Wheelers back on road

FOR the first race of the North Norfolk Wheelers 2008 cycling season, 15 brave souls dusted the cobwebs off their bikes and while most were still in bed raced the 18½ miles around the hills of Weybourne and Sheringham.

No-one was expecting fast times with a strong headwind adding to the pain of the hill climbs, and the previous few weeks of bad weather curtailing the opportunity for training. But the riders proved they were a match for any conditions.

Last September, Graham Davidson beat Chris Hunt by just four seconds to take the Club Trophy, so both riders were ready for the re-match

However Hunt, after a mad dash, arrived just a few minutes before the off and this was reflected in his worst ever time for the course, while Davidson put in a personal best.

Adrian Porter, a guest rider from King's Lynn, maintained his form from last September to hold on to first place, beating Davidson by just 14 seconds.

Chris Brown, Tom Lefever and Harvey Taylor took on this course for this first time and all finished in good times.

It should be a very competitive and exciting season if the excellent turn out and fast times for the first race of the year are anything to go by and the re-run of the hilly on Tuesday, June 17, could see Will Dorsett's course record of 46min 53sec broken.

The 10 mile time trials start on Sunday, June 6 at Horsford and will follow, with very few exceptions, every Tuesday evening along the A148 from Sheringham to Holt and back.

The Wednesday and Saturday Club runs from Gibbet Lane, just off Pretty Corner, and will continue throughout the season.

Actual times: Porter 50.00, Davidson (PB) 50.14, Lefever 54.30, Hunt 54.39, Taylor 57.13, Reynolds 57.41, Bailey 57.49, Platts 58.29, Clark 60.33, Brown 62.55, Griffiths 63.14, Etheridge 64.26, McVeigh 65.02, Holland 65.56, Foster 67.15.

Handicap times: Davidson 50.15, Bailey 50.19, Clark 51.33, Porter 52.07, Platts 52.31, Griffiths 52.54, Hunt 54.30.