- 18th January 2020
Champions' Night
Having arrived at Heythrop Park Resort for the CTT Champions' Night award presentations I set up my computer kit ready to shoot all the presentations and then print them all ready for the awardees to collect after dinner. The good and the great received their awards and whilst the live band struck up I dived off to start printing the photographs. In previous year's the presentations have been held before dinner, which gave me plenty of time to print. The 2020 event had the presentations after dinner and the band were scheduled to play for 45 minutes and then there were to be more presentations. With the help of Sally Withey and Paul Thomson I was able to get the around 100 prints sorted, printed and bagged-up.
Then there were some additional awards made by Road Records Association, in particular, the records set by Rachael Elliott and Ian Greenstreet on tandem. These were all set after Rachael suffered a stroke which left her with severely impaired vision.The room was totally silent as Michael Broadwith spoke of her achievements and erupted into ear-shattering cheers and a standing ovation as Rachael received the Joe Summerlin Trophy
The images from the event can be seen here.
- 27th October 2019
RTTC National Hill Climb Championship
Nearly 300 "crazy" riders were down on the start sheet to try and prove Isaac Newton's theory of gravity was flawed! There were the handful of DNS, as always, but those that went to the start line had an agonising few minutes ahead of them. The Juniors kicked off at 8am, when the temperature was, to say the least, "nippy". 13 year old Sophie Heighton, never afraid of a challenge had made the long journey from North Yorkshire along with her brother, Thomas, and father, Howard, to put themselves through purgatory. Caitlin Peters, now riding for Team Storey, powered her way to the summit to win the Junior Women's title with 18 year old Chris Mann, Velotik RT taking the Junior Men's title.
The women were next to go. On paper there could have been a number of winners but as the event was a "hilly time trial" rather than an explosive short, sharp climb, Hayley Simmonds came out victor followed closely by Josceline Lowden who, in turn, was closely followed by Rebecca Richardson.
The first of the 180 men, Murray Kirton, who (in my opinion) at his age "should know better" than try to resist gravity, but I know Murray from many events and he is never daunted by a challenge. Well done on a fine ride. Disappointingly some of the potential winners were DNS but that in no way distracts from a blistering ascent of Haytor by Ed Laverack, breaking the course record, set by him and who was nine seconds clear of Paul Double with former HC Champion Richard Bussell taking the third step on the podium.
The initial announcements at the prize presentations were made by the Newton Abbott Town Cryer, who certainly made himself heard!
There was a downside to the event. As guests to the beautiful Dartmoor National Park I was dismayed to see rubbish being thrown into the gorse bushes. Banana skins take around TWO years to decompose. Whatever it is, TAKE YOUR RUBBISH HOME. Had I caught the act on camera, I would publish the image of the perpetrators on my website. I also saw people feeding the ponies, this, despite that there are notices saying not to do so. Why not feed them? The ponies can become quite agressive when the feeding stops. My late grandmother had a Bed and Breakfast in Barnstaple some years ago and some of her guests visited Dartmoor and fed the ponies (Oooh! Aren't they sweet!") when the food ran out the ponies kicked seven bells out of their car, requiring two new doors and a rear wing!
That's the season over for Championship events with Champions' Night to look forward to in January, so I'll see all the Champions there.
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website
The images from the event can be seen here.
- 24th August 2019
RTTC Junior's and Women's National 25 miles Championship
Would it be light enough to take photos at 6am was a concern. Thick patches of mist didn't help but when push came to shove, there was enough light. My next concern was when the mist cleared where would the sun be? It popped up over the trees squirting straight down my lens so I had to decant to the return carriageway. before I did that an HGV pulled into the layby and out jumped the driver who was shaking, I thought with rage, it was partly that but more about the thought of a serious accident having narrowly missed a rider joining the A50 at Etwall without looking what was coming and happening on the A50. If you collide with a 38 ton lorry, there's only one winner! Be aware, be safe.
Emily Meakin was going at the speed of light! It all seemed so easy for her. Emma Lewis, if only you had not gone wide there or cut a corner closer here you would have done a sub 50!
Euan Backus made it look easy as well coming out on top of a much depleted Junior event. There were far too many DNS across both events, which is a great disappointment.
It's the men's turn tomorrow, hopefully the skies will be clear and free for mist.
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
The images from the event can be seen here.
