Archives 1993

WILF STEPS DOWN

YEOVIL Cycling Clubs longest serving member, Wilf Perry, has retired as chairman, a position he has held or the last 16 years.
Wilf joined the club in 1930 and has served in many capacities, especially as timekeeper and handicapper in the time trials, road races and road record attempts. He will be staying with the club as a vice-president and handicaper.
The new chairman is Garry Mitchener (55) who has been with the club since 1978. Mrs Ivy Andrews was re-elected president, Dave Driver general secretary, Derek Todd treasurer, Andy Pugsley time trial secretary, Neil Boxall road race secretary, Stuart Wroot membership secretary and Tony White records secretary.
Dave Notley is sponsorship officer and Chris Fendt newsletter editor.
The club has a full programme of events for '93, with four olden road races and three times trials. There will also be be Thursday evening club time. trials; 22 events at Merrylield Airfield on Tuesdays, and two standards o club rides on Sunday mornings throughout the year.
Two members opened their account in the first of the Liverton pursuits handicap races at Bovey Tracy last Saturday. `
Veterans Nick Armstrong and Martin Turner started in the middle of the handicap order and did well when the field came together in the closing la s of the 35-mile event. Armstrong finished in the front group in the same time as the winner, junior Jonathan Hunt (Mid Devon).
Turner had lost contact on the last climb but nearly returned with the leaders. He dropped back again in the last mile when the pace increased and finished 30 seconds down. .

18th February 1993

VETERAN NICK IS THE PICK

THE third and final event in the Mid-Devon Road Clubs Springtime Pursuit handicap series at Newton Abbot last Saturday was another tough one. The conditions were similar to last
weeks race with a strong wind sweeping the hilly 10 miles circuit which was covered three times.
A mile-long wind assisted climb right after the start saw a lot of riders in trouble as the strongest climbers in each of the five groups forced the pace.
With the absence of some of the strong men who had dominated the first two events, the scratch group failed to overhaul the pick of the junior and third category riders who consolidated their lead with some strong riding.
Ian Cullen from the Mid-Devon club was first across the line, with John Kennedy (Tiverton Cycle Sport) at four seconds and Simon Fewel (Exeter Wheelers) a further five seconds down in
third place.
Yeovil’s best finisher was again veteran Nick Armstrong who had mana ed to hold the scratch group when they caught him until the last few miles when the group split up and finished in 25th place in what remained of the 60 starters.
Yeovil’s Martin Bailey had been unable to match the pace of the chasing groups and retired after 20 miles.

4th March 1993

Tough going at South Brent

YEOVIL Cycling Clubs road race team found it hard going in the second race of the Springtime Pursuits handicap series at South Brent in Devon last Saturday.
The blustery wind and hilly course suited the strong men as the scratch bunch of first category riders scythed through the groups of juniors, two sections of third categories and the second categories. The junior had started six minutes in front of them in the 30-mile three-lap race.
Yeovil's Martin Bailey and Martin Turner started in the second group with Nick Armstrong in the third. Armstrong finished highest of the local trio in the top half of the field, while Bailey, riding his first road race for over 12 years, and Turner, haven teething troubles with his new bike, finished well down the field.
The winner was CC Giros Toby Pinn, six seconds clear of his teammate Jeremy Hunt, runner-up for the second week in succession. Last weeks winner, junior Jonathan Hunt of Mid Devon RC, was third.

25th February 1993

Brilliant Brooks

MARSTON Magna time trial specialist Clive Brooks opened his season with a bang, riding to a convincing victory in the St Budeaux 25 last Saturday. Recording a very rapid 52.59 on the undulating A38 in South Devon, he set a new course and event record. Brooks was over two minutes faster than local hope Andy Lyons of the Plymouth Corinthians, who clocked 55.22, and Team Zoyland veteran Dave Barnes, fresh from a training camp in Tenerife, who was third in 55.26.
Brooks is riding for local club VC Camelot this year and two other top west country time trialists who rode with him in the Polytechnic CC last season have joined him to make a formidable team. Keith Vale clocked 56.15 and, with Ian Wallace recording 57.17, Camelot took the team award which was based on the fastest third rider. Yeovil CCs Jason Gunner was well up in the order, clocking 57.55.
On Sunday morning the action switched to Dorset and the popular circuit of Poole Harbour 26.5 mile time trial. Conditions were still good with hardly any wind but a bit cold at the 8am start.
Brooks started well but soon experienced trouble with a slipping gear selector and had to stop on the Wareham bypass and remove the rear wheel when the chain jammed. He was also forced to hold the lever in the low gear as he tackled the hardest part of the course over Studland Hill. He still managed to take second place, exactly 30 seconds slower than Chris Ball (Antelope RT) who clocked 1.1.00, a new record and his second consecutive win in the event. Salisbury’s Lee Paxton was third in 12.41.
Camelot veteran Danny Ellery was the next local man, recording 1.10.47, and Stoke-Sub-Hamdon's Alan Brimecombe (CS Dynamo) recorded 11 1.07.

11th March 1993

MAHON’S UP WITH THE LEADERS

YEOVIL’S young road racers had their first outing in the Primera Sport Handicaps last Saturday - the first in a series on the new Barnsfield circuit near Ringwood.
The circuit could well have been purpose built for cycle racing - just over three miles around with a hill and with trees lining the route, attacking riders can get out of sight of the chasing bunch.
Andrew Tearle was the first in action in the 9.2 mile under 16 event. He was unfortunate to miss an early move when seven riders went clear but worked well in the main field and took this place in the bunch sprint and tenth place overall. The placing gave him one point towards the series competition.
Junior Patrick Mahon was the best performer in the main 40 mile race taking second place in one of the lap sprints and finishing about 15th overall. Points were awarded for the first the each lap and down to tenth at the finish. Senior Martin Bailey was also well up at the finish while veteran Nick Armstrong was an early puncture victim.
The scratch group, who had started six minutes in arrears, caught the leaders with four miles to go but could only open a five second gap. Bournemouth Arrows Steve Moss was the winner with Weymouth rider Paul Helis (VC St Raphael) second. First year senior Helis started his cycling in Yeovil.

Time trial
The main time trial event on Sunday was the Antelope Race Team 2 up 25 held on the A303 near Andover. The VC Camelot team of Clive Brooks and Keith Vale took third place clocking 54.41. Vale was unable to match Brooks on the uphill drags which are a feature of this course so the pairing did not work well.
The promoting clubs Glen Longland and Neville Stroud combined well to record a winning 53.09.
Yeovil Cycling Club field eight riders in this Sundays 45 mile Pittard Trophy race, probably the biggest contingent from the home club in the events 33 year history.
The local riders face stiff opposition especially from top juniors Hugh Fairgrieve (Exeter Whls) and Jonathon Hunt (Mid Devon RC) who performed very well on international duty in Belgium earlier in the month.
The 60 mile Ham Hill Trophy looks to be an open race with 14 first category and 22 second category riders in the 54 man field. The South Coast VC St Raphael look the strongest team on paper.
This year the races are on a new course Mudford -Camel - Bridgehamton -» Yeovilton Ilchester - Coppits Hill - Coombe Street Lane. The main vantage points being Coppits Hill and the finish opposite the putting green on Combe Street Lane. The junior race is four laps and the seniors five.

13th March 1993

ROY LYNE of Heron Road Club collects his trophy from Tony Marriot, representing the sponsors, after winning the Pittard Road Race organised by Yeovil Cycling Club on Sunday. Right is David Notley on the host club.

