Lewes Wanderers in fine form at Steyning and beyond

Ed Tuckley did best of the two Lewes Wanderers to take part stopping the watch after 5min 45.2sec of lung-busting effort to finish in 25th of 35. Seven places behind was Roger Hutchings in 6:07.8.

With the London and South East Cyclo Cross League still having not resumed, Wanderers looking for off-road racing action had to go elsewhere.

Darren Haynes headed about as far east as possible to take part in round one of the East Kent Cyclo Cross League at Sandwich Technology.

With Storm Alex due and a number of additional procedures to adhere to keep the participants safe, such as a pit area for spare bikes or equipment, only 39 other men in their 40s took to the start line alongside Darren.

The wet weather didn’t appear until the second half of the 45-minute race, but without many appearances in this league Haynes wasn’t afforded a high grid position and had to start in the rear half of the grid.

He put in some consistently quick laps to pick up a few more up until the closing stages when the rain arrived slowing just about everyone as the mainly grass course became increasingly slippery, but definitely suiting some more than others.

On the last lap he put in one last effort to overhaul the rider in front. He didn’t manage it, but his effort was sufficient to cause a faster rider closing him down to overcook it on the last bend allowing Haynes to cross the line in 18th from the 39 finishers.