- 11th August 2019
RTTC National 12hr Championship
I make no apologies for what follows because it's going to upset some people! Were there not SPECIFIC instructions NOT to hand-up food etc on the A11? Yet I witnessed such a foolish act. When I challenged the perpetrator he seemed to think it was just a recommendation! He seemed to further justify the action by saying other people were doing it. I cannot believe the stupidity or is just ignorance of what can go wrong in such an act. There are drivers that haven't a clue how to overtake a cyclist, passing far too close, creating a bow wave that can cause the rider to change direction, if that happens at the point of hand-up what could possibly go wrong with one hand of the bars? The rider can collide with the pedestrian. The rider can mis-take the bottle and drop it under his wheels. All these scenarios have the potential for a crash. If the response is, "I've done it a thousand times before", then if one thinks that handing-up a bottle with traffic travelling at speeds of up to 90mph a few feet away is ok then the word that springs to mind is, cretin. Perhaps the people that ignored the instruction not to hand up food on the A11 can admit their guilt to the event secretary and take the risk to have their rider DQ! There was the possibilty of replenishing drink/food every 20 miles in a safe location, why in the name of sanity was this not used by these people?
I had the misfortune to witness Liz Powell's crash just a few feet from me. The wind caught her front wheel and she hit the kerb of the layby and she came down with an almighty bang. She lay motionless for what seemed a long time but in reality only a few seconds and then, thankfully she screamed. Fortunately, she fell into the layby and not into the carriageway.
On a happier note, there were some superb rides and congratulations, especially to Vicky Gill who is on fire this year!!
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
The images from the event can be seen here.
- 20-21 July 2019
RTTC National 24hr Championship
There were grey skies over Farndon, Cheshire, but no rain and pleasantly warm. The ultimate challenge in time trialling began at 13:01 and with 95 riders listed to start it would turn out to be an epic event. 2018 champions, Andy Jackson and Crystal Spearman were amongst the later starters. Drama came early on, just a few miles from the start, Steph Mottram suffered a mechanical failure, which meant her rear wheel was likely to part company with the frame! Stewart Smith came along in the CTT wagon and transported her back to the HQ where a solution was found to the problem, super glue and plastic ties! This delay would prove significant 24 hours later.
I regret that I witnessed some foolish, dangerous and illegal riding whilst taking images in Tilstock. Twice the same rider cut the bends through the village, the second time narrowly avoiding a collision with a Range Rover. The landlord of the village pub, to whom I was chatting to, commented that the rider should be disqualified. Later that evening the rider in question struck a stationary car and was taken to hospital.
The finishing circuit saw an exciting few hours! Pip Jenkins topped the Women's Competition record with 463.8 miles. Christina Murray then finished with a blistering 478.42 miles. Crystal Spearman was pushing herself to the limit and registered 464.7 miles, nudging Pip into third place but only ataining second overall. Remember Steph Mottram's mechanical? Steph managed a very creditable 452.75 miles. Extrapolating her time and distance in respect to the time she lost, there could have been another contender to break Christine Roberts comp record! Three in one event is superb, four would have been out of this world! The men, only one comp record breaker there! Graham Kemp took the Andy Wilkinson record with 544.32 miles. Congratulations to all the riders.
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
The images from the event can be seen here.
- 7th July 2019
RTTC National 100 miles Championship
Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire was the venue for this championship, up and down the A168 like a yoyo. No dual carriageway and fairly quiet roads. The HQ was excellent with a Cafe selling very tasty goodies!!
The first rider was off at 09:01 and would be followed by riders with numbers up to 95. There was joy and disappointment for Anna Turvey. She jumped for joy when she was told she had a sub four hour ride but she knew the twenty eight minute late start she had because of a mechanical at the start was a big fly in the ointment. She still came eighth! Vicki Gill, second in 2018, turned the tables on Alice Lethbridge and pipped her to the post by three minutes. Alex Clay was third with 04:07:08
The men's event had a clear winner in, who else but Marcin Bialoblocki, almost ten minutes clear of second place, Adam Wild, with Arthur Franklin coming in third, a long two minutes later.
The 24 hour championship is next on the agenda, 20/21 July, pounding the roads of Cheshire and Shropshire.
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
The images from the event can be seen here.