PATRICK FOLEYS HAM HILL TRIUMPH

ANY doubts about the success of Yeovil Cycling Clubs early season road races after a last minute course change, were quickly dispelled as the riders covered the 18.5 mile laps at a furious pace.
Traffic lights which appeared on Coppits Hill road works made the change necessary and detour from Ilchester to Tintinhull - Chilthorne Domer - Vagg Hill, approaching the Coombe Street Lane finish from Brimsmore. The average speed of the senior Ham Hill Trophy event was around 27 mph for the 55 miles.
Heron Road Clubs Patrick Foley made the winning move on the last climb of Vagg, attacking again as the four man break he was with were caught by the bunch. He had ten seconds in hand at the finish where Malcolm Steer (Wellington Wheelers) pip ed Paul Panton (VC St Raphael) on the line to tie second place. Kevin Squibb (Tiverton CS) was fourth, Timmy Jones (IPM Racing) fifth and Bristol Road Club’s Steve Thomas sixth. VC St Raphael took the team award.
The Pittard Trophy race enjoyed sponsorship from the local leather company and sixty riders competed for £250 in prizes. The feature of the race was a four man break which went away with ten of the 37 miles covered and worked well together, maintaining a lead of over two minutes at one time. Swindon’s Andrew Morgan worked hard in the break but tired in the closing stages and was caught, leaving just three riders to contest the tool placings.
Rob Lyne powered away from the others in the sprint to give Heron Road Club a clean sweep. Alan Williams from Cwncarn Paragon was second and Bristol Road Clubs Daniel Moore third and best junior.
Jonathan Hunt won the bunch sprint for fourth place and led Mid Devon RC to the team award. Ian Humble (Gloucester City) and James Powley (IPM Racing) were fifth and sixth.
Yeovils Patrick Mahon and Gareth Evans were well up with the bunch and veteran Nick Armstrong just behind after losing contact on Vagg Hill.

Time trials
The time trial enthusiasts had a busy weekend, staring with Saturdays Sotonia 10 at Thruxton where Yeovil CCs Bill Dycer clocked 23.23 and Ansford veteran lim Bartlett (Frome& Dist) recorded 25.00 behind ex-national champion John Pritchard, who won in 20.15.
On Sunday morning, Clive Brooks (VC Camelot) was in good form, breaking another course record on his way to victory in the Bath CC Hilly 30. The tough event, based at Beckington, saw Brooks average 25 mph to clock 1.11.50. Somer Valleys Richard Simmonds was second in 1.12.54 and the promoting clubs Bob Pears third with 1.13.00. Yeovil’s Dycer was next fastest local man clocking 1.22.30 and VC Camelots Danny Ellery recorded 1.23.03.
On the Bridgwater Flats at Axbridge, the Weston Wheelers 2 up 10 was won by the GS Vitesse team of Rowley and Griffiths in 20.30, and VC Camelot’s Pat Ellery and Linda Blackwell were fastest ladies in 28.43.

25th March 1993

Brooks Record

CLIVE Brooks continued his winning ways with two impressive wins last Weekend.
On Saturday afternoon he broke the course record that he set last year on the A370 Uphill East Brent road near Weston-super-Mare, winning the Avon and Somerset Police CC ten-mile event in 20 mins 53 secs. It was an excellent ride given the cold blustery conditions. Second- placed Nick Yarworth (GS Vitesse) was 54 seconds slower and Andy Griffiths, another Vitesse rider, was a further 12 seconds down.
The Vitesse team had no third rider which left Brooks’s VC Camelot, with Ian Wallace (22.18) and Keith Vale (22.23), clear winners.
Jason Gunney was the fastest Yeovil CC rider clocking 23.10 with Dave Driver 23.34, Mark Johnson 24.26 and Derek Todd 25.43. Other local times were Alan Brimecombe (CS Dynamo) 23.47, Kevin Robins (VC Camelot) 23.50, Jim Bartlett (Frome) 26.13 and Rik Rogers (VC Camelot) 28.53.
On Sunday morning Brooks was almost three minutes clear in the Salisbury RC 25 at Andover, recording 53.52 in the same difficult conditions as Saturday. The promoting clubs Lee Paxton was second with 56.51 but had the consolation of leaden his club to the team award, Poole Wheelers
veteran Terry Icke was third in 57.21. Yeovil CC had two riders, Bill Dyer clocked 1.3.36 and Joe Wenglorz 1.8.00.
Only two of Yeovil’s road race team were in action this weekend, but they made their presence felt in the third Primera Sport Handicap at Ringwood. Veteran Nick Armstrong and junior Patrick Mahon were started in the first group away and quickly began to outclass their companions.
Mahon made his effort too early on the first of the lap points sprints but Armstrong got up to take second. Mahon made no mistake with the next three, winning them all with Armstrong either second or third.
Armstrong then took the fifth with Mahon second. They had shed their fellow early starters by the time the scratch group, driven along by Continental-based Harry Lodge caught them with 20 of the 40 miles covered. They managed to hold the pace until a split caused by a rider fluffing a gear change and leaving a gap in the line, left them in the wrong half of the bunch on the last lap. They finished a few seconds down.
Professional Lodge is using the events as part of his training routine before returning to the continent for the big Spring Classics. He pulled out on the last lap to let the amateurs fight out the finish.
Mahon was at Castle Combe on Sunday and rode in the 30-mile junior race. He rode aggressively once more, but failed to gain any ground against a good-class field and paid for his effort finishing just outside the placings.
Yeovil CC is promoting its first open time trial of the season, a 10- mile event on the flat Camel Hill- Podimore-Ilchester course next Saturday afternoon, first man off at 2pm. Organiser Gareth Evans reports an entry of 101 with Brooks the favourite once again.

March 31st 1993

No shock as Clive is fastest

THE weather did its best to dampen the spirits of competitors in Yeovil Cycling Clubs 0pen 10-mile time trial on Saturday. In fact, over 40 of the 101 entrants failed to start. Difficult cross winds on the Ilchester bypass and the driving rain put fast times out of reach of all but the strongest.
Clive Brooks came out on top, as expected, clocking 21.25 mins to finish ahead of two talented juniors, Andrew Forbes (Team Haverhill) and Andrew Mummery (VC St Raphael) in 22.21 and 22.43 respectively.
With VC Camelot’s fastest men failing to start, it was left to veterans Kevin Robins (24.02) and John Saunders (25.40) to back up Brooks to take the Team Award.

Scare
Yeovil CCs fastest was Jason Gunney, who clocked 23.56, followed by junior Patrick Mahon (25.08), Andy Pugsley (27.11), Martin Bailey and
Dave Ryan (27.20) and Dave Weale (28.05).
Brooks was given a scare on Sunday morning when Forbes closed to within eight seconds in the Wellington Wheelers 10 at Axbridge. The clocked 21.41 and 21.49 respectively with Thorne third in 21.56.
VC Camelot’s Danny Ellery was second in the Over 50 Veterans section, recording 23.41, and Camelot ladies Pam Ellery (27.40) and Linda Blackwell (29.01) finished well in their event.
Yeovil CC veteran Derek Todd was one of the few riders to improve on last weeks times, clocking 25.03, and Chard Wheelers Eric Hennessey and John Trout recording 24.53 and 26.15.

8th April 1993

Nick, 20th, has same time as the winner

ON a very wet Friday, the Bournemouth Arrow 10 on the Ringwood-Sopley Road was won by VC St Raphaels Paul Rogers in 22.39. Veteran Alan Brimecombe (CS Dynamo) was the fastest local rider clocking 23.56, and Yeovil’s Derek Todd recorded 25.37. Stuart Wroot’s time was 26.27, and VC Camelot lady veteran Pat Ellery was clocked at 29.24.
In Wiltshire, Yeovil veteran Nick Armstrong and junior Pat Mahon rode the Chippenham Circuit Races at Castle Combe. In a bunch sprint, contested by 50 riders, Mahon was placed 10th and Armstrong 20th. Both were given the same time as the winner, Alan Bowd from Cwmcarn Paragon. Over 100 riders had set out on a newly- laid surface made slippery by the rain.
Saturday was dry but Windy for the South Wales Veteran 25 at Usk. Yeovil’s Dave Driver took sixth place in 59.05. The winner was Johh Pritchard (Bio RT) in 54.48.
On Sunday morning, Team Zoyland staged a 75-mile road race on the now popular Yeovilton- Ilchester-Coppits Hill-Mudford Camel circuit. The race was dominated by a six-man break which went away the first time up Coppits Hill and gradually drew away from a good class field. Delta Race Teams Geoff Giddings was rewarded for his tireless driving of the breakaway group with a victory over in-form Lee Davies (Bournemouth Arrow) and Ham Hill winner Pat Foley (Heron RC) in a sprint finish at Yeovilton.
The time trialists were back in South Wales on the same Usk course as Saturday for the Abergavenny 25. The winning time was similar also, Adrian Rowley (GS Vitesse) clocking 54.55.
Best of the local riders was Keinton Mandeville’s Mark Antell (Chard Wheelers) with 58.11. VC Camelot’s Danny Ellery recorded 1.0.7, and Yeovil CC’s Bill Dycer, unable to explain his slump, 1.5.14.
Mondays Exeter Wheelers 17.5 miles hilly time trial, which includes the ascent of Woodbury Common, was won by the promoting clubs star junior Hugh Fairgrieve in 43.34. Yeovils Driver was fastest veteran in 48.23. Brimecombe was timed at 49.31 and Armstrong 50.29.

