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Plomesgate Cycling Club |
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April Club run
There was a smaller turnout than on recent rides, as Matt D, Valerio, Tony, Paul W and Steve J met up in Saxmundham to brave the sunshine and warm weather.
Paul led us on a merry dance through the lanes before we (somehow) ended up in Halesworth for coffee and cakes at the Bridge Cafe (Cheers, Tony!). After that welcome stop, the group meandered back to Parham, where Tony left us to head for home, while the rest returned to Sax via Blaxhall and Friston. A very pleasant ride, using some different lanes than normal.
Steve
May Club run
This will be on 23rd and will start at 10:30am from my house over the border in darkest Essex. Hopefully we can have a leisurely road ride and take in some different type of scenery from the usual Suffolk Coastal fare and introduce you to some new places with a coffee stop and/or pub lunch.
You can find directions at http://www.plomesgate.co.uk/AT_HOME/ (note there is an underscore '_' between AT and HOME!) You'll find some visitors parking spaces beside the Old Brewery building just after coming through the entry archway into the development.
If you're interested in coming along I'd be grateful if you could drop me a mail nutmeg@btinternet.com so I can get an idea of numbers, but it's not vital and everyone's welcome whether or not they've mailed me!
Jon S
May Open 25
This is on Saturday 15th May, based at the village hall in Tunstall. If you would like to help and haven’t yet been allocated a job, please contact Steve
Road Race Champs
It's my duty (and pleasure) as current holder to nominate an event this season to contest the Plomesgate Road Race Trophy.
I think the Eastway Sunday events run by Ciclos Uno are good for this because it allows everyone in the club to participate if they wish, without having to worry about the faff and expense of 'proper' racing licences. It certainly seemed to work well last year, with a good turn-out from the club.
See the link for Ciclos Uno info http://www.ciclosuno.com
My first choice date is 22nd August. 'Novices and BC 4th only' (I believe that in practice it will be OK for our Plomesgate 3rd cats to enter - just so long as they don't too obviously destroy the rest of the field) starting at 11.30. However, I realise this is still in the school holidays so may clash with holiday plans. There are two September dates we could shift to if necessary so please get back to me quickly if you're keen to ride and can't do 22nd August.
If you haven't ridden a bunch race before, I highly recommend it. Lots of Plomesgaters have experience now, so ask around if you need any further encouragement / advice.
Richard
Foxhall Sessions
16th April
Jenny Hardwicke dominated
the junior section on her debut outing on her new road bike, although she
lost out in the handicap race to brother Jack. Newcomer Jessica Donaldson
battled hard but was unable to keep up with the other three.
It looked like an evening for the youngsters, as 16yr olds Paul Watts and Tom Morris showed good early speed, but track debutant Matt D used his power to come around Paul in an exciting finale to the devil, and the "oldies" team were clear winners in the team handicap.
23rd April
Georgia Donaldson
(aged 4), Laurence Gillings (5) and Rebecca Settle (9) made their first visits,
joining Jessica Donaldson (6) on her second visit. All were very keen and
full of energy, although as little legs appearing to be tiring towards the
end of the session, racing gave way to some skills training - cornering one
handed and doing a slalom through some markers - and they all made it look
very easy!
It is worthy of mention that the juniors all improved their lap-times with
each race, with Jessica improving by 10 seconds (to 1m07) and Georgia by 12
seconds (to 2m00).
In the seniors, debutant Sean "Abdu" Gillings met the ground twice,
as he first found that the speedway fences aren't as strong as they look,
and then had trouble unclipping from his pedals, but picked himself up and
went on to win the handicap race.
30th April
Can anyone beat Jenny? Not on this form, it would seem. Best improver was Alwyn, who did his first sub-minute timed lap. The new "dash" was popular - about 100m of straight line from deep in the last corner to the end of the front straight. Cipo, Petacchi, McEwen, watch out!
For the All-ride devil the field quickly split up and Jenny was the last junior to survive, although Jack nearly surprised her with a late charge for the line. In the finale, Paul was first across the stripe, ahead of Colin, with John taking a surprise 3rd place.
Thanks to Jim H and Jo Newstead for acting as commissaires.
If you would like to join in future sessions meet at Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich, from about 7pm on Friday evenings until the light goes or it gets too cold. The sessions are open to all.
MTB in Kent
Four of us braved the torrential rain to follow a good route from Plaxtol in Kent (near Sevenoaks). Tony was glad he’d put gears back onto his bike, as there were quite a few hills far hillier than the Suffolk version. At the end of loop 1 we agreed that the pub was a far better prospect than another ride in the rain, and retired for excellent value grub. Even the Adnams was only £2.10 a pint.
