Archives 2004

Third in Devon

YEOVIL pair Andy Millward and Toby Creighton rode into third place in the CS Dynamo Two-Up Team Time-Trial at Feniton, Devon, on Sunday. The duo, on their first outing of the season, clocked 22 mins 7 secs.
Thirty-four teams contested the ten-mile event on old and new sections of the A30.
Team Alcan-Sunchemical-Bianchi, the new super team in the South West, fielded three pairs. They took first place through Greg Sandy and Gerry Bowditch, who recorded 21:02, and second courtesy of~Yeovil-based Graeme Lackford backing Neil Coleman for 21:16. Somerset Road Club were fourth and the third Alcan team came fifth.

4th March 2004

Lackford clear winner in Devon

YEOVIL-BASED Graeme Lackford, riding for Team Alcan-Bianchi, was a clear winner of the 17-mile Four Firs Sporting Time Trial promoted by Exeter Wheelers across the hills of Woodbury Common in south-east Devon. Lackford showed his class by recording 37 mins 41 secs.
Second-placed Julius Jennings (CS Dynamo) was nearly two minutes in arrears with 39:39 and Adam Holmes (Mid Devon) was third with 39:47.
The Yeovil club’s Chris Absolom was fifth and fastest veteran in the 40-50 age group, clocking 40:05. His club-mates Andy Millward (40:20) and John Clemit (41:10) were sixth and tenth respectively. The Yeovil trio were only four seconds slower than Mid Devon who won the team award.

14th April 2004

Dorchester rider wins Pittards Road Race

by Garry Mitchener
CORRESPONDENT CYCLING
e-mail sportsdesk@westgaz.co.uk

YEOVIL Cycling Club staged their popular Pittards and Ham Hill Trophy road races last Sunday over the Yeovilton - Ilchester - Yeovil - Mudford - Queen Camel-Yeovilton course. It was the 40th running of the 45-mile Pittards event which was first held in 1963 but missed in 2001 due to the foot-and-mouth crisis.
The race for third and fourth categories and juniors was fast but no rider was able to gain any ground on the bunch so about 40 contested the finish. Dorchesters Barry Clewitt (Casterbridge Hardy RT) gained the verdict from Andy Holmes (Mid Devon) and Yeovils Nick Evans. Martin Burrows (Mid Devon) was fourth, followed by Bournemouth Arrows Alan Radford and veteran Steve Moss who won the race in 1978 as a junior. Richard Boswood, in seventh place, was first junior and Mid Devons third counter to win the team prize. Yeovil’s Mike Loader, Toby
Creighton and Dave Walters were all in the top 20.
The 75-mile Ham Hill Trophy for elite, first, second and third categories was a very good race. Team Alcan-Sun Chemical-Bianchi were riding to a plan to counter the threat from top-rated Jullian Winn (Pinarello RT) by making sure they had a man in every move, although no-one on the break gained more than a minute before being caught.
On the last climb of Coppitts Hill their team leader Greg Sandy attacked over the top and powered away on his own - and, averaging more than 30mph, he held off the bunch driven by Winn. At the finish Sandy had time to look over his shoulder and freewheel over the line, arms raised in salute.
Winn led the bunch from James Williams (unattached), T. Dunford (Hargroves Cycles), Mark Perry (PS Maestro-Fircroft) and Steve Thomas (Bristol RC), with local man Graeme Lackford in ninth place and Gerry Bowditch close behind. Alcan took the team award. Yeovil’s John Clemit and Jonathon Sowerby were both well off the pace.
Local cycle sport in 2004 got under way with the first of this seasons Ilton Circuit Series at Merryfield airfield. Promoted by Tor 2000, the event provided races for all categories - 56km for elite, first and second categories and 51km for third and fourth.
The weather was appalling with gale-force winds slowing riders to 11mph on the home straight and accelerating them to 40mph on the back of the circuit. The wind was accompanied by showers of rain.
Sandy won the elite race from Roy Smith (Team Training FX) and Isles Birks (CS Dynamo). Yeovil-based Team Alcan rider Lackford was sixth and Clemit finished ninth.
Chards Rex Facey won the third cats in style, dropping his breakaway companion to cross the line alone. Will Hornby (Mid Devon) led the chasing group from Andrew Shaw (Exeter Wheelers), Creighton, Richard Smith (Tor 2000) and Mike Neild (CS Dynamo).
The fourth category event was won by John Cowen (Exeter Wheelers) from Mark Gibbs (Somerset Tri), Sowerby, Alex Leslie (Somerset Road Club), David Willdnson (Exeter Wheelers) and Paul Horan (Gillingham & District). This was Sowerbys first appearance in Yeovil colours since 1991 when he rode as a junior. He is now based in Palma, Mallorca.
Yeovil’s Chris Absolom and Andy Millward rode the East Dorset CA 2'/km time-trial at Bere Regis. The event, promoted by Poole Wheelers, took riders on a circuit to the south over Gallows Hill and Worgret Heath.
The gale-force wind drastically affected times with the winner, Chris Ball (52-12 Multisports), recording 56 mins 46 secs, more than 18 minutes outside the course record. Absolom was third with 57:50 and Millward clocked 58:55 in fourth place.