15th April 1993

Mahon’s the man in form

YEOVIL Cycling Clubs top junior Patrick Mahon is starting to show the form which won him divisional juvenile titles last year. Saturdays Merryfield Circuit Races on the airfield near Ilton saw him take two second places. In the English Schools CA Southern Area over 15 championship over 20 kilos he was beaten in the sprint by James Taylor (Heron RC), the current national track champion. .
The 50 kilo British cycling- federation event was a different race with no attacks lasting more than half a lap on the exposed airfield until with two laps remaining Mahon broke clear. He was soon joined by Cardiff’s Hugh Pritchard but the Welsh rider would not share the ace making on the last lap and Mallon was forced to lead or risk being caught by the bunch. At the line Pritchard’s tactics paid off and he took the flag over a length clear.
The main event for first, second and third categories was a triumph for Team Zoyland. A seven man break had formed containing three Zoylands and on the last lap Steve Chattell realised he would not win a sprint so he jumped away alone and held on to win. Team mate Sean Foweracre took the sprint for second.
The time trialists were over at Axbridge riding the Bristol South 10 and Clive Brooks (VC Camelot) again dominated, recording 20.33 to beat second placed Channel Islander M Harris by 55 seconds.
At the Bournemouth Arrow 25 time trial near Ringwood conditions were as cold as they could be this early in the year. Brooks recorded his best time of the year, 52.56 but was beaten into second place by veteran Eddie Adkins (VC Bad). Adkins three times national champion at the
distance clocked 52.15. VC Camelot took the team award with Ian Wallace 55.47 and Keith Vale 57.42 backing up Brooks.
Three other local time trialists chose the Trowbridge Hilly 24 near Devizes. Danny Ellery was fastest with 1.08.12. The Dycer brothers riding for VC Camelot rode Well in the Bath Rough Riders mountain bike races at Wellsway. Mark rode away from the field to a clear win in the 15-year-olds event and Greg was second in the 12-year-old race.

29th April 1993

Winning start for Camelot’s Keith Vale

YEOVIL Cycling Club opened its evening time trial series on Thursday with a 10- mile event. The 20-race series has something for everyone with 10, 15 and 25 mile individual events and two team time trials, continuing every Thursday until the end of August.
VC Camelot’ Keith Vale won the opening event, recording 22.40, with Yeovil veteran Tony White (23.26) second and Eason Gurner (23.46) third.
There were personal bests for veteran Derek Todd (24.48) and juvenile Andrew Tearle, who improved over a minute to record 24.51. Alan Brimecombe and Catherine Fraser, on their tandem, were faster than nearly all the 16 solos, but failed by one second to equal Vale.
Local riders dominated the West Country time trial scene at the weekend. Clive Brooks (VC Camelot) won the Plymouth Corinthians 25 on the A38 at Buckfastleigh on Saturday, clocking 54.39 in tough conditions, 1.40 outside the course record he set last month. Teammate Kevin Roberts was next best of the local men recording 1.02.53.
Sundays Clevedon & District 25 on the Bridgwater Flats was another hard event with Mark Antell (Chard Wheelers) proving the strongest, recording 58.35, over a minute clear of Welshman John Williams (CC Abergavenny), the only other rider under the hour.
VC Camelots Danny Ellery (1.02.10) and Andy Millward (1.02.36) were well up in the order. Pat Ellery (VC Camelot) was second lady with 1.15.07.
Greg Dycer, 12-year-old member of the Castle Cary cycling family, had his best ride to date on Sunday at Totnes when he won the 12 and under event.

22nd April 1993

DRIVER MAKES A POINT

YEOVIL CC veteran Dave Driver rode strongly throughout SaturdaysQueen Bee Bicycle Race at Merryfield to score his first ever point in open
road racing. The 10 kilo race was very hard with a strong cross wind hampering the 57 starters on the open airfield circuit. An early breakaway by seven riders looked to be in a commanding position with a lead of 1.30 at one stage and the chasing bunch far from organised. Driver and team mate Gareth Evans took the initiative and went off in pursuit, with Nick Armstrong and Martin Turner policing the bunch. A few riders realised the danger and joined the chase which eventually caught the break. Just as the break was absorbed, four riders attacked again and the winning move was made. Driver was in the next split as another four tried to join the leaders but just failed to make contact and he took sixth place and the single point on his licence, six points being awarded for first place.
The main field had disintegrated and Yeovil’s Evans, tenth and Armstrong 11th led them home.
The veterans showed their stamina in the hard event, none more than 61-year-old Wonder Pete Sandy from Taunton who took second place.
Winner was Midlander Mike Counter (Beacon RC).
The time trialists also had a hard time on Sunday in the strong wind. Clive Brooks (VC Camelot) took second place in the Welsh Open 25 Championship at Raglan recording 55.17. National hill climb champion Stuart Dangerfield (Leo RC) demonstrate his speed on the flat by winning in 54.03.
At Ringwood the Bournemouth and District Womens CA promoted an open 25 which' was won by Olympic team trialist Gary Dighton (Leo RC) in 56.40. Chard Wheeler Mark Antell, who seems to thrive in hard events, was second in 57.26 leading his club to the team award.
Yeovil’s Thursday evening time trial was a 15 mile 2-up team event. Yeovil CCs Driver and Jason Gunney were fastest clocking 33.09.
Chards Antell, and Ayres second in 33.37 and Yeovil’s Evans teamed with junior Patrick Mahon third with 34.00

13th May 1993

PERSONAL BESTS FOR 10 RIDERS

TEN of the 31 riders recorded personal bests when Yeovil Cycling Club held their Thursday time trial.
Mark Antell (Chard Wheelers) was fastest clocking 21.26, followed by Yeovil’s Dave Driver recording a 21.52 personal and Tony White with 22.03.
On Sunday the Vegetarian C and AC staged their open 10 on the A303 near Podimore and VC Camelots Clive Brooks was the only rider to master the conditions, clocking 21.30. Second was Pete Shelley from Wellington with 23.05 and Stokes Alan Brimecombe was third. Yeovil took the team award.
Brooks was in fine form again on Monday, winning the Cheltenham & County 25 at Thornbury. He finished in 54.32, over two minutes ahead of Andy Sharp (Bio Race Team).
The tandem event was won by Steve and John Howles of Corinium CC, with Chard Wheelers Ian Hennessy and John Trout second.

