News from Lewes Wanderers

South Downs Hill Climb Series

The week after the nine event South Downs Hill Climb series concluded the series results were finalised and Lewes Wanderers were not just represented, but among the medals.

In the “Queen” category for women aged between 18 and 39 Alice Gilmore claimed a share of the silver medal thanks to her 2nd place up Firle Beacon, 3rd up Butts Brow and runner-up on Ditchling Beacon.

Emma Simpkins took a share of the bronze medal in the “Duchess” category for women over 40 and won in her age group thanks to 4th place up Brantridge Lane, 2nd up Firle, 5th on Steyning Bostal and 4th up Ditchling Beacon.

Also winning in their age category and claiming a superb bronze medal in the “Duke” class for men over 40, but against men decades younger was Peter Baker who scored points in every round.

Competing only once, but claiming 3rd up Firle was Gareth Ormerod who placed 22nd overall in the same category.  David Padwick (4 events) and Alex Steer (1 event) tied for joint 40th in the same class.

Fifth in the highly contested “King” category for men between 18 and 39 was Calum Elms, whose highlight from a quartet of events was third spot up Titch Hill.

East Kent Cyclo Cross

On Sunday 18th October Daniel Selmes headed way out east for the second round of the East Kent Cyclo Cross League.  This was held in the grounds of the Duke of Yorks School in Dover and promoted by VC Deal.  In wet and muddy conditions for the race for men in their 40s Daniel managed to complete four laps and thoroughly enjoyed racing to 40th place, two laps down on the winner.

L&SE Cyclo-Cross Rd 6

The storms of the previous two days gave way to a beautifully sunny if blowy day on Sunday 25th October as Southborough & District Wheelers hosted the sixth round of the Challenge Tyres London & South East Cyclo Cross League.

Despite the heavy rain the day before the course they had laid out around the leafy grounds of Somerhill School in Tonbridge was largely dry and firm with only a handful of shady hairpins slick with mud.

A quintet of Lewes Wanderers lined up amid a stacked grid of 85 budding riders in the 45-minute long race for men over 50 that began shortly before 2 o’clock.

From the third row Dan Street narrowly avoided a crash involving other riders to lie in 11th place among the Vet 50s at the end of the first of half-a-dozen laps.  A slow speed off on one of those treacherous bends dropped him to 13th the next time around, but he fought back to 12th where he stayed until the chequered flag despite another off at exactly the same spot on the last circuit.

Darren Haynes only just made the start and perhaps wasn’t at his best given such imperfect preparation.  From 46th at the end of lap 1 he was demoted four spots on lap 2 and another place on each of the next two circuits, but posted his fastest lap the last time around to fight back three spots to 49th from 64 finishers, a lap down on the winner.

Not far behind was Richard Burchett who started steady to place 59th at the end of lap 1.  He then got into his rhythm and improved to 58th then 54th on the third circuit and crossed the line in 55th.

In the race for men over 70 Stephen Burgess led from the starting whistle to the conclusion of 5 laps despite a flat front tyre for much of the last circuit.  Similarly in the race for men in their 60s Paul Horta-Hopkins, riding for the host club, lay 6th as he crossed the finish line for the first time and every lap after that.

Daniel Selmes retired on the third lap of the earlier race for men in their 40s.