No wind, no rain - sun finally shines on Lewes club's cycling trials

Gavin Richards shone in the latest Wanderers time trial

After two of the first four rounds were cancelled in bad weather and the other two were run in changeable conditions, round five of Lewes Wanderers’ series of 10-mile time trials took place on a beautiful early summer evening.

There was even a rare tailwind to push the 16 starters back down the A22 from the Boship Roundabout towards the East Hoathly finish line.

Winner for the second week in a row, and with a third PB for the distance in as many events, was Joe Benians who beat his performance of two days earlier by 25 seconds and beat the 21-minute barrier for the first time with 20.57.

Reversing podium order from a week earlier, Gavin Richards secured runners-up spot in 23.08 ahead of a guest rider, last week’s second-placer, Peter Baker in 23.43 and Mike Hannay in 23.51.

Sixth-placed Graham Knowles (25.06) took 32 seconds off his PB and pipped Ed Tuckley (seventh in 25.07) and Vince Busk (eighth, 25.08).

Also knocking on the 25-minute barrier was ninth-placed and fastest female Kate Thomas who reduced her PB by nine seconds to 25.17.

A quintet of Wanderers took part in a Brighton Mitre CC 10-miler near Steyning. Coming 15th overall and fastest female was Sally Turner in 22.11; six seconds and a couple of places ahead of trainSharp team-mate Paul Fletcher in 17th with 20.54.

Nick Dwyer was seventh in 20.54, while Darren Haynes (43rd in 24.18) and Allan Smith (65th, 27.20) were also in the 71-strong field.

Fletcher had been in action when he and Richard Burchett took part in round two of the South East Road Race League series at the Cyclopark on the outskirts of Gravesend. A good turn-out of 47 racers in their category ensured hard racing and Burchett narrowly (38th) beat Fletcher (42nd).

In the more confined banking of Preston Park Velodrome in Brighton, Peter Baker had his best night of the season for the latest round of the Sussex Cycle Racing League (SCRL) Track League.

Against eight other competitors in four events he placed fourth in the points race, sixth in win and out, second in devil-take-the-hindmost and third in the distance race. He returned two nights later for the SCRL Friday Summer Circuits, but could only manage 13th in the 40-minute race.

Also competing was Anya Tamplin (Hunt Bike Wheels), fifth from 12 in the women’s version.

PAGET COHEN