1st April 2004

Ball retains spring title

CHRIS Ball of 53.12 Multi Sports Won Yeovil Cycling Clubs Spring Ten-Mile Time Trial for the second year running.
He recorded 20 mins 23 secs to finish more than a minute clear of second-placed Timmy Little (LuKRacing.net) who clocked 21:42. The event was switched from the usual Podimore
A303-based course to the A361 Frome bypass because of police reservations about cyclists using the A303.
Somerset Road Clubs Jon Wynn was third with 21:49, Yeovil’s Chris Absolom came forth in 22:02, David Keene (Bristol South) was fifth with 22:06 and Andy Millward (Yeovil CC) finished sixth with 22:11.
Judith Priest (Bristol South) was fastest woman, clocking 25:46. Kyle Tilley (LuKRacing.net) was best junior, managing 25:32, and Mike Lawrence (Clevedon) was top veteran on age standard with plus-6.49. Yeovil took the team prize with Absolom, Millward and Mike Loader managing 22:55.
Yeovil’s evening time-trial series got under way with a five-miler on the B3151 Camel Cross-Yeovilton-Northover-and-back course. Royal Marine Stuart Dodd, a triathlete, was fastest, recording 11:52 from Hugo Baldacchino (12:15), Loader (12:17), Shaun Walsh (12:28), John Sharp (12:42) and Chris Fendt (12:53).
Twenty riders took part.

29th April 2004

Veteran victor of Arrow 25

VETERAN Ray Hughes of Clarence Wheelers came out on top in the Bournemouth Arrow 25 on the Upton bypass near Poole. He recorded an impressive 51 mins 1 sec.
Chris Absolom was best of the Yeovil team, clocking 55:03 for 15th place. Club-mates Andy Millward (18th with 55:37), John Clemit (30th with 57:58) and Hugo Baldacchino (37th with a personal-best 58:44) followed.
Millward turned the tables in the following Yeovil five-miler, clocking 11:16 to win from Absolom (11:46). Tim Reeves (Somerset RC) was third with 12:03, Yeovil’s Mike Loader fourth in 12:28, club-mate Phill Waites fifth with 13:14 and Chards Dean Ward sixth in 13:18.

6th May 2004

Time-trialists scoop second team award

by Garry Mitchener
CORRESPONDENT
email sportsdesk@westgaz.co. uk

YEOVIL Cycling Clubs time-trialists took their second team award of the season - at the CC Weymouth event.
The ten-mile race was staged on a windswept A352 Owermoigne to Winfrith course, the conditions keeping times down. Most riders were two or three minutes off their best.
Poole veteran Terry Icke was fastest, recording 22 mins 55 secs, with Yeovils Mike Loader second in 23:10 and club-mate Andy Millward (23:19) third. James Hector was the third counter in the Yeovil team, clocking 24:41, in 11th place. And Yeovil’s Dave Driver was 15th with 26:00 which placed him third veteran on age standard.
Local riders featured in the results of the second round of the Ilton Circuit Racing Series at Merryfield Aerodrome. In the elite, first and second category race Team Alcon-Bianchi riders Greg Sandy of 'Taunton and Graeme Lackford of Yeovil broke away from the main field in the early stages of the 56km event.
Working well together they held off the chasing pack to finish in that order. The only serious' challenge came from a small group led by the Yeovil clubs Chris Absolom who took third place. Yeovil’s John Clemit finished in the main bunch. The third-category race was a triumph for Chards Rex Faced who won the 46km event with a lone breakaway. Yeovil’s Dave Walters was fifth and club-mate Brian Pearse was in the bunch.
Absolom rode his new time-trial machine to win a Yeovil five-miler staged in windy conditions. He clocked 1 1:28. Shaun Walsh (12:15) was second and Hugo Baldacchino (12:24)
thirds Tor 2000 rider Richard Smith was fourth with 13:06, Yeovil’s Chris Fendt fifth in 13:08 and Tor 2000's Steve Noyce sixth (13:10). Twenty riders took part.