6th May 1993

Welshman Wayne sets the pace

YEOVIL’S Oldsters Road Race on Sunday had to be run on the Wincanton-Cary-Sparkford circuit when road works at Marston closed
the usual course. Organiser Stuart Wroot and his team of officials and marshalls worked hard to ensure everything went well on the new
course.
It is, however, the riders who make a race and the 41 veterans did not disappoint, riding an exciting attacking event.
Welshmnan Wayne Millward (Cardiff Byways CC) was the star, leaving the bunch on the second lap to catch and overhaul R Chadwick (Tunstall Wheelers) and H Jones (Bromsgrove Olyimpic CC) who had formed the first serious break. On the climb from Wincanton on the third lap he was 15 seconds clear of the duo and two minutes up on the bunch.
At the start of the last of the four laps with 15 miles to go he had 1.15 on the pair and 2.15 on five chasers who had left the bunch. The chasers did get together but it was too late and Millward crossed the line with over two minutes in hand. Another Welsh rider Martin Bush (Hirwaun Wheelers) took the severn man sprint for second place by half a wheel from Tom Woolard (Antelope RT).
Yeovil’s team of Dave Driver, Nick Armstrong and Martin Turner all finished in the main bunch after being in the thick of the action but missing the vital moves. Drivers speed was probably blunted by his exertions on Saturday afternoon when he won the Wessex veterans 25 on the A303 near Andover. The conditions were far from ideal with a gusting SW wind and heavy showers. Only two riders managed to beat the hour. Driver clocked 56.37 which gave him a plus of 15.34 on age standard. Poole Wheeler Terry Icke was actually five seconds faster but several years younger and well behind on standard.
In the Andover Wheelers open event which followed the weather had relented a little and Yeovil’s Gareth Evans recorded a creditable 58.10 for 10th place and Chris Fendt 1.03.16. Winner was Antelope Race Teams Chris Ball with a rapid 52.07.
The evening club events were well supported with 50 riders at Merryfield on Tuesday for the 20 mile circuit event where Team Zoyland first category rider Matt Watch showed his class.
Thursdays 10 mile time trial was won by Chard Wheeler Mark Antell who recorded 22 minutes exactly followed by Yeovil’s Driver 22.12 and Evans 22.37.

20th May 1993

READY FOR THE OFF: A team from Yeovil Cycling Club prepares to sweat it out over a sun-drenched 30-mile course in the Western Gazettes annual Biking for Barnardos sponsored ride on Sunday. Full report and more pictures, Page 2.

27th May 1993

Olympic star in top form

OLYMPIC pursuit champion Chris Boardman sliced a massive 62 seconds off his own British 25 mile time trial record in the Oxford University open
event on Saturday. He clocked an amazing 45.57s which works out an average speed of 32.6 mph.
The event, based at Botle , west of Oxford on the A34, produced a lot of personal best rides with Castle Cary star Clive Brooks joining the exclusive 30 mph club by recording 49.592 for sixth place.
Brooks,one of the early riders, started in quite breezy conditions - though the wind was dropping all the time - and was top of the leader board for over an hour.
The Wind had all but died away and heavy rain was falling when Boardman started riding a fairly conventional steel tear drop tubing frame low profile machine fitted with a single fixed gear of 108 inches.
The use of the fixed gear might be part of his preparation for an attack on the world hour record in Colorado or Bordeaux later this summer.
The event had a full Held of 120 with entries closing on a 54 minute previous best performance. It must rank among the fastest 25s with the slowest rider recording 57.06s.
The Crabwood CC staged an Open-10 and the Wessex Veteran 10 championship the same day on the Thruxton-Andover Road.

Fastest
Salisbury’s Lee Paxton won the Open event in 20.33s with Yeovil’s Gareth Evans clocking 22.41s and Mark Johnson 24.12s.
In the veterans race Stoke-sub-Hamdon rider Alan Brimecombe (CS Dynamo) was the fastest local, recording 21.51s, but once again Dave Driver (Yeovil CC) beat him on age standard with 22.21s.
Derek Todd recorded 23.47s to beat Yeovil colleague Bill Dycer by one second and Ansford’s Jim Bartlett (Frome and District) clocked 24.46s.

3rd June 1993

Clive’s first again

TIME trifling was the main activity for local racing cyclists with Marston Magna’s Clive Brooks (VC Camelot) once again emerging the winner.
He clocked a brilliant 1.53.28s to Win the Bristol South 50m event on the Gloucester Road on Sunday.
The course was not fast with some lone drags and a rough surface with a brisk SE wind offered little assistance in either direction. Indeed, some of the seeded riders struggled to
break the two hour ten minute mark.
Brooks was 50 seconds faster than runner-up Andy Griffiths (GS Vitesse) and a whopping flive minutes ahead of Bath CCs Bob Pears in third place.
Yeovil’s team was led by veteran roadmap Nick Armstrong, riding his first 50 mile trial. He recorded 2.12.39s with colleagues Bill Dycer and Chris Fendt clocking 2.13.01s and 2.16.45s respectively.
Local riders performed well in the Exeter Wheelers 25 mile event at Liverton. On a wet afternoon, VC Camelot’s Andy Millward recorded 58.38s and Yeovil’s Gareth Evans 59.01s. Winner, though, was Andy Lyons of Plymouth with 54.48s.
Yeovil’s Thursday evening time trial - the firsts 25 of the season - saw a disappointing entry of just 12 solos and a tandem. Veteran Dave Drivers good form continued as
he clocked 58.30s to win in a cool NW wind. Chard Wheeler Rob Ayres, from Ilminster, recorded a personal best 59.10s and Yeovil’s Jason Gunney was third with 1.00.29s.
Tandem riders Alan Brimecombe and Catherine Fraser clocked 59.56s.

27 May 1993

Driver’s third inage group

YEOVIL Cycling Club veterans Dave Driver and Nick Armstrong rode the Wyre Forest road race in Worcester on Saturday. It was their fourth appearance in the annual age related event which is run over three hilly laps totalling 39 miles.
The first lap was fairly easy for the Yeovil pair but some riders were finding the course hard and Armstrong tried an attack as the field neared the uphill finish area. But he was soon pulled back. At the same point the next time around the bunch split with seven riders going clear and another group of seven containing Armstrong just behind. Driver found himself in a group who would not work together in the chase so he settled for a good placing in his age grouping. He won the sprint for 15th place, which gave him third in the over 50 class.
Armstrong finished 11th, his group just over a minute down on the leaders. He took ninth in the 40-50 class. Overall winner was Martin Bush (Hirwaun Wheelers). '
Clive Brooks started his quest for fast qualifying times in this years British Best Allrounder Competition with a ride in the fast A1 based Finsbury Park 50 on Saturday evening.
Brooks was disappointed with his 1.52.20, suspecting the onset of a virus infection was blunting his performance. Winner was short distance expert Stuart Dangerfield (Leo RC),
moving up to the middle distance and clocking 1.46.08.
On Sunday two Yeovil members rode a completely different 50, the Clevedon and District event on the A38 Axbridge-Dunball road with sections on the narrow bumpy roads to Mark and to Weston in the other direction. Bill Dycer clocked 2.11.46 and Chris Fendt continued his improvement with a 2.15.28 personal best. The course did not seem to worry the winner Andy Griffiths (GS Vitesse) who went round in 1.53.34.
Last Thursdays time trial was shortened to 10 miles when road works appeared on the 25 mile course, which was a pity as 25 riders had turned up.
Chards Rex Facey is starting to show his old form with a 21.51 to win from team mate Mark Antell who clocked 22.35. Visiting rider N Winter from the Somer Valley Club was third
with 22.42.

