Tom runs away with trophy at season opener
Tom Knight was the first Medway Velo to bring home some silverware when he took part in the Cyclopark Duathlon on Sunday 10 February in Gravesend.
64 competitors lined up on a blustery start line ready to run 6.5km, bike 20km and run 3.5km again.
Tom did well on the first run which took in a lap of the Cyclopark before heading out on the local footpath. Heading into transition he was placed 15th overall.
Onto the bike he made up several places before heading back into transition for the final out and back run. He held his position and ran well finishing in 1hr 21mins 14secs. This was good enough to see him take the trophy home for 3rd place in the male vets competition and 10th overall.
Mud, Sweat and Gears at the Team Champs
Four velos travelled to Ardingly showground to take part in the London Cyclocross League Team Championships. The hotly contested competition sees teams from over the region come together to battle it out for top honours.
The event started with a warm up race of 15-minutes to grid the riders for the main event. The course was very twisty with a muddy technical section through the woods before more turns through three equine sand schools. This provided a number of thrills and spills as riders struggled to stay upright. The Velo team was made up of Rob Kennison, Phil Booth, Steve Smith and Sally Smith. All four finished well in their respective categories on the first event.
Onto the main race of 30-minutes over the same course the riders were bustling for position some getting stuck behind a few fallers in the woods. Rob got into a fast group of riders and stuck with them throughout the race before pulling ahead at the finish to take 10th in his age group V50 men. Steve had a mechanical which slowed him down considerably, but as ever raced strong to take 50th in a very hotly contested Vets 40.
Sally despite a little off in the sand school managed to ride the course rather than run it and took 3rd place in the senior ladies group. Despite having a good first race Phil punctured and was a DNF, despite trying to stick in the race. However only 3 of the team had to finish to get a place for the overall team event so everyone was happy the other three made it home.
None of the riders have raced cross this year, some haven’t done it for many years so everyone was satisfied to get round. Though the overall result hasn’t been announced it is anticipated the Velos will finish in the top two thirds of the field.