20th May 2004

Riders struggle against wind on return journey

THE Frome & District Wheelers Ten at Maiden Bradley, between Mere and Frome, saw riders struggling into a headwind on the return leg of the traditional out-and-home course.
Winner Darren Willetts (LUC Racing.net) recorded 21 mins 36 secs while Mike Loader was best Yeovil rider, posting 22:53 for fourth place. Yeovils Chris Absolom was seventh (23:25) and Shaun Walsh 14th (24:23).
Dave Driver was Yeovil’s only representative in the Wessex Veterans 25 on a course based near Thruxton, Hampshire. He clocked 59:58 - his first time under the hour in his comeback season. Driver was placed 21st behind Winner Ray Hughes (Clarence Wheelers) who recorded 51:32.
Seven Yeovil riders contested the Poole Wheelers Ten on the A35 in Dorset. Loader was fastest Yeovil rider, clocking 20:40 - his best of the season - for fifth. Absolom was 15th with 21:29, Walsh 39th in 22:23 James Hector 40th with 22:25, Hugo Baldacchino 52nd on 22:57 and James Booth 71st with 24:00. Winner was Chris Ball (53.12 Multisports) with a course-record of 19:20.

10th June 2004

Lackford pipped to national medal

by Garry Mitchener
CORRESPONDENT
e-mail sportsdesk@westgaz. co. uk

THERE was a strong local representation in the Cycling Time Trials National 50-Mile Championship in north Devon on Sunday.
The event was not fully-subscribed with 90 riders from a possible 120 in the mens competition and only 20 taking part in the women’s event. The course on the A377 Barnstaple to Exeter stretch is not one of the fastest but a fair test compared to the dual-carriageway events.
Defending champion Michael Hutchinson (Team MDT Giant) mastered the windy conditions. He recorded 1 hr 46 mins 9 secs to retain his title, outpacing his nearest rival Matt Bottrill (Jim Walker RT) by three minutes. Taunton’s Greg Sandy took the bronze medal, clocking 1 :50:38 and leading Team Alcan Bianchi to victory in the team award. Yeovil rider Graeme Lackford just missed a team medal, recording 2:00:56 to finish fourth counter in the Alcan team.
Chris Absolom was the Yeovil clubs best finisher with 2:01:31. Other Yeovil men were James Hector (2:09:00), Andy Millward (2:12:08) and Chris Fendt (2:26:57). Yeovils Rachael Clay rode well in her first 50 to record 2:25:26 for 14th place in the women’s title-race.
Closer to home, the Yeovil club promoted their annual John Andrews Memorial Road Race on a new course - Long Sutton-Upton-Huish-Long Sutton. The 65-mile event was contested by 45 riders but misfortune overtook the local hopes. Yeovil’s Dave Walters was involved in a crash and Chards in-form comeback rider Paul Barratt, who won the race in 1985, punctured.
There were frequent attacks, mainly solo. But a duo of Dave Baker (Ritchey-Cycle 0ps) and Andy Holmes (Mid Devon) did gain 45 seconds at one stage. The decisive move came inside the last mile when Chippenham’s Neil Copeman jumped away and the hesitation in the bunch gave him the gap which he held to the line.
Dave Baronowski (Midridge CRT) led the bunch from James Britton (Severn RC), D. Osborne (Sodbury Cycle Sport), M. Gibbs (Cardiff Gif) and C. Turner (Loughborough Students).
James Denslow (Tor 2000) was best junior, in tenth place.
The Yeovil Thursday-evening time-trial series is now back to the original format of ten-mile events on the Podimore course. And last week Lackford (Team Alcan Bianchi) was fastest rider with 21 mins 48 secs, followed by Absolom (22:34) and Yeovils Shaun Walsh (23:06). Mark Kurpyta (Somerset RC) was fourth in 23:18, Chris Vellacott (Royal Navy) fifth with 24:51 and Chards Dean Ward sixth in 25:06.