Evening ‘10’s
29th April
A cool but reasonably still evening, the rain held off and those that braved the first ride of the season were able to take advantage of the reasonably good conditions. After doing a 23 minute ride on Tuesday, Matt slowed only a little on our tougher course to post a pb for the B10/9 with 24:31. Richard was slightly slower than his first ride last year but there should be some exciting close competition to come.
The early leader in the handicap competition is Mark Howlett who improved slightly more than Matt to take a 2 second lead.
6th May
A dry and still evening seemed to be to everyone’s advantage, as nearly everyone improved on their times from last week. Matt, Richard and Mark all went over 30 seconds quicker than last week, while Steve would have improved a bit more if he’d got himself organised *before* the start, instead of just after it!
Matt continued his run of recent 23 minute rides and, with two wins out of two, is both fastest Plomesgate rider of the series so far and has taken a clear lead in the points comp, ahead of Richard. Paul Willsher is slowly getting used to a low-pro bike and improved slightly over last week, taking the lead in the vets competition in the process, while Bev has set a marker for the other women to chase.
Things are most interesting at this early stage in the handicap competition, where both Mark and Matt are destroying their times from last year. They are both now exactly a minute quicker than their bests of last year and are joint leaders.
Next evening ‘10’ – 20th May at 7pm.
Subscriptions Due
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Results
Gt Yarmouth ‘10’, 9th April
It was a frosty Good Friday, but not too much wind. Matt D was fastest Plomesgater in 24:16, with Mark B 26:05, Viv 28:43, Pete W 24:33, Bev 31:13. David Staff was quickest in 22:14, Matt was 2nd on h/cap & Viv 3rd W on h/cap. Bev was 2nd W on h/cap at the Gt Yarmouth ‘25’ the previous week.
Eastway 12th April
I went down to Eastway for the Bill Temme memorial meeting on Easter Monday. I was in the 3rd Cat/4th Cat/Women/Juniors event: 32 laps of the 1 mile circuit. It was comfortably the largest field I've been in at Eastway - 81 riders on the start line which made for some congestion and a few hair-raising moments but no spills as far as I know.
I had fun as usual, with the pace brisk throughout and the weather smiling on us. There were a couple of attacks, but no breakaway group formed. The pace notched up and the congestion decreased, both welcome developments, when the lapped riders were pulled out with 5 laps to go. Still no-one could escape the bunch and it all came down to a mass sprint at the end. I was happy to come in 13th. Still no points for the licence though!
Richard
Stowmarket club ‘10’, 14th April
Valerio (28:41) and Jim H (28:55) opened their seasons on a bright, but breezy evening with two laps around this technical circuit between Battisford and Combs. Fastest was Jason Everett with 24.11, over a minute quicker than Jim Morris in 2nd.
Stowmarket club ‘10’, 21st April
A wet and windy evening didn't deter Matt D, whose time of 25:27 was good enough for second place, splitting the IBC pairing of Jim Morris (24:59) and Phil Hetzel. Valerio (28:46) and Jim (29:03) both made the top 20, while Steve was denied a start due to the rapidly fading light.
Stowmarket ‘20’, 24th April
This was the first open event on the new sporting course around Debenham, after the success of the club event at the end of last year. If you don't know the roads, there's only about 1/4 mile of flat road in the entire circuit, the rest all tilts one way or other, with the steepest climb being 12% - that's the same as (but a fair bit shorter than) the Semer hill-climb! David Staff was fastest on the day, in a new course record of 45:57 while Julie Baker set a new women's record with 52:31. Mark H was fastest Plomesgate rider with 52.35, in 20th place, ahead of Steve (56.07) and Valerio (57:29).
Godric club ‘10’, 27th April
Matt D continued to show his good form, coming 4th and setting a new PB of 23:53 on the Bungay course.
VC Barrachi ‘10’, 3rd May
On a damp, but reasonably calm, Bank Holiday Monday, Pete was the fastest Plomesgate rider with 23:40, just ahead of Matt with 23:50. Steve was disappointed with his ride of 26:52, while Bev seemed happier with her time of 31:08, as she took a few scalps amongst her peers. At the sharp end of the race, Ian Cammish (21:25) and Bobby De'Ath (21:29) were in a class of their own, about a minute ahead of the rest.
Dates For The Calendar