- 30th June 2019
RTTC National 50 miles Championship
With blistering heat on Saturday, the question was, could it last for the 50 miles Championship race the following day? The short answer is , no! However, that was probably all for the better and it did not rain, except for a few moments, when a couple of drops of rain fell from the clouds. Llandovery RFC was the event's HQ where the welcome was warm but the Council, on the other hand, decided roads works were the order of the day in the village. The start was a mile or so from the village and straight out and back, with a few roundabouts to negotiate. This didn't hinder the early starters but traffic at the roundabouts did cause a few problems to some of the later riders. Emma Lewis was flying and arrived at the final roundabout where I was shooting about five minutes sooner than I had anticipated! Marcin Bialoblocki, on the other hand, was later than expected if he was to beat his own record of a "1:30" but a 1:36 on this "sporting" course was enough to blow away the competition. The women's team trophy went to the Drag2Zero squad of Gill/Lethbridge/Powell whilst the NoPinz riders Bialoblocki/Frost/Moss took the men's team trophy. Remember, shouting at motorist who get in your way, doesn't help the cause of time trialing and may cause them to panic and cause even more trouble. One particular driver was really quite agitated, gestitulating to me in "a most unpleasant manner" that he wasn't happy about something!
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
The images from the event can be seen here.
- 9th June 2019
Sigma Sports TT Series, Rnd 6, Inc Circuit Championship,
The sun did shine for the final round of the Sigma Sports TT Series, which incorporated the Circuit Championship. The combatants descended on the beautiful and ancient South Gloucesteshire village of Marshfield which has parish records dating back to 1538.
The two lappers were first to set off. With noteable contenders, Fennell, Fox and Bigham on the DNSa list it looked like a two horse race betwixt Marcin Bialoblocki and Harry Tanfield. Tanfield suffered a puncture before he even started, so he fell by the wayside. Subject to a mechanical it looked like another Bialoblocki win and so it proved to be with a 3 minute 9 seconds margin over Phil Williams with Rupert Graham occupying the third step on the podium.
The women's event also went to plan with Kelly Murphy topping the podium. However the third placed woman, Helen McKay, was surprised and queried the result before it was confirmed that she indeed did come third.The ever improving local girl, Megan Dickerson, was second.
Junior Thomas Day pipped Fabien Large to the post by a little over a minute. Graeme Church took the paracyclists honours.
The Circuit Champions were Juniors Sophie Heighton and Thomas Day with Marcin Bialoblocki taking the men's title and Kelly Murphy the women's victor.
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 26 May 2019
Sigma Sports TT Series, Rnd 5,
Greystoke, Cumbria, sounds like somewhere from an Agatha Christie novel but was the venue for round 5 of the Sigma Sports TT Series. The previous evening the Independent Pedalers duo of Chris Fennell and Emily Meakin took top spots in the Lancashire CC 10 on Levens. Chris pipping Dan Bigham by ten seconds. Could he pull a double victory over the Ribble Cycles man? It was not to be, Ribble riders, Dan Bigham and John Archibald, took first and second places with Fennnell in third. Emily, however, powered her way to a second victory for the weekend with a 59 second win over Christina Wiejak. The weather could have been kinder but this is Cumbria where they "boast" UK's highest annual rainfall. Paracyclist Nicholas Fairfield beat Graeme Church for first place. Junior Chris Mann stopped the watch at 33:36. The Heighton juniors, Sophie and Thomas sufered a car malfunction on their way to the event and thanks to considerate decisions they completed the race, albeit with a 54 minute late start against their times. Craig Horseman was the fastest veteran with David Hargreaves fastest on target time. The final round of the Sigma Sports TT Series incorporates the Circuit Championship and take place at Tormarton, near Bristol, where I'm told, the sun always shines!
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 12 May 2019
Sigma Sports TT Series, Rnd 4,
Sunday 12th May saw an invasion of Scotland to compete in the 4th round of the prodigious Sigma Sports TT Series. However, all did not go to plan! The riders from south of the border were repelled and the women's and men's honours went to Katie Archibald (Team HUUB) and Kyle Gordon (RT 23), with Douglas Watson (GTR-Return to Life), the fastest vet. The rest of the honours did go south of the border. Fabien Large (NOPINZ) took the juniors crown and Nicholas Fairfield (City Road(Hull)) the paracyclist honours.
This was the first timer the Scottish event in the Sigma Sports TT Series has been held on the Castle Douglas course, circumnavigating picturesque Loch Ken. It is 170 odd mile closer then the course near Fort William so hopefully more riders from the south will participate in 2020.