24th June 2004

Yeovil triumph in own promotion

by Garry Mitchener
CORRESPONDENT
e-mail sportsdesk@westgaz.co. uk

YEOVIL Cycling Club took the team award in their own 25-mile time-trial promotion. The event was held on the Podimore-Cartgate-Yeovil-South Petherton-Podimore course.
Scratchman Ray Hughes (Clarence Wheelers) showed his class with a 53 mins 42 secs ride but' the Yeovil team were well placed behind him. Mike Loader was second, recording 55:54, Andy Millward third with 57:28 and Nick Young seventh by clocking 1:00:22. .
Brian Newton (Evesham 84 District) was fastest veteran on age standard, clocking 58:24 in fourth place and beating the age standard for a 65-year-old by 21.06. Peter Vincent (North Devon Wheelers) was best under-16 with 1:04:04.
Other Yeovil riders to complete the event were James Hector (1:00:24), Dave Driver (1:01:54), Hugo Baldacchino (1:02:36), John Booth (1:04:15) and John Clemit (1:12:28). The latter had a late start of 8.45am due to his frame cracking before the off.
Shaun Walsh was not so fortunate - he crashed heavily when a weld fractured on his aerodynamic handlebars just 200 yards from the finish at Podimore. He was taken to hospital and was released after treatment. Father-and-son Chard Wheelers Doug and Dean Ward clocked 1:11:58 and 1:03:37 respectively.
In the Taunton Vale Cycle Racing Association four-up team time-trial at Merryfield airfield near Ilton, 20 teams faced wet and windy conditions as they covered the three-mile perimeter track six times. Yeovil Youth - a tongue-in-cheek name as only one rider is aged under 40 - were fastest, the team of Chris Absolom, Nick Evans, Loader and Millward recording 44:08.
Chard Wheelers Flintstones were second with 47:03 followed by the Tor 200o team Tor, made up of James Denslow, Steve Noyce, Jon Opie and Richard Smith, in 47:56.
The Yeovil Inveterates team comprised David Notley, Walsh and Young. Their fourth rider, Dave Walters, had not recovered from a road-race crash but they still managed 50:01 for sixth place. The B Team of John Clemit, Chris Fendt, Hector and Ion Sharp were ninth with 55:34 and Yeo, comprising Ion Booth, Robin Everson and junior Dan Waite, clocked 55:39 for tenth place.
Absolom came out on top with 23:17 in a very hard event in the Thursday-evening ten-mile series. Millward was second with 24:01 followed by Royal Marine Stuart Dodd in 25:18, Clemit with 25:21, Weymouth’s Paul Gould on 25.22 and Notley with 26:43.

15th July 2004

Opie top junior in South West meeting

YEOVIL CC hosted the third meeting of the TVCRA circuit race series at Merryfield airfield near Ilminster.
The three-race event incorporated the South West Circuit Race Championship for senior and junior riders. Both races were contested over ten laps of the perimeter track, a total of 51km.
Only five juniors competed so they rode with the third-category seniors. A three-man breakaway went clear on the first lap - and as they were all third-category riders the juniors
and some of their senior club-mates let them go. Team Tor 2000's leaderJIon Opie took the sprint for fourth place and the junior championship. The breakaway riders - Carl Crabtree (Wadlsa1l RC), Martin Burrows (Mid Devon CC) and Adrian Clode (Sid Valley CC) - worked well together and finished in that order a half-minute clear of the bunch. Dean Robson (Somerset RC) was fifth and second' junior, with Chris Edwards third junior.
The senior championship was controlled by seven-man Team Alcon-Bianchi. Their leader Greg Sandy took the honours from George Richardson (Ritchy-Cycle Ops) and Alan Griffiths (Severn RC). Gerry Bowditch (Ritchey-Cycle Ops) was fourth but took the championship bronze because Griffiths was from outside the South West Division.
Nigel Polkinhorne (Alcan) was fifth and Rex Faced (Chard Wheelers) sixth. Team Alcan rider Graeme Lackford, based in Yeovil, took the last ranking point in tenth place. The Yeovil clubs only representative, Dave Walters - newly-promoted to second category - finished just outside the top ten.

