2023 WECC RIDERS IN OPEN TIME TRIALS
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
|
Karl Roberton |
5:02.7 |
14 |
It was very good racing conditions for this morning's event, warm sunshine and a very light southerly wind which greeted the 31 entrants. Held on the usual GH/92 Steyning course. I managed a new PB with 5.02.72 (even if it was by only 2 seconds) which placed me 14th overall. The winner was Matthew Ferguson from Redhill CC with a very quick 4.04.71. As my final event of the year, it was nice to finish on a PB.
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Karl Roberton |
54:46 |
|
+12:45 |
|||
Ian Cheesman |
57:07 |
|
+11:45 |
Early on 24th September 2023 Karl and I took to the start line of the Paceline 25 mile TT on the P881/25 course on the A3, Whilst it was warmer than the day before by some margin, it was fairly breezy but dry. Karl was still in full season race mode but I, on the other hand hadn't raced since the end of August and had been on a very indulgent holiday and limited training so was a few kilo's over my race weight and the body had forgotten how to suffer!
That said Karl posted a 54.46 and I posted a 57.07. Both of us were pretty happy with our rides which were course PB's by 9 and 2 seconds respectively and I was chuffed to record my fastest solo 25 of the season.
Karl is doing the SCA/WECC Hill climb on 30th September but has already sown up the Points, SPOCO and Vets BBAR for the 2023 season and I am finished for 2023. It should be noted that Karl has had an incredible season with some stand out results, having pretty much swept the board for trophies and I just hope that we will see a few more WECC riders taking part for 2024.
Next stop the Annual club dinner on Friday 10th November 2023 at The Fox, Patching so keep an eye on your e-mails!
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Karl Roberton |
20:51 |
|
+5:50 |
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Karl Roberton |
54:13 |
44 |
+13:18 |
Held on the F2A/25 course in excellent weather conditions, very light north easterly wind, albeit 28°C temperatures. I finished with a time of 54:13 to finish 44th overall, a little disappointing considering the conditions.
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Karl Roberton |
58:56 |
3 |
+8:35 |
|||
Ian Cheesman |
1:01:16 |
4 |
+7:36 |
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Karl Roberton |
23:16 |
4 |
+3:25 |
|||
Ian Cheesman |
25:08 |
9 |
+2:04 |
August Bank holiday weekend saw the annual extravaganza of the SCA Sporting 10 and 25 mile TT's (incorporating the WECC events). Both on the lumpy course around Ifold and Kirdford with possibly some of the worst road surfaces in Sussex!
Both events had to be amended due to part of the course being closed due to roadworks - A theme of 2023 it seems! The course now took riders down Foxbridge Lane, a narrow road which was also the nominated diversion route for all traffic. The 10 mile was run on Saturday 26th August and the 25 mile on Monday 28th August.
Karl and I were the only two WECC riders and provided we both finished both events course PB's would be a given due to the amended courses.
The weather was reasonably decent on both days, apart from a short rain shower on the Saturday at the halfway point and due to the sheltered nature of the course the light winds had little effect.
Whilst Cheesy finished the 10 mile course, his race effectively ended at the 7 mile point due to getting stuck behind a Horse lorry for the entire length of Foxbridge Lane.
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Ian Cheesman |
59:53 |
9 |
+8:59 |
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Karl Roberton |
34:01 |
8 |
+6:10 |
|||
Ian Cheesman |
35:20 |
14 |
+5:39 |
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Ian Cheesman |
23:02 |
|
+4:10 |
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Ian Cheesman |
4:23:24 |
10 |
+30:10 |
I was the only nutter, I mean, WECC rider to enter the ESCA 100 mile TT. I did it unsupported so took Karl's idea of a Camelbak bladder down the front of the skin suit with lots of energy drink and many gels taped to the top tube. I thought we'd got away with the weather as the winds were much lighter than forecast and the rain stayed away. However, at about 2 hours in the winds began strengthening so the second half was much harder. This was my first ever 100 mile TT so pretty pleased to place 10th with 4.23.24 but mostly pleased to have finished it. I would say unscathed, but as you can imagine, the body is not so happy at present! I was even more pleased when I realised that not one rider broke the 4 hour mark and the winning time was 4.02.43.
A huge shout out to Rick Hughes who travelled over to shout encouragement on the course and even took some video footage.
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Karl Roberton |
53:39 |
24 |
+13:52 |
This morning I was back on the A428 just outside Cambridge. The event had a full field of 125 riders plus reserves (sadly a rarity these days). The wind was again a strong south westerly breeze, but the rain did hold off. I stopped the clock on 53:39, which knocked 1:23 off my PB from earlier in the year. Paul Burton won the event with great ride of 47:30. Disappointingly for the organiser there were 30 DNS, considering the conditions weren't great, did seems an excessive number. Looking forward to a week off the bike on holiday with the family at the end of next week.
|
SHORTENED EVENT (15 MILES) |
I was the only WECC rider taking the start of the SCA 30 Mile Championship (incorporating the WECC 30 Mile competition) as Karl was up Cambridge way to ride the fast 25 mile course where he set his great 50 time a few weeks ago.