17th June 1993

BROOKS A CLASS ACT

MARSTON Magnas Clive Brooks (VC Camelot) was again in a class of his own at the Weston Wheelers 25 on Saturday. The race was run on a difficult version of the
Axbridge - Bridgwater flats course and a strong wind slowed most riders by over a minute.
Brooks time of 54.25 was a minute better than second placed Bob Pears of Bath. Best of the other local riders was Alan Brimecombe (CS Dynamo) who clocked 1.00.23 followed by Andy Millward (VC Camelot) with 1.00.41. Yeovil veterans Terry White and Bill Dycer clocked 1.04.24 and 1.05.27 respectively.
Highlight of the midweek racing was Thursdays Haywain Challenge Team Time Trial at Wellington. Fourteen four man teams from the member clubs of the Taunton Vale Cycle Racing
Association tackled the 20.2 mile hilly course on the A38.
The promoting Wellington Wheelers A team were clear winners speeding round at 27mph led by Malcolm Steer with Pete Shelley, Steve Newbiggin and junior Dave Bentley, they clocked 44.46.
Team Zoyland were second fastest in 46.29. Wellington B third with 47.29 and VC Taunton fourth clocking 48.07. Yeovils A team of Nick Armstrong, Terry White, Nick Evans and Stuart Wroot beat 25mph recording 48.16 for fifth spot.
With so many riders at the team event only 14 rode Yeovil’s 15 mile event. Alan Brimecombe (CS Dynamo) came out on top with 34.12 well clear of Yeovil’s Gareth Evans who clocked 35.19 and Somer Valleys Nigel Winter was third with 35.25.
Yeovil are promoting an open 25 next Sunday morning with the first rider off at 7.01. The start is on the Podimore Road just off the roundabout.~ There are 83 entries with Brooks the favourite of course.

24th June 1993

Olympic ace edges a win

DAVE Driver and Gareth Evans were Yeovil’s representatives in the National 25 Mile Time Trial Championship in Cornwall on Sunday morning.
The pair work in the same office in Normalair-Garrett and have been involved in a season long personal duel with veteran Driver, 28 years the senior, coming out on top.
Sunday was no exception he clocked 59 minutes dead and Evans 59.28.
The championship was won by Olympian Chris Boardman in a championship record time of 48.45 but only by a small margin. Scotsman Graham Obree took the
silver medal 10 seconds down and after an enforced stop to adjust his front wheel!
Mudfords Steve Oxbrow staged another event for his Vegetarian Cycling and Athletic Club on the Yeovil course the same morning. The 25 mile race only had 30
starters but 11 were rewarded by personal best times. . .
VC Camelot’s Clive Brooks opted for the local event rather than the expensive trip to Cornwall and came out an easy winner recording 53.03. Chard Wheeler Rex Facey was second with 56.46 and Brooks team mate Ian Wallace third in 57.07.
Camelot’s other rider Andy Millward recorded a personal best 58.10 to ensure they took the team prize from Chard who had Mark Antell 57.46 and Rob Ayres 59.14. Yeovil’s best rider was an improving Chris Fendt with 1.01.46 and veteran Terry White from Somerton, an experienced rider making a comeback, recorded 1.02.17 in his first outing in Yeovil
colours. Bill Dycer clocked 1.04.41, Martin Bailey 1.05.27 and Dave Wheale 1.08.17. Ansfords Jim Bartlett won the veteran on standard award clocking 1.05.18 for a plus of 11.53.

10th June 1993

Great week for Brooks

CLIVE Brooks of Velo Club Camelot completed a treble last week with a convincing win in the Yeovil CC 25 mile time trial on Sunday.
On Thursday he lowered his own course record on the A38 based course at Buckfastleigh, Winning the St Budeaux 25 with a rapid 51.43. A 50 minute ride could have been possible had he started in the first half of the field when conditions were seen to be much better, with a lot of personal bests. It had become noticably colder when Brooks started at 8.15pm.
Saturday afternoon saw him in action at the Corsham 10 near Devizes Where a 20.55 ride was enough to beat Andy Griffiths (GS Vitesse) by 14 seconds. Alan Brimescombe (CS Dynamo) was the next fastest local rider clocking 23.01. Langport veterinary surgeon Catherine Fraser (Exeter Wheelers) was the fastest lady in 26.26.
Ansford’s veteran Jim Bartlett (Frome& District) recorded 25.26 for an age standard plus of 4.36 and Sherborne’s Derek Todd (Yeovil CC) clocked 24.39 and a plus of 3.33.
In Sunday mornings Yeovil event Brooks led his team to the club award recording 53.42 on a morning when the NW breeze offered little assistance to riders in either direction. His former team mate Rob Thorne (Polytechnic CC) was over two minutes in arrears clocking 56.15 for second place, Weymouths N Richardson was third in 58.32 and Chards Rex Faced took fourth with 58.39.
VC Camelots team counters were Andy Millward 1.00.28 and Veteran John Saunders 1.03.37 While Ilminsters Rob Ayres clocked 1.00.33 and Yeovil’s Gareth Evans 1.00.56.
Mid Devon’s I Cooper took the under 16 award with 1.4.46; Fraser was the fastest lady clocking 1.07.04; Swindons D Hedges fastest veteran in 59.07 and Clevedons M Richards had the best improvement recording 1.06.32, a 1.02 personal best.

1st July 1993

Camelot’s Brooks sets a PB

BATH Road Clubs 100 mile event at Didcot near Oxford on Sunday morning enjoyed good conditions for long distance time trials, not too hot and only a light breeze. The three local riders all recorded personal bests.
Clive Brooks (VC Camelot) took third place with 3.46.01 behind reigning 100 champion Gethin Butler (RT Italia) who clocked 3.39.48, an event record.
Yeovil CC veteran Dave Driver improved by 13 minutes to record 4.14.30 in eighteenth place and Chris Fendt clocked 4.34.28 over 25 minutes better than his first attempt at the distance. Most disappointed rider was Catherine Fraser (Exeter Wheelers) who was going well until she went off course with only eight miles to go.

Belgian-based
At Andover on the same morning Chards Mark Antell clocked 1.53.52 to take second place to Salisbury’s Belgian based professional Harry Lodge (Colstrop), who recorded a course and event best of 1.46.44.
Saturday afternoon on the Dorset roads around Owermoigne a stiff breeze made it hard going in the CC Weymouth 10 mile event. Poole veteran Terry Icke came out on top clocking 22.02. Of the local riders Alan Brimcombe (CS Dynamo) recorded 22.52 in fourth place and Yeovil CC veterans Derek Todd and Terry White clocked 25.23 and 25.27.
Yeovil’s Thursday evening 10 attracted 36 riders including one from Merseyside and Abergavenny! Antell was the fastest with 21.19, Keith Vale (VC Camelot) clocked 21.35 and Wellington junior Dave Bentley was third in 21.53. Somer Valley rider R Scott was fourth recording 22.01, Chard Wheeler Rob Ayres 22.19 fifth and Driver was Yeovil’s best rider with 22.37 in sixth place.
Next Sunday (July 11th) Steve Oxbrow with the help of local clubmen is promoting a 50 mile time trial on local roads for the Vegatarian C & AC, the first 50 for many years in the area.

8th July 1993

No rest needed for ace Brooks

DESPITE feeling jaded after his sub four hour 100-mile race the previous Week, VC Camelot cycling star Clive Brooks finished over three minutes clear in Sundays Vegetarian C & AC 50-mile time trial.
A stiff breeze ruled out a fast time on the new course, which started and finished on the Sparkford to Castle Cary road. But Brooks 1.53.36s time (average speed of 26.4 mph) set a good standard.
Pete Danckwardt (Norwood Paragon) clocked 1.57.18s to pip Chard Wheeler Mark Antell for second place by two seconds Somer Valley won the team prize with roadman Richard Simmonds leading them home in fifth with 1.59.43s. Another roadman, Pat Foley (Heron RC), clocked two ours exactly for sixth place.
Yeovil CC riders took two awards. Dave Driver was fasted veteran on age standard, recording 2.03.32s, an Chris Fendt clocks 2.11.18s for the improvement award in knocking four minutes off his best.
Ann Curren (Bath CC) was fastest lady in 2.27.25s and Rob Ayres (Chard Wheelers) took the special prize for fastest Vegetarian in 2.04.24s. Other local times were Yeovil CCs Gareth Evans (2.04.05s), Derek Todd (2.12.30s), Terry White (2.12.36s), Bill Dycer (2.16.46s), VC Camelots John Saunders (2.08.30s) and Frome’s Jim Bartlett (2.18.33s).
The Tuesday evening circuit training at Merryfield airfield is attracting a lot of riders and they are enjoying faster racing than ever.
Last Week a difficult cross wind on the main runway saw many struggling and only ten finished in the leading group after 25 miles.
Thursday’s time trial was over 25 miles and 15 riders competed. Somer Valleys Nigel Winter was fastest clocking 58,50s. Alan Hayter (Chard Wheelers) was second in a personal best 1.00.17s and Wellingtons Dave Pollard third in 1.02.40s. Saunders (VC Camelot) was fourth in 1.02.44s and Yeovil’s White and Fendt (1.04.09s and 1.04.11S) fifth and sixth.