29th July 2004

Yeovil’s Pym shows fire in two-day Dragon event

STEVE Pym of Yeovil CC performed well in the Veterans League Dragon two day event at Resolven, West Glamorgan.
The competition started with a 3 5 mile time-trial and was followed by a 43 mile road race. Riding 1n the B category 45-49)/ears section Pym was second in the time-trial and fourth in the road stage to give him second overall at the end of day one. In the final 56-mile road stage he finished well up to retain second overall.
Both the time-trial and road stages were quite flat through the Vale of Neath - and the lightly-built Pym would have preferred some hills where he could have attacked the powerful class winner Steve Cottrell who revelled in the high-speed flat course.
Yeovil’s Mike Loader won the Severn Road Club ten-mile time-trial on the A38 north of Bristol. Despite a strong wind became within 11 seconds off the course record, clocking 22 mins 22 secs.
There was success in the Bournemouth Jubilee 25 on the Canford A3049-A35 Upton Bypass for Yeovil’s Nick Young who recorded a personal-best 58:20. Club-mate Hugo Baldacchino clocked 1 hr 4 secs.

29th July 2004

Somerton Rider blazes trail in US

Somerton-based Douglas Northcott, a Yeovil cycling club member, is making a name for himself in the USA, riding track and road races for the Alto Velo professional team
In the Pennsylvania State track championship, he took the bronze medal in both the kilo and 4000 m. He has also been successful on the road, especially in the town centre races which are very popular in the States.
Closer to home, the Frome and District Wheelers 10 mile time trial on the B3092 near Maiden Bradley attracted an entry of 50 riders. Mike Loader was Yeovil's best, recording 22 minutes 48 seconds for fifth place overall and first better,. James Hector was 12 in 23:56, Shaun Walsh 13th with 24:08 and Dave Driver 17th (24:34).
Tor 2000 junior James Denslow, riding a fixed wheel track bike was fastest in a 5 miler on the Yeovilton-Northover course. He recorded 11:35. Other leading riders were Steve Pym (Yeovil, 11:46, Walsh (11:52), Richard Smith (Tor 2000, 12:21) and Emyr Derfel (Cardiff, 12:30).

16th September 2004

Sandy speeds to time-trial triumph

YEOVIL Cycling Club’s late season ten-mile time rial promotion last Saturday afternoon was switched from the usual Podimore course to the A361 Frome Bypass, Nunney Catch to Berkeley Marsh, following refusal by the Highways Agency to allow safety signs to be placed on the A303.
There was rain before the start which probably accounted for some of the 20 non-starters from the 48 entries. Greg Sandy was the new over-35 Masters Road Champion, recording 20.35 to beat Yeovil’s Mike Loader 21.36 and David Kiddell (Cavalier CC) 21.39. Chris Absolom (Yeovil CC) was fourth with 21.50 and Chards Paul Barrett fifth with 21.54.
Dave Driver (Yeovil CC) was best veteran on age standard with a plus of 6.52 and Peter Vincent (North Devon Wheelers) was best junior with 22.12. Yeovil also took the team award with Andy Millward the third counter clocking 22.12.
The Andover Wheelers popular Weyhill Weekend of time trials also suffered from the bad weather as the Saturday 10 milers were called off as the heavy rain and resulting spray made competition unsafe on the A303 near Thruxton.
Sunday was a lot better and Loader was second in the veterans 25 recording 54.26 while James Hector clocked 59.52 for 17th place. Ray Hughes won with 52.19.

30th September 2004

Veteran Hughes is faster than senior winner

by Garry Mitchener
CORRESPONDENT
email sportsdesk@westgaz.co. uk

FASTEST veteran in the Elm Tree Wheelers 25 on the Upton bypass near Poole was Ray Hughes. The Clarence Wheeler recorded 51 mins 50 secs in the category for those aged over 40 to see him finish 22 secs faster than senior-race winner Steve Walkling (VC ST Raphael).
Mike Loader was Yeovils best rider, clocking 55:17 for sixth place in the veterans event. Club-mate Dave Driver was 23rd in 1:00:02.
In the seniors section - for those aged 18-40 - Yeovil’s John Clemit was 17th with 58:20, Nick Young 21st with 59:27 and Hugo Baldachino 27th with 1:00:04.
The 2004 Thursday-evening time-trial series run by Yeovil is coming to an end, with just two more events. These are only open to Yeovil club members and start at 6.45pm to ensure there is enough light.
Last weeks race was changed to a five-miler on the B3151 Yeovilton-Northover Road, as are the remaining events. Andy Millward lowered the course record to 11:12 ahead of Chard Wheelers Paul Barrett and Rex Facey, with 11:17 and 11:20 respectively. Somerset Road Clubs Rick Johnson was fourth with 11:37, while Clemit came in with 11:59 and James Hector managed 12:02.
The annual ten-mile Handicap Shield competition is the highlight of the Thursday-evening time-trial series for some club members. The riders last three times recorded in the series are averaged and an allowance is given against the scratch riders time. The winner is usually one recording a personal-best time - but this year there were four personal-bests.
Jo Callow won the shield, clocking a personal-best 28:53 adjusted to 19:08, from Jon Booth (23:27 to 19:47), Paul Sparks (26:15 to 20:24), Nick Young (23:30 to 20:55) and David Notley (24:31 to 21 :09). Scratch man Chris Absolom’s time was 21:18, giving him sixth place in the handicap.
Absolom was the quickest on the night, eight seconds faster than Graeme Lackford (Team Alban-Bianchi). Millward finished in third spot, clocking 22:00. Paul Barratt (Chard Wheelers) had 22:14, Johnson recorded 22:28 and Tom Cox (Somerset RC) posted 23:22 for sixth place.
Former Yeovil club time-trial champion Driver continued his comeback in the Bournemouth Jubilee 50 where he was best veteran on age standard. Recording 2:12:48 on a very windy morning he beat his standard by 29:35