The organisation was superb as was the venue's HQ. Quiet roads and a beautiful, if a little chilly day at first, what more can a time trialist want?
I look forward to returning in 2020.
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 28th October 2018
RTTC Hill Climb National Championship,
Sunday morning was a bright, sunny day with a hint of chilliness in the air with a slight but persistant breeze blowing down Pea Royd Lane, Stocksbridge. Hopefully the competitors had remembered to return their clocks etc to GMT. With 300 starters it was going to be a long day but thankfully shortened by one hour when the initial one hundred and twenty riders started at thirty seconds intervals. The face of each competitor told a story. Some saying, "I must have been mad to enter"! Whilst others wondered if they would actually get to the finish line. Then there were the fast guys: Eyes out on stalks, getting every last ounce of energy pushing down on those pedals which were becoming ever relunctant to want to make another revolution. I could see rain affecting the other side of the valley and for a short period of time the event experienced some rain accompanied by some "solid" rain. The Junior Champions were Alana Prior and Joe Baker. Fiona Burnie was crowned Women's Champion and Andrew Feather took top spot on the men's podium. The event was a total success. bearing in mind that the event had been scheduled for a Worcestershire venue. With just thirty three days to get all the local authorities to sing off the same hymn sheet was because of unstinting work by Stewart Smith and his fiance, Amanda. Well done guys, the sport owes you a big debt of gratitude. The next big event is Champions' Night in January, so polish up your shoes and get those bow ties sorted out!
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 29th September 2018
RTTC 50 miles National Championship,
For the second time this year Seagrave, Nottinghamshire, was the place to be. This time there weren't any roadworks to put a spanner in the works! 07:31 saw the first woman off on a sunny, although the sun had barely risen above the horizon, and breezy Saturday morning. Fifty minutes later the first of the 145 men put pressure on his pedals. A straight out and back course saw Anna Turvey triumphant in the women's event with 1:49:49 a minute clear of Emma Lewis. Alice Lethbridge, 3rd, clocking 1:54:55. Subject to a mechanical, odds on favourite for the men's title was Marcin Bialoblocki and so it was to be, stopping the clock at 1:33:38. Chris Bartley was 2nd, 1:38:18 and Adam Duggleby on the third step of the podium, 1:38:21.
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 8th September 2018
RTTC 10 miles National Youth Championship,
School children and their parents headed for Norfolk to compete in the National Youth Championship for the George Herbert Stancer trophy, otherwise known as the GHS trophy. Fine rides were done by one and all. Josh Charlton, along with Thomas day and Tom Portsmouth all broke the championship record with sub 20 minute rides. Josh being victor by one second from Thomas! Not to be outdone, Isabel Sharp and Caitlin Peters broke the girls championship record with short 22 minute rides and just sixteen second betwixt them, although it could have been closer if Caitlin had not been baulked by traffic.
There was a downside for me. With attention being brought to Reg 22 in the start sheet and off course viewing points recommended some supporters drove the course whilst the event was in progress. To me this is selfish, it adds traffic to the course, which increases danger to the competitors. I bought one instance to the attention of their club that I thought was a particularly bad case. I was accused of being a "Jobs Worth" by the perpetrator. If being concerned about the safety of our young competitors is being a "Jobs Worth", then I'll proudly wear that hat.
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 1st & 2nd September 2018
RTTC 10 miles National Championship,
The Irvine WW10/03 course in Scotland was the venue for a fascinating scrap for the very best of UK time trialers. Saturday morning was grey and wet, not unusual for Scotland but disappointing as the previous day had been sunny and warm. Nethertheless the Junior Women kicked off the Championship at 09:01. I was shooting about halfway to the turn and the podium riders, subject to a mechanical, could be fairly well predicted. The Junior Men was a closer call. The Women followed on. Karina Bowie's bad luck continued, having flown over from Guernsey she suffered a puncture. Earlier in the year a fruitless trip was made when the National 50 was called off because of road-works! Hayley Simmonds was DNS due to a crash in a road race (when will she learn TT's are best!) which left the race wide open. That may be a simplification because when Anna Turvey's in a race you can be sure she will be on the podium. This time she was on the top step by a clear margin from Alice Lethbridge. The following day the men had a much better day, inasmuch as it was dry although the wind did get up for the later starters. The thought on my mind was, would Marcin Bialoblocki blow the rest of the field out of the water. Not so! John Archibald took the win for Scotland by just three seconds. On both days racing legend Greame Obree presented the prizes. The event was superbly managed with co-operation between Ayr Roads CC and Fullerton Wheelers.