15th July 1993

Chard race Facey wheel-y good

CHARD Wheelers performed well in the weekend time trials with Rex Facey the pick of the bunch.
Clevedon & Districts 10 mile race at Axbridge was a close fought one with only 47 seconds separating the first four. VC Camelots consistent Clive Brooks was fastest, recording 20.45s, half a minute ahead of Andy Griffiths (GS Vitesse), Gerry Bowditch (VC St Raphael) and Facey (21.32s).
Next came Alan Brimacombe (CS Dynamo, Z2.32s), Robin Ayres (Chard , 23.27s), Dave Driver (Yeovil, 23.35s), Danny Ellery (VC Camelot, 24.29s), Cath Fraser (Exeter, 26.1Zs)
and Pat Ellery (VC Camelot, 27.45s).
Kington Langleys Chippenham 25 was a family affair with ex-national champion John Pritchard (Bio Race) winning in a course record 54.12s time from 15-year-old son Ceri (54.56s).
Chard took the team award thanks to fourth-placed Facey (56.01s], Mark Antell (56.52s) and Ayres (59.37s).
Sherborne’s Derek Todd (Yeovil CC) was up early for the Southampton Wheelers 25 mile race at Ringwood whichx began at 5.30 am. Entry was restricted to riders not having
beaten one hour in the last three seasons. Todd clocked 1.01.59s, his best for ten years.
CC Weymouth promoted their annual Lloyd Coward Memorial Portland Heights race on Friday. The 50k covered 20 laps of a hard, tight race and a lot of riders failed to stay in
contact and were duly lapped.
Yeovil junior Patrick Mahon snatched sixth place on the line with club colleague Gareth Evans seventh.
The evening club racing last week was affected by the weather with only 20 riders at Merryfield and 19 for Thursdays 10 mile time trial. Keith Vale (Camelot) won with 22.10s from
Evans(22.28s) and Jason Gunner (22..52s).
Yeovil are staging their John Andrews race this Sunday over 80 miles on the Sparkford- Wincanton-Cary circuit starting at the Sparkford Inn (10 am).

22nd July 1993

Warren clinches victory late on

THE new format by Yeovil Cycling clubs John Andrews Memorial Road Race was voted a huge success.
Entry was restricted to third category riders only and, as they are by far the largest group, this ensured a full 60-strong field for the 80 mile event.
The decisive move came at around 25 miles, after several probing attacks, when a live man break went clear and opened up a three minute lead.
Warren Bailey (Burton-on- Trent) and Somer Valleys Colin Carlield led over the top but, on the downhill past Cary, Bailey attacked and powered away to eventually win by over a minute.
Third place was contested by Dutchman Adrie Fritters (WV Ede) who narrowly pipped former Yeovil Oympiad athlete Martin Yelling (VC Bedford) who has taken up cycling since going to University.
Yeovil’s best hope for a top placing was Chris Absolom, but he misjudged the finish and was overtaken by veteran Dave Driver.
The Yeovil CC Evening 10 mile time trial incorporated the club handicap championship. Handicapper Wild Perry must have got his sums right because the only rider to
record a personal best ended up winning.
Fourteen-year-old Douglas Northcott clocked 24.27s which gave him a corrected time of 21.12s, four seconds ahead of veteran Garry Mitchener, who had 2.15s more handicap but who clocked 26.46s. Chards Mark Antell was fastest with 21.16s.
The weekend time trials ran true to form with Clive Brooks (VC Camelot) winning the Somer Valley 25 on Sunday in a good 55.32s time.

29th July 1993

Disappointing end to Clive’s medal chase

STRONG winds and a tough course put a damper on the aspirations of the local time trialists in the National 100 mile championship on the Gloucester Road north of Bristol on Sunday morning.
Defending champion Gethin Butler (RT Italia) retained his title with an excellent 3.44.45. Clive Brooks (VC Camelot) was the best local rider in eighth place recording 3.59.50. Third on the road after 25 miles, and going through the 50 mile mark in 1.51.20 still holding the bronze position, he was going all out for a medal. The increasing wind and the tough hilly finish took their toll and it began to slip away as the last 25 miles took him an hour and seven minutes. Riding a steadier race might have placed him as high as sixth but it was the
medal he was after.
Gareth Evans rode the race of his life in his first 100, clocking 4.33.18 to lead the Yeovil CC team, one of the few to finish three men. Veteran Dave Driver was well below his best with 4.43.00 and Chris Fendt blew up in a big way to clock 5.5.51, at least he did finish when nearly half the field climbed off.
Conditions were not a lot better in the Barnstaple Imperial Wheelers 25 on the A377 at Morchard Road. Alan Brimecombe (CS Dynamo) clocked 1.00.48 in fifth place, Danny Ellery (VC Camelot) was sixth with 1.02.15 and Derek Todd (Yeovil CC) 1.05.57 eighteenth. Exeter junior Alex McGrath won with 58.51.
Thursday evenings Yeovil- club 25 was a lot different with the wind dying away, and nine of the 17 riders recorded personals. Somer Valleys Nigel Winter used the 22 mile, ride from his home in Radstock as a warm up and stormed round in a personal best 56.56. Teammate Mike Moon also recorded a pb of 1.0.23 and veteran John Saunders (VC Camelot) was third in 1.0.38.
Best of the other personals were 14-year-old Andy Tearle 1.02.52, Joe Wenglorz 1.03.15 and Andy Newbury 1.04.02.
Lady time trialist Catherine Fraser travelled to Eseex for a ladies 25 and was rewarded with a 1.02.12 personal, an improvement of over two minutes and sixth place in the event.

7th August 1993

Andrew is chasing two national titles

FAST pedalling Yeovil cyclist Andrew Tearle has qualified for two national championship finals in the last fortnight.
The Bucklers Mead pupil, who rode in Holland last year for the English Schools Cycling Association, will first compete in the national Juvenile Road Circuit Championships on Sunday. They are due to be held at Bamsfield Heath, near Ringwood, over 25 miles.
Tearle qualified for the finals by coming second in the Western Division regional final at Hengrove Park, near Bristol.
Another date in his diary is 4 September when, representing his school, he will compete in the Road Time Trial Councils GHS Championship final.
He recorded 25.21 over a 10-mile qualifying trial on the A38 north of Thornbury to claim runners-up position again.
Tearle regularly competes in the weekly 17mile Merryfield time trials - and this after cycling the 17 miles from his Yeovil home to the airfield!

7th August 1993

Chards Antell wins as locals spread Wheels

LOCAL cyclists spread their wheels last weekend in a varied programme from Wales to Essex.
On Sunday morning Chard Wheeler Mark Antell surprised the Welsh time trialists with a 1.53.46 ride to win the Cardiff 100 miles RCC 50 mile event by just seven seconds from Port Talbots G Evans. Yeovil’s Gareth Evans came out on top in his duel with his club mate clocking 2.1.14 to Dave Drivers 2.2.34.
At Ringwood in the Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 25 the clock swung the other way for Chard Wheelers as Rex Facey missed out by one second. He recorded 55.12 to Bob Pears (Bath CC) 55.11.

