XH on Sunday, 13 February, 2011 (12 noon for 1pm)
Ticket prices, inevitably, have risen to £20 but this does include a free raffle so the cost is on a par with other local club dinners.

After many years as MC for our Dinner Brian Hall of Hampshire RC has given this up but has agreed to act as Guest Speaker.
We trust that we can at least persuade as many of our members & friends as came last year to be present for what is always a good social occasion and the chance to meet some of your other acquaintances who you would not necessarily see at events.
Further details will be going out in the middle of December to club contacts and Joan Price is once again dealing with ticket requests.