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 7th August 2018
RTTC 25 miles National Championship,
Hampshire was the destination for Juniors, Women and Men contenders for the 25 miles championship last weekend, 4th & 5th August. As I drove along the A3 towards Bohunt School, Liphook, there was a mighty long tailback on the southbound carriageway. Could this lead to a delayed start or the uncomptemplatable, postponement! As time progressed the queue dissipated and at 14:30 the decision was made to start at the given time of 15:00. By now the temperature was not only rising on the course but also in the minds of the riders. Before, there was tension about the start time, now there was tension about actually getting to the start line and bursting lungs for as short a period of time as possible! It became fairly obvious who the likely podium occupants would be right from my camera position, 200 yds from the start line. My predictions of Oliver Stockwell and Hayley Simmonds came to fruition. Multiple champion at multiple distances, Julia Shaw handed out the prizes. Sunday morning, 5am, the B&B I stayed at was perfect, situated in the village of West Meon in quiet countryside. A twenty minute drive to Liphook and by the time I arrived, there was great activity. Riders signing on and doing their stints on turbos. It was much cooler but the temperature was to rise for the later starters. With the Ribble team pulling out the team prize was up for grabs. Team Bottrill came out on top with a margin of 14 seconds. Subject to a mechanical it was more about who was going to be second. Chris Bartley and Matt Langworthy decided to share the second spot with 46:13, whilst Marcin Bialoblocki was way up the road with a 44:22. This was the fourtieth anniversay of Alf Engers breaking the 50 minute barrier and he was on hand to make the presentation of trophies.
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 8th July 2018
RTTC 100 miles National Championship,
The good and the great headed for the Lake District last weekend to compete in the 100 miles National Championship. Hopefully the weather would be kind. 7am saw the first rider off in ideal conditions, very little breeze and cool temperature. Once again there were too many DNS. The event was somewhat marred because Vicky Gill having finished a fantastic ride was clipped my a motor vehicle travelling in the opposite direction whilst passing another competitor. Unfortunately, I am not too surprised at this! I see cars pull out to overtake a cyclist, or even another car, into the path of on-coming vehicles all the time. From my vantage point, just short of the Keswick turn, I witnessed several riders narrowly miss Vicky's fate. The consequences could have been so much worse and don't bare thinking about.
There was a further down-side to the event. The Police received several complaints from motorists that riders were not giving way at roundabouts. A police patrol car was positioned at a roundabout and such an incident was witnessed by a Police Officer. He could have pulled the rider over or even called a halt to the whole event! He decided to give the event secretary a "dressing down" about the riders' behaviour. So be warned, such continued behaviour could see the course go the same way as the V718! The thought that did run through my mind was whether the complaints were made with a hands-free 'phone?!
Perhaps we should make complaints to the Police when we are "cut-up", passed by to close or sworn at! I get sworn at and I'm standing on the road-side!
The next self inflicted pain event is the 24 hour championship around the roads of Cheshire and Shropshire in two weeks time!
Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 8th April 2018
Knight Composites Classic Series, Round 2
The second round of the Knight Composites sponsored Classic Series event of 2018 took place near Lymington, Hampshire. During a conversation with Jackie Field prior to the event starting I promised it wouldn't rain .........it rained! The event was disappointingly ravaged by DNS. High levels of this "plague" are all too frequent these days. The paracyclist had 66% DNS, the men's event, 38%, women's and vets, 30%. Juniors, 0% DNS. The stats whilst appalling do not reveal that the total entry (60) for such a prestigious event was woeful. During my ten years of racing I can't remember ever recording a DNS. for most of those ten years I had no car. I might cycle 50 miles to an event, ride a "100" and cycle 50 mile home. Putting all that aside, the winners of their respective events gave their all and recorded good times. Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 30th March 2018
Knight Composites Classic Series, Round 1
The first Knight Composites sponsored Classic Series event of 2018 with upwards of £15k worth of wheels up for grabs took place at Longnor on Good Friday. The weather was kind. There was a nip in the air but there was no rain although snow could be seen on "the tops" in the distance. The men were the first to tackle three loops of the 11 mile circuit. There were some big names, Robson, Baldwin, Wright, George Evans, who came out top dog and last but not least Matt Bottrill who is on the come-back trail after a couple of years competing in triathlons. Next to trouble the pusher-off with two laps to complete were the Paracyclists, a small but quality field. Another "come-back", this time after giving birth to her second child, Sarah Storey was victorious. The Juniors were next on the road with the Bury Clarion CC rider, Francis Woodcock taking the top prize. The Veterans and Women were the largest section and Commonwealth Games prospect, Hayley Simmonds tore up the course record into little pieces set by no slouch of a rider, Katie Archibald. The vets winnings went to Jackie Field and Peter Greenwood on age adjusted time and actual time went to Peter Nicholls.Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 9th September 2017
RTTC Championships 2017
The newly named National Youth Championship, formerly the GHS Championship, took place at Sawtry, Cambridgeshire. With heavy rain forecast it could be a wash-out. Driving to the event I experienced torrential rain a few miles from the HQ but within a short distance the roads were dry again. With a field of 172 riders ranging in age from 12 to 16 it would be a fascinating event. Caitlin Peters and Pfeiffer Georgi were the main girl contenders and at least eight boys that were likely champions. At the final declaration Pfeifer was triumphant in the girls championship and Theo Modell donned the boys champioship cap. Having seen Pfeiffer develop into a dedicated rider over the last couple of years, I hope Dad has a large trophy cabinet at home, because I believe it's going to be needed! Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 3rd September 2017
RTTC Championships 2017
The weekend began at 4am on Saturday heading north to Glasgow for the Velopreda Georgetown Cup. A field of almost 200 riders. The event is basically an inter-club extravaganza. To win the trophy there has to be nine riders from a club to be eligible. The course was basically flat but the road surface left a lot to be desired! Nightingale CC were victorius by ONE second from Glasgow Green CC and Fullerton Wheelers an further 2 minutes down the road. Then I headed south to Cockermouth for the RTTC National 10 miles Championship the following day. The Juniors and Women experienced strong winds but Jake Wright and Caitlin Peters came out on top of the Juniors' event. Hayley Simmonds, again top of the pile in the Women's event and Dan Bigham walked off with the Men's trophy. Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
- 22nd/23rd July 2017
RTTC Championships 2017
With a weather forecast of rain, why worry. forecasts are invariably wrong! How wrong can one be!! After covering the Belper "25" at Etwall I sped up to Prees Heath for the 24 Hours Championship. As I stood on the side of the A49 I noticed some rather angry looking clouds creeping up behind me......then the heavens opened, with a vengeance! The brave battled on but some succumbed to the cold and fatigue caused by the rain. The rain subsided and as the day became night I pottered off to the night circuit turn at Espley. The riders came through in varying levels of speed. Crystal Spearman was going like an express train, concentrating so hard she did not hear the requests from marshalls for her number and off she sped into the darkness. As Saturday became Sunday I had an appointment in Rhigos for the realteam "25"! The morning was fine down there in South Wales at 5am. But that was not to last, the clouds rolled in and the rain started. Far too many decided to stay in bed and by the time the second event was due I decided there was little value in staying and headed back to Wrexham for the presentations at the 24 hr. When I reached there the sun was shining and Jasmijn was suffering from the heat!! The rides by Michael and Jasmijn were top drawer, had the rain not been a factor the comp record for both men and women could well have been blown asunder. Crystal Spearman rode this event as a "warm-up" for the World Championship 24 hr in USA later in the year, where I am sure she will go even further, afterall it's warm over there!! When the memory of this year have faded I hope she will "give it another go" in 2018. Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
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9th July 2017
RTTC Championships 2017
