The Isle of Grain was the place to be as Medway Velo promoted its annual open ten.
Blustery conditions and the odd spot of rain greeted the early arrivals at the village hall, but the race stayed dry, although the strong crosswinds remained and provided a challenge for the riders to deal with.
As in 2015 tandem and two up events were included alongside the solo race, and velo members turned out to give the club a strong presence throughout the field.
The club demonstrated what it is all about by achieving wins for the first team and first woman with a number of riders achieving PBs or seasons best times.
In the two up event Mark Barton showed the benefit of his recent trip to Mallorca by working hard with Paul Daniel to cover the course in 26:08 and claim fourth place in the category. Carla Button and Sally Smith rode in the club’s ‘alternative’ pink kit and came home in 27:25, which made them the second placed all female team.
Mark and Paul race the two up.
Ten velo members took part in the solo section, with Dom Campbell (21:31), Steve Smith (21:32) and Matt Saywell (22:32) took victory in the team competion, Dom claiming the club championship and also recording a personal best, a great effort given the wind.
Dom and Steve also claimed fourth and fifth place in the overall race, with Matt Saywell also making the top ten by finishing ninth. James Amy was only a few seconds behind Matt (22:37) and was twelfth overall. As well as being first female Louise Mason came inside the first half of the field (24:51) whilst early starter Phil Booth was one place behind and recorded a seasons best time for a ten (24:54). Lee Kingston started in the second half of the field and held his own with a time of 25:36, whilst the first velo solo to start, Matt Nunn, prepared for his half ironman triathlon next week and came home in 26:48.
Phil battles the headwind on the way out
(photo courtesy of Dave Hayward)
Louise Mason led the way in the female competition, and afterwards admitted that her performance was ‘bang on the numbers’ with a time of 24:51. Not to be satisfied with just riding the two up, Carla and Sally went again in the solo race; Carla also took third place women (27:02) and Sally converted her track bike into a road fixie to achieve fifth place (29:54).
Sally rides the two up with Carla and then her fixie in the solo race.
(photos courtesy of Dave Hayward)
The overall event was won by James Mapley of Blazing Saddles whose time was 20:43, whilst Andrew Martin and Dan Buckley of Adalta claimed victory in the two up (21:34) and Paul Buckley and Christopher Hyde of the Wigmore CC were first tandem pair (24:21).
Overall winner James Mapley (Blazing Saddles)
(photo courtesy of Dave Hayward)
As with all promotions the success of the event came from the volunteers and organisers and Rob Kennison is to be congratulated on a superb event and was ably assisted by a large number of velo members and friends whose team effort made the event possible.
Vic Williams, Ernie Mackey, David Mackey, Rod Kennison, Tom Kennison, Tracey Daniel, Nicky Smith, Mick Florey, Michael Gore, Simon King, Kevin Attridge, Neil Ord and Spencer Stacey.
Thanks are also given to Stuart Featherstone of 4t plus and Unica Creative for designing the start sheet, and to Steven Smith of Commercial Procurement Consultancy for sponsoring the event.
A list of the provisional results can be found here on the excellent Spinwheels site.
Digi Dave Hayward took his usual excellent photos and they can be purchased here.
In the evening Phil Booth also rode in the vets league at Herne Hill velodrome and in the C races claimed fifth place in the reverse win out and third in the unknown distance.
