Medway Velo rider Steve Smith earned the title of 50-mile champion for the club on Sunday, 20 July 2014 at the Veteran Time Trial Association’s 50-mile time trial held in Brenzett, Ashford.
The flat court saw the riders starting on the A2070 before heading towards Camber, Lydd and Rye where they completed two 22 mile circuits before returning to the A2070 for a flat fast finish. Conditions were good with the wind getting up whilst most the riders were on the second circuit.
The club had 8 riders taking part, Steve Smith, Rob Kennison, Shaun Robinson, Lee Pilcher, Alex Woolley, Sally Smith, Lee Kingston and Ernie Mackey.
Steve was first home in a time of 1.59.26, taking the MVC crown as overall champion. 2nd and Vet’s champ was Rob Kennison in 2.03.50. Despite crashing Shaun Robinson was 3rd in 2.09.12. The next home in 4th was Lee Pilcher in a time of 2.10.36 and 5th by the narrowest of margins was Alex in 2.10.39. Sally took the ladies title in 2.19.07 (6th lady overall). Lee Kingston just missed out on a 20mph average but still rode a very respectable 2.30.17 and 74-year-old Ernie once again demonstrating that age is no object completing in 2.45.The event was won by the super speedy Kevin Tye of Velo Refined Aerosmiths in 1.46.45!
Good ride by Alex Woolley, 5th in 2.10.39
Following the ride Steve said: ‘After over-cooking it and not eating drinking enough in the ESCA 50 last weekend and blowing up at 35miles I was determined to get a good ride in.
‘I paced myself perfectly to 25miles in just over an hour with the intention of picking up the pace over the second 25. I managed to keep up a good average and creep under 2 hour pace. Knowing the last 3 miles up from the Brenzett roundabout were hard I held back a bit and push on over the final 3 miles keeping the speed over 26 mph.
‘I finished strong, it was not a pb, I was 32secs out, but I’m happy with my ride after an up and down season.’
The event also a good one for Sally, as within one week she has beaten her personal best times over 10, 25 and 50-miles. On Sunday 13 July she rode a 1.08.48 at the Gravesend CC 25-mile time-trial, then on Thursday she finally made it into the 25-minute club for 10-miles completing the PMR@Toachim House 10 in 25.24. Her ride of 2.19.07 in the 50 was an improvement of around 4-minutes on her previous attempts.
3 PB’s in a week, Smith is on form at last!
Sally said: ‘It was a frustrating start to the season as I knew I was going well but had a lot of mishaps and under-par performances so I am both delighted and relived to finally be able to put in the times that I know that I have been capable of. The club have been so supportive and the encouragement from my team-mates spurred me on no end.’