Early start
Clive Brooks had to get up at 2 am to make the long journey to Gallywood in Essex for the fast Southend and County Wheelers 50. Brooks recorded a personal best 1.45.34 for fifth place two minutes behind winner Colin Roshier (Hounslow & District).
The short distance riders had their chance in the VC Bristol 10 at Devizes on Saturday afternoon. Baths Tony Evans was fastest with 21.28 and Alan Brimecombe (CS Dynamo) was the best local deer clocking 22.59, second fastest veteran. Yeovils Bill Dycer clocked 24.24 and Derek Todd 25.03. Veteran Jim Bartlett (Frome& District) recorded 25.53.
The road racing enthusiasts went to the Barnsfield Heath circuit near Ringwood on Sunday afternoon for the National Juvenile championship and supporting races.
The championship was a negative race with riders unwilling to take the initiative. The field stayed together until the last lap and Yeovil’s Andrew Tearle left his effort too late and was
placed 31st out of 69. Paul Whitfield from the Bournemouth Arrow was the winner.
In the third category senior and juniors race Yeovil fielded four riders. No attacks got very far in this event either and at the line junior Patrick Mahon was fifth and senior Chris
Absolom 6th. Senior Martin Bailey and veteran Mike Dennis were in the main bunch.
Absolom entered the senior race open to all categories and was more than holding his own among the first and second cats at the bell but did not appear at the finish. His club mates discovered that he was involved in a crash on the far side of the circuit and unfortunately sustained a broken collar bone which will bring his season to a premature end.
Mahon has just returned from Holland where he represented the English Schools CA in the international tour of Essen. In the 43 kilo road race stage Mahon attacked with two laps to go and was joined by a Dutch rider; the pair took their lead to 25 seconds at one time and at the finish Mahon showed the Dutchman a clean pair of heels to win by eight lengths. He was placed 27th overall in the 100 rider field.

12th August 1993

No disappointment this time?

VELO club Camelot’s Clive Brooks put the disappointment of his last 100 mile time trial being him last Sunday as he powered round the Wessex 100 to win in a course and event record time of 3hrs 47min 6sec.
His time in last months Bath Road Club event at Oxford had been declared void when the course was found to be 400 yards short.
He made no mistake on the Wimborne based course which takes riders to Bere Regis in the west and Cadnam in the New Forest to the east. He was over two minutes clear of Poole veteran Terry Icke who clocked 3.49.45. Salisbury’s Lee Paxton was third in 3.50.41 and Chard Wheeler Mark Antell fourth with 4.01.09. Ansford super veteran Jim Bartlett (Frome& District) recorded an excellent 4.50.02.
The Barnstaple Imperial Wheelers staged their second 25 in three weeks on the Exeter road north of Crediton on the same morning. Exeter junior Alex McGarth Came out on top again but a minute faster than last time in the better conditions, clocking 57.49 to beat Chards Rex Faced by 30 seconds.
Alan Brimescombe (CS Dynamo) was fastest veteran in fifth place overall, the same as last time, recording an hour exactly and Danny Ellery was second veteran clocking 1.01.48. Both Rob Ayres (Chard Whls) 1.03.07 and Catherine Fraser 1.10.53 were well below their best and Yeovil’s Derek Todd crashed while trying to ride on a punctured front tyre, wrecking a wheel and collecting a few grazes. Charlton Mackrell’s Arthur Vince (VC Camelot) rode his first 25 for over 25 years and recorded 1.14.34.
The midweek sport was well supported, at Merryfield circuit on Tuesday when 51 riders entered the 25 mile training event. Yeovil’s Gareth Evans started the decisive move, breaking away to be joined by five other strong riders. In the sprint for the line Wellingtons super fast junior Dave Bentley got the verdict from Taunton’s Greg Sandy.
Thursdays 10 mile time trial had 33 entrants with Chards Fahey the fastest in 21.57. Somer Valleys Nigel Winter recorded 22.15 and Ayres 22.25.
Yeovil are staging an open 10 mile time trial on Saturday on the Camel Hill - Podimore Ilchester course the first man off at 4pm. The event has attracted 109 riders and Brooks, holder of the course record at 19.53, is on scratch.

19th August 1993

45 personal bests in time trials

YEOVIL Cycling Club 10 mile time trials are gaining a reputation as fast events and last Saturday afternoons race was no exception.
The traffic on the 303 at Camel Hill was considered too heavy for the scheduled start of 4 o’clock and organiser David Notley waited an hour before dispatching the first rider,
traditionally one of the promoting club.
The later start turned out to be in the riders favour as the wind dropped and the air seemed fresher. Yeovil’s Gareth Evans the first man away gave an indication when he
returned a personal best 21.53.
Of the 96 starters no less than 45 recorded personals but local VC Camelot star Clive Brooks was the only rider to crack 30mph with 19.59 just six seconds outside his own
course record.
Andy Griffiths (GS Vitesse) was second clocking 20.13, Bath CC riders Bob Pears 20.28 and Tony Evans 20.47 took third and fourth to make sure of the team prize.
Alan Brimecombe (CS Dynamo) was fastest veteran recording 22.03 and Catherine Fraser (Exeter Whls) took the ladies award with 24.27. Best young rider was Poole Wheeler
S Langdown clocking 22.26 and the best improvement award went to Avon& Somerset police rider D Gatehouse, plus 3.24.
Yeovil’s Dave Driver clocked 22.18, Jason Gunney 22.24 and Chris Fendt a 22.59 personal. Other Yeovil personals were recorded by Nick Young 23.31, Andy Tearle 23.25 and Andy Newbury 23.47.
VC Camelot times were Keith Vale 21.14, John Saunders 22.53 and Linda Blackwell 26.28. Chard Wheeler Rob Ayres clocked 22.25 and veteran Jim Bartlett (Frome and Dist) 24.35.
By Sunday the weather had changed and 45 of the 106 entrants failed to start the Wellington Wheeler 25 at Axbridge in very wet conditions.
Brooks was again the fastest clocking 54.23 with Yeovil’s Evans 59.35 the next fastest local rider. Danny Ellery (VC Camelot) .recorded 1.01.50 and Yeovils Derek Todd 1.02.58 for second place in the 49.59 age group.
Some riders used the Yeovil evening club 10 on Thursday to try out the course for Saturday. Mark Antell (Chard Whls) was quickest with 21.17, Mendips G Fouracre second with a
21.27 personal and Evans third in 22.01

26th August 1993

Series ends as it began

YEOVIL Cycling Clubs popular Thursday evening time trial series came to an end with a 10 mile event.
VC Camelots Keith Vale, who won the opening race back in April, came out on top again. He was over a minute faster this time clocking 21.08 to beat Gary Fouracre (Mendip
CC) who recorded 21.25. Team Zoyland veteran Dave Barnes was third with 21.41 and Chard Wheeler Mark Antell was relegated to a unaccustomed fourth place clocking 21.47.
Antell 'has won seven and placed second once in his eight previous starts in the 20 week series.
Alan Brimecombe (CS Dynamo) recorded 22.04 in fifth spot and Rob Ayres (Chard Whls) clocked 22.13. The home club ride could only manage equal place, Dave Driver and Jason Gunney both clocking 22.22. It was an unusual event in that there were four other pairs dead heating in the 28 rider field.
Conditions were quite good and several riders recorded personals, best of which was Joe Wenglorz (Yeovil CC) from Keinton Mandeville who improved 1.20 to clock 23.40, equal thirteen with junior Ian Coop (Mid Devon RC) who time was also personal.
At the other end the field there were personals for Chard’s Dave Bidgood, 24th in 25.16 and Chris Burton (Exeter Whls) 25th with 25.20.

2nd September 1993

Antell rode 253 miles in 12 hours

THE Poole 12 hour time trial on Sunday morning was an event of mixed fortunes for local riders.
Chard Wheeler Mark Antell from Keinton Mandeville, on his debut in the half day event, could be pleased with a provisional distance of 253 miles. He was forced to stop with cramp in his feet at one point and lost nearly 30 minutes. The results of 12 and 24 hour time trials take several days to work out because of the complexity of the event. Riders are directed by the marshalls as to which parts of the course to ride, the slower ones missing out some legs. The object is for riders to arrive on a finishing circuit in the last two hours of their ride. Timekeepers are stationed every two miles on the 10 to 20 mile circuit and when a riders 12 hours runs out their distance can be calculated when
they pass the next watch.
Veteran Jim Bartlett (Frome and District Wheelers) from Ansford rode a steady race and covered around 210 miles which gave him a plus of 18 miles on the veteran standard for a 61 year old.
VC Camelot’s Clive Brooks was hoping for a good distance to give him a high placing in the British best all rounder competition. It was not to be however. He was troubled by increasing pain in his lower back and despite stops for treatment by his clubs support team, he called a halt after just over 10 hours. A good mileage was by then out off reach.

