News & Features

KENT-based rider Neil Lauder had a weekend to remember this time 12 months ago, taking a weekend double in his region.

The Artic Aircon RT rider from Ashford took top spot in the Southborough and District Wheelers 10 on the Saturday before showing his strength to win the Kent CA 50 the next day.

Lauder got his weekend double off to the perfect start clocking a convincing win in the point to point 10 near Tenterden setting a winning time of 20 minutes and 29 seconds.

Veteran Peter Tadros (trainSharp) took second (21.26) with host club rider Matt Kuwertz taking third in 22.02.

Veterans dominated the women’s event with Debbie Percival (Kent Velo Girls/Boys) topping the bill in 26.38.

The following day Lauder was pushed much closer over 50 miles on his home roads near Ashford.

Lauder clocked a time of one hour, 47 minutes and five seconds, averaging over 28 miles per hour, to win by 23 seconds.

Veteran Andrew Meilak (VeloRefined Aerosmiths) led the chasers home in 1-47-28 while under-23 rider Joshua Clarke (Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA) took third, a further 31 seconds back.

Winner of the women’s event on that occasion was while Pip Jenkins (Southborough and District Wheelers) in 1-58-51.

Elsewhere in the country good conditions led to fast times and course records fell.

Ben Stancombe (Team Velovelocity) and Becky Taylor (Wisbech Wheelers) both broke course records on their way to victories in the Godric CC 50 in Norfolk.

Stancombe was 39 seconds faster than the previous course best winning in 1-45-20, beating John Bradbury (CC Sudbury) by just under eight minutes (1-53-18) while Phil Marler (Godric CC) finished third 1-57-31.

In the women’s event Taylor made the most of the blazing conditions, recording an impressive time of 2-02-51 and shaved over three minutes off her own old record set the previous year.

Those that headed to South Wales in search of fast times got their reward with The Independent Pedaler team-mates Chris Fennell and Emma Lewis topping the bill in the Bynea CC 25.

Fennell flew around the R25/3h in a time of 45-06, while Lewis knocked 57 seconds of her personal best at the time in a staggering time of 49-41.

Josh Tarling (Team Backstedt Bike Performance) also took advantage of the South Wales conditions but narrowly missed the juvenile competition record, finishing in 49-14.

Another clear victor over the 50 miles distance was Arthur Franklin (Portishead CC) who won the 73 Degrees Bicycles/Chippenham & District Wheelers event in Wiltshire.

His time of 1-50-06 was more than two minutes clear of runner-up Nick Livermore (Bristol South CC), while fastest female was Kate Mactear with 2-13-28.

Another course record breaker was Mark Smith (Crawley Wheelers) who sealed victory in Southern Counties CU 50 in West Sussex by six minutes.

His winning time of 1-45-55 was enough for a comfortable win ahead of Stephen Williamson (a3crg), while Jane Wiley (7Oaks Tri Club) was quickest woman in 2-17-11.

Meanwhile, Stuart Fairweather (Team Velovelocity) and Rebecca Johnson (Brother UK) were fastest male and female riders at the Anglia Velo 10 near Earsham in Norfolk.

Both were clear victors with Fairweather going under the 20-minute mark in 19-57, while Johnson’s winning time of 23-03 was 48 seconds better than Cindy Berry (DAP CC).

Team Swift colleagues Gemma Frost and Lewis Timmins had good day out at the Alnwick CC 13-mile event in Northumberland.

Timmins covered the testing course in 27-43 to take top spot in the men’s while Frost equalled his accomplishment winning the women’s event in 31-56.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. BG.