The 9th July was a warm and sunny day around Alton, Hamphire, for the 100 miles championship. First rider put pressure on his pedals at 07:01. With 120 on the start sheet with some big names the potential for a great competition was there to unfold. The temperature and the state of the road surface was to take a heavy toll. A good number, 15, were DNF, amongst them John Dewey and Adam Duggleby, the current 100 miles record holder and Jasmijn Muller capitulated. Coupling that with 17 DNS, the result board looked a little sparse regarding results! However, the Allan/Lethbridge contest was nail biting. This time Alice (the current women's 100 miles record holder) turned the tables on Kate with a 3:48:14 against 3:50:38. Kieran Davies had a more convincing win, 3:23:48 against Charles Taylor's 3:31:05 with Mark Nulty a further 19 seconds down. Jackie Field stopped the clock at 3:57:36 to claim third place in the women's event. Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
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25th June 2017
RTTC Championships 2017
With three National Champions now out of the way, Dan Bigham is making his mark ..... very convincingly, with three championship wins under his belt. The Circuit Championship, the team time trial and now the 50 miles. Hayley Simmonds took the Circuit Championship, decisively. The girls from Aprire Bicycles had a comfortable win in the team time trial. Kate Allan pushed her 100 miles competition record holder team-mate, Alice Lethbridge into second place. They again come head to head in the National 100 miles. I'm not sure where I'm going to put my money on that one! Full reports can be seen on the CTT website www.ctt.org.uk
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14th Jan2017
Champions' Night 2017
The evening was a showcase for the very best in time trial cycling achievements. Hayley Simmonds the first woman to break the 30mph barrier in CTT competitions. Ryan Perry's great rides and he certainly enjoyed the evening! Juniors Henrietta Colborne and Eugene Cross putting their mark on the sport. There was a down-side to the evening however. Someone, perhaps pulling a prank has "borrowed" the display flag of Eugene Cross. These flags cost quite a lot of money, I know because I supply them to CTT, so if the prankster could kindly return the flag to Stewart Smith or send a cheque for £250 to cover the cost of the new flag and additional expenses the episode, I am sure will be forgotten. This is a personal plea and not on behalf of CTT. I must say however, If I was in charge I'm sure questions to guests or the hotels CCTV would reveal the prankster and I would, if need be, call in the Boys in Blue if the flag is not returned.
UPDATE: The prankster has seen the error of his ways and has promised to return the flag. A happy note to end on.
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15 Oct2016
Copyright Notice Update
To supply digital files:
1: Purchased files may be used for your own personal use and cannot be reproduced or published in any form without the written consent of the copyright holder, i.e. Brian Jones T/A Kimroy Photography.
1a: Images copied from Kimroy Photography galleries is theft. Each occurrence of theft (each individual image is an occurence) will be charged at £30.00. You will be invoiced for £30.00 per image. If you acknowledge your act of theft within seven days of receiving the invoice the fee per image will be reduced to £10.00 per image. Failure to pay the invoice will result in a County Court summons being issued. In all cases the images MUST be removed from wherever you have published them. There is an amnesty until 31st March 2017 after which these Terms and Conditions will be applied.!!
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19 Sept2016
Simmonds' strikes again!
The V718 is becoming the go-to course for record breaking rides. Last week Anna Turvey scorched Hayley Simmonds 10 miles record to 19:08. A week later Hayley returned to the V718 and further reduced the record to 18:36. Where will it all end.........sub 18, here we come!! 2017 National Championships are going to be "interesting"!!
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11 Sept2016
Another record weekend: Bialoblocki bomb-shell
Also making the journey to the V718, Marcin Bialoblocki (One Pro Cycling), not content with demolising Alex Dowsett's 10 miles record by a massive 45 seconds to 16:35, (No, that's not a typo!!) he travelled to South Wales the following day (as Hayley did a few weeks ago) and again ruined Dowsett's day by reducing his 44: 29 to 44:04 on the R25/3H. A 43 minute ride is on the cards!
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11 Sept2016
Another record weekend: Turvey Tornado
Once again the scene was the V718 on a calm day (unusual for the Humber valley!) Anna Turvey (Tyneside Vagabonds), who has been knocking on the record door all season, did a scorching ride, beating Hayley Simmonds' record by 10 seconds, getting ever closer to the sub 19 ride with a recorded time of 19:08.
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28 Aug2016
Simmonds: Another ride, another record
Hayley travelled to the V718 again. The micro climate that is the Humber valley was a "stiff" breeze. Head-on to the turn. Like all champions, this doesn't seem to matter! Hayley sliced a good size chunk off her own "10" record, bringing it down to 19:18
from 19:31.
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5 aug2016
Hayley is flying!
After two consecutive weekends in which Hayley Simmonds ripped the women's 50 miles competition record apart and the following weekend broke her own 10 miles record followed by, on the next day, the 25 miles competition record. Can she make it a hat-trick of weekends breaking records in the 25 miles National Championship?