The rain stopped, albeit the roads were wet and a blustery WSW wind was present and gusting making some parts of the course very "exciting!". For the second year running, last minute road works meant that the course was shortened to 15 miles so 2023 will see no 30 Mile award being given. I did a 36.20 placing 7th and just outside evens pace. A reasonable ride but my head was set for a 30 as was my prep. Andy Critchlow won the event with a 30.11.
Riders |
Time |
|
Pos |
|
Ian Cheesman & Karl Roberton |
57:11 |
3 |
The weather was dry but there was a brisk WSW wind with gusts meaning that half of the course was in to a block headwind but the benefit of a tailwind for the other half.(I know which I preferred). We posted a 57.11 which placed us 3rd in the 2-up category but not quite sure where we placed over the entire field but am confident of a top 10 finish overall. We were both pretty pleased with the result but I was massively disappointed that there was no cake at HQ afterwards which I find completely unacceptable- I may have to send a strongly worded e-mail!!
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Karl Roberton |
21:25 |
41 |
+5:16 |
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Ian Cheesman |
58:16 |
4 |
+10:36 |
This morning Cheesy was the lone WECC rider entered in the BECC 25 Mile Time trial. Conditions were very good with a light breeze and even the forecast rain held off during the event. Cheesy did 58.16 which is a course PB by 3 seconds and placed 4th in a fairly small field with the winner being Simon McNamara with a time of 51.26.
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Karl Roberton |
1:50:48 |
7 |
+26:58 |
I think that we can confidently say that he is well on the way to winning the Richard Shipton Fastest 50 Trophy.
Race report from Karl:
For my third and final 50 this year I travelled to Cambridge to ride the Finsbury Park 50, held on the F2/50 course. The course is based on the A428 and involves 4 out and back loops. The calm weather from the previous weeks SCA 50 was replaced with a strong easterly breeze, making hard going on the outward leg, but almost enjoyable coming back at 30+ mph. I got to the 25 mile point in 55:00, so knew I was on for a new PB, if I could hold it together in the second half. Unfortunately, the 3rd and 4th outward legs took their toll and I faded a somewhat in the second half. I managed to stop the clock on 1:50:48, which was good enough for 7th overall and took 2 & half minutes off my PB. Lee Williams from FTP RT won the event with 1:45:34. I was very happy with the time in those conditions, which helped to justify the long travel, which was longer than expected on the way home thanks to roadworks and a crash on the M25 / M23 junction.
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Karl Roberton |
1:54:32 |
7 |
+23:14 |
|||
Ian Cheesman |
2:00:37 |
10 |
+20:02 |
Race report from Cheesy:
Cheesy and Karl lined up for the 2023 edition of the SCA 50 mile championship, incorporating the club 50 competition. The weather was warm with a reasonably stiff westerly breeze making the stretch to Beeding hard work but with newly laid tarmac on A24 north of Washington the conditions were pretty good.
Karl did a great ride on this lumpy course with a 1.54.32 which is a course PB and he placed 7th. Cheesy was really hoping to break the 2 hour mark but didn't quite make it with a 2.00.37 and placed 10th. This was a course PB by a minute so got to be happy with that. In the words of one Del boy Trotter - "Next year Rodney ...."
The event was won by Andy Critclow with an incredible time of 1.42.21 which I'm fairly sure is a course record.
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Ian Cheesman |
2:04:20 |
2 |
+16:19 |
Cheesy was the lone WECC rider in a small field of 13 riders (10 TT and 3 Road Bike) at the SCCU 50 Mile Championships. Conditions were near perfect with a light southerly breeze and warm temperatures. The race had been moved on to the G50/13 which is pretty much 3 times around the Ashurst Circuit so a course PB by virtue of the fact that he hasn't ridden this course which as last used in 2005!
A good ride, albeit Cheesy's legs tied up a bit around 45 mile, and finished with a time of 2.04.20 which was good enough for second place. Alex Clay (Team Botteril) won the event with a great time of 1.55.35.
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Karl Roberton |
1:53:24 |
20 |
+24:22 |
He looks well set to repeat his 2008 capture of the Richard Shipton Fastest 50 Trophy.
A stiff southerly breeze (seems a permanent fixture recently) greeted the 56 riders. With Cheesy away riding a triathlon, it was just myself today. I was a bit nervous on my first 50 since 2008, but training has been going well, so I was fairly confident. I was pleased with my ride given the conditions and knocked 6 minutes of my PB. Most riders were a little down on their usual times, though Paul Burton of Paceline RT won the event with 1:39:26.
Rider |
Time |
|
Pos |
+/- |
||
Ian Cheesman |
23:22 |
10 |
+3:50 |
The late May bank holiday saw the running of the Brighton Mitre 10, Hilly 10 with many categories. Cheesy was the only WECC rider entered and arrived to a reasonably warm morning but with a very stiff and gusting Southwesterly wind. Cheesy posted a 23.22 which he was happy with, given the conditions, and the chain stayed put this time!!
The event was won in an incredible time of 19.46 but not by anybody with the surname McNamara!!