20th August 2004

Cycling expert Danny dies after collision

by Martin Ritchie
Staff Reporter
e-mail newsdesk@westgaz.co.uk

TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-known Yeovil cycle shop owner who died after his bike was in collision with a car.
David (Danny) Ellery, who was 62, ran PDE Cycles on Wessex Road, Yeovil with his wife Pat. The keen cyclist died late last Wednesday night, from injuries sustained ten days previously in a road accident involving a Toyota Landcruiser and a Morris Minor south of Langport.
From early investigations police believe there was a collision between the two cars and the Morris Minor collided with the bicycle.
Garry Mitchener, a former president of Yeovil Cycling Club who knew Mr Ellery as a friend and cycling partner since the 1970s, said: Danny really lived for cycling. He just loved bikes and talking about bikes. His shop was the kind of place you could drop in just for a chat and he would tell you all about the latest equipment even if he knew you weren’t buying.
Mr Ellery had only recently fully recovered from a crash in his beloved Majorca last year. For a long time he was a member of Yeovil Cycling Club and Wessex Cycling Club but in the mid-80s he and his wife founded their own cycling club, VC Camelot.
He was very keen to bring youngsters into the world of cycling, including his daughter Georgina, who lives at West Chinnock and eventually competed for the Great Britain track team.
Richard Wolferstan, also a former member of Yeovil Cycling Club, said: He was one of those people that was the backbone of cycling in this area. He was very well-known and well respected.
You meet many people on the road, none nicer or more honest or decent than Danny.
Before opening the cycle shop in 1979, Mr Ellery had worked and travelled widely as a computer engineer, including a short stint at Westland.
His wife Pat, whom he married in 1963, said: He was quite a private man. His whole life revolved around his family and his bikes. He cycled from his home at Charlton Mackrell to Yeovil every day, but on that day he had popped out to get some time away from the shop.
After the accident he was more worried about the state of his bike than anything else. That was so typical of him, she said.
The funeral will take place at Yeovil crematorium at 2pm next Tuesday.
THE accident occurred at 9.25am on Friday 27 August on the road between Huish Episcopi and Muchelney. Anyone who witnessed the collision or who has any information is asked to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or call the Collision Investigation Unit via the force non-emergency number 0845 4567000.

CYCLE MAD: David (Danny) Ellery combining two of his passions cycling and Majorca.

16th September 2004

Nine times a champion

CHRIS Absolom took his ninth Yeovil Cycling Club hillclimb title with a blistering ascent of High Ham hill in the annual inter-club anti-gravity event.
Riding a fixed-wheel track bike he recorded 2 mins 58 secs for the three-quarters-of-a-mile climb to beat Toby Creighton by two seconds. Guest rider Graeme Lackford (Team Alca-Bianchi) was third in 3:09.
Lackford already had a hillclimb victory to his credit but the Mid-Devon Road Club event at Bovey Tracy was a lot different, featuring a longer hill where he was the only rider inside 15 minutes.
Yeovil riders filled places five to eight. John Clemit managed 3:14, Hugo Baldacchino recorded 3:21, Steve Pym posted 3:29 and Dan Whaites had 3:37.
Other south Somerset finishers were Dean Ward (Chard Wheelers) with 3:39, Paul Sparks (Yeovil) in 3:59 and Mark German (Chard Wheelers) with 4:30.

27th October 2004