News from Lewes Wanderers

BMCC 25

Back on Sunday 11th October Calum Elms was the lone Lewes Wanderer to venture out to Loxwood, West Sussex as Brighton Mitre CC hosted an End of Season 25 around a rolling course northeast of Petworth

It was worth the trip as he powered round in 56 minutes and 17 seconds for 4th from 32 racers overall and fastest of the dozen competitors on road bikes.

Steyning Bostal Hill Climb

On Saturday 17th October Brighton Mitre hosted a pair of hill climbs effectively up either side of the same hill.  The morning’s event was the more traditional north-face of Steyning Bostal.  A trio of Lewes Wanderers took to the start line on the outskirts of the village for this roughly mile-long ramp up onto the Downs.

Peter Baker was the fastest of the three and his time of 5 minutes 35.3 seconds was good enough for 21st from the 39 entrants.  It was mighty close between the other two Wanderers as David Padwick’s 6:39.3 was just bettered by Emma Simpkins’ 6:36.7 which was good enough for 35th overall and 6th of the seven women racers.  Between them they placed 5th  in the team category.

Steyning Titch Hill Climb

Peter returned that afternoon when he was joined by Calum Elms as thirty-three riders tackled the less-conventional three-mile ascent of the same ridge, but from the opposite direction,  This is actually two-climbs-in-one as there is a short descent after the opening ramp which allows for a short recovery before the pain recommences.

Calum claimed a superb third spot on the podium as he covered the course in 9 minutes 33.2 seconds while Peter took a solid 16th position with 11:47.4

Ditchling Beacon Hill Climb

Calum and Peter were back racing the following morning as the action moved east along the South Downs and Sussex Nomads hosted a hill climb up the Ditchling Beacon climb so familiar to anyone who has completed the London-to-Brighton ride.

Calum proved the previous day’s result was certainly no fluke as he smashed the magical 5-minute barrier to finish 9th from 67 with a time of 4 minutes 58.8 seconds.

Peter took 38th with 6:29.3 while the other three Lewes riders finished line astern on the result sheet.  Alice Gilmore was 51st and 6th of the 10 women racers with 7:18.6; Emma Simpkins (7:29.3) was one place behind in each category and David Padwick 7:40.6 a further spot back.  Calum, Peter and Alice helped Lewes to take 6th team overall and fastest “Mixed Team”.