Wrong preparation
Yeovil’s Chris Fendt, another debutant, did not have the right preparation so essential for this event and paid the price. He covered the first 100 miles in just over 4 hrs 30 min but blew up shortly after and came to a halt. Poole veteran Terry Icke looked to have done the best ride and may have covered over 280 miles.
At the other end of the time trial spectrum the Frome 10 on Saturday was won by Baths Tony Evans in a time of 21.34. Alan Brimecombe (CS Dynamo) was fastest of the
local men clocking 23.01 in twelfth place closely followed by Yeovil’s Gareth Evans recording 23.06. Yeovil’s other times were Terry White 24.07, Derek Todd 24.20 and Martin Bailey 24.52. vc Camelots Keith Vale clocked 22.25 and John Saunders.

9th September 1993

Brooks the best

CLIVE Brooks ended his season on a high note in the Poole time trial at Woodbury on Sunday.
He knocked three minutes off the course record on a morning made difficult by the cold north wind, clocking 56.365 to beat runner-up Lee Paxton (Salisbury) by 3.44s. , He also led VC Camelot to another team trophy along with Danny Ellery (1.01.40s) and Nick Hulme (1.02.37).
Yeovil roadmen Martin Bailey and Chris Absolom competed in the 50 kilo Bovington Race, a Poole Wheelers promotion event. ` Bailey finished 14th while Absolom ended in the
main bunch in his first race since suffering a fractured collarbone in early August

30th September 1993

Ayres rocks

As the time trailing season draws to a close, two local riders chose the Sotonia 25 on an A303 based course near Andover to finish their competitive riding. .
Chard Wheeler Robin Ayres rode into ninth place, recording 59.58. He was going well but was rocked on his heels after losing nearly a minute when his pulse metre fell off its handlebar mounting.
Yeovil’s Martin Bailey clocked 1.02.36, his best ride of the year and just 15 seconds outside personsal best.
Eight Yeovil club members who have finished racing for the year motored to Exmoor on Sunday then took to two wheels for a 70-mile ride through Raleigh Cross, Exford, Simmondsbath and Dulverton.

7th October 1993

Camelots Clive Brooks breaks two records

VELO Club Camelot’s Clive Brooks dominated the Andover Wheelers time trial weekend with two record breaking rides.
On Saturday afternoon in the 10 mile event at Thruxton he set a new course and event record with 20.01, beating the newly crowned 15-year-old national schools champion Ceri Pritchard by 37 seconds,
Alan Brimescombe (CS Dynamo) rode the earlier tandem event with Catherine Fraser (Exeter Whls) and they docked 22.06. Just half an hour later he was starting in the solo event
and recorded a creditable 22.34.
VC Camelot veteran John Saunders with 22.55 and Nick Hulme in his first ride for the club clocking 23.30 were the other local times.
Sundays 25 mile events were staged on a difficult course which took riders off the fast A303 and down to Middle Wallop road works preventing use of the usual fast course.
Brooks was equally at home on the undulating byroads and finished over two minutes clear recording another course record with 53.18. His team mates times, Saunders 1.01.34 and Hulme 1.03.13 were fast enough to give Camelot the team prize.
Yeovil Cycling Clubs Gareth Evans was fifth clocking 59.02 using a rear disc wheel for the first time and Martin Bailey recorded 1.04.11, his fastest ride of the year.
Brooks has announced that he has ridden his last 12 hour race and will now concentrate on the shorter events. He made his decision after his poor showing in last weeks Poole 12.
Yeovil’s Martin Bailey rode the three stage Kingswood Trophy race near Bristol. A six mile time trial, a short three and a half mile road race and a tough 48-mile road race made up the event.
The first two stages were dry but again the heavy rain came on the hardest part of the race. The 44-man field was reduced a handfull of finishers.
Bailey was in a bad position near the back of the bunch on the first climb and when the field split he was never in contention again. He did carry on to finish in 15th place.
Winner was John Griffiths of Weston Wheelers, a minute clear of the main group of eight riders.
Time trialist Derek Todd (Yeovil CC) combined a family visit to Lincolnshire with a ride in the Sleaford Wheelers 10 - the club he started riding with 40 years ago. The starter
remembered him from the early 1950s.
Todds time of 24.45 was quite good on the exposed course, placing him midway in the field and one of the faster veterans.

23rd September 1993

Taunton’s Watch keeps good time on the hills

OCTOBER is traditionally cycling’s hill climb month when the anti gravity specialists come into their own, usually the lighter small-framed riders.
The venue last Sunday was the Quantocks for the Taunton Vale Cycle Racing Associations two-stage event. A welcome break in the weather made for ideal conditions for both riders and spectators.
The climbs were Buncombe, just over a half mile and one in six at the steepest - a warm up for the ferocious Cothelstone an hour later. That is a climb of around 1,000 feet over three miles, the steepest parts one in five.
Taunton’s Matt Watch (Team Zoyland), the areas leading road racer this season, was fastest on both hills with an aggregate time of 14.52.
Wellingtons Dave Bentley, on his first day as a senior, away second with 15.49, closely followed by Wellington junior Jamie Fabrizio in 15.55. Chard Wheelers performed well, led by Stuart Woodsell in seventh place clocking 18.36. John Trout was ninth and fastest veteran, and Dave Bidgood tenth in 19.11.
Yeovil’s Martin Bailey was 11th with 19.27 and juvenile Andy Tearle 16th in 19.50. Both had ridden the 35 miles from Yeovil with four other clubmen.
A prize presentation and buffet lunch were enjoyed at Bishops Lydeard before the ride home.
This Sunday the English Schools hill climb championship will be staged at High Ham (10 am), followed by the Yeovil club championship.

14th October 1993

National event ends the cyclist’s season

THE English Schools Cycling Associations hill climb championships at Ham Hill on Sunday was a fitting end to the local season. Wellington Wheelers provided two winners, although on this occasion they were representing school rather than club.
Dave Bentley took the over 15s title, storming up the hill in 2 mins 32 seconds, eight seconds ahead of national track champions James Taylor from Bristol. Another Bristolian, Dan
Moore, was third in 2.43.
Yeovil interest centred on the under l5s where Yeovil’s Andrew Tearle took the bronze medal, clocking 3.08. He was 11 seconds behind winner Andrew Parsons from Taunton
youngest member of a well-know Wellington Wheelers cycling family.
Somerton’s Douglas Northcott was seventh recording 3.26 in his first hill climb.
The Yeovil club championship was held after the main event on a slightly longer course of about 1km. Gareth Evans, who missed the title by one second last year, clocked 3.27,
six seconds faster, this time. Tearle was only 12 seconds down in second place, riding after an hours rest but he improved 32 seconds on last year.

21st October 1993

Mountain bikers best yet

Veto Club Camelot mountain biker Mark Dycer from Castle Cary scored his best win to date in the Bristol Challenge at Ashton Gate on Sunday.
Riding the two lap eight-mile youth race,15year-old Mark overturned a 10-second deficit at the end of the first circuit and surged ahead in the closing seconds to cross the line 15 seconds clear.
He has been giving notice of his potential with placings in cycle cross events when he is at a disadvantage on the heavy mountain blue against the regular light weight cross machines
Yeovil Cycling Club have arranged the following Sunday morning runs for November leaving Old Statlon Car Park at 9am and returning by 1 pm.
7-West Bay via Eggardon Hill; 14- Mendips; 21 - Somerset levels; 28- Lyme Regis.

4th November 1993