It’s been a busy few days for the club and its riders with various activities taking place.
While Wednesday evening is club TT night, three members, Lee Heron, Mike Gillett and Michal Wisowski were off competing in round 1 of the ART Summer Crit Series at Abingdon. Held on the short airfield circuit the trio competed with around 40 other riders in what turned out to be a fast race with a runaway winner. Lee put in the best performance with a timed last minute sprint which got him into the top 15.
Meanwhile, not far away at Kirklington, member Peter Dumbreck (riding for Shutt RT) won the ORRL Kirklington Kermesse 60km road race after a well timed and strong sprint finish. Junior Blaine Carpenter also took part and finished 27th.
On Saturday we had another Rising Stars session with 17 children taking part. This was an excellent turn out, as until we have a sufficient number of trained coaches, we’ve been very low key in promoting the scheme. It’s already apparent that we do indeed have a few young rising stars and that includes an encouraging number of girls.
Also on Saturday six members, Katherine Daniels, Andy Perry, Ila Pearson, Simon Furneaux , Claire Stratford and David Tew took part in Sigma Sport’s Cobbler Classic Sportive. Starting from Westbury, near Brackley, all completed the 102 mile route around the Northamptonshire countryside.
Then on Sunday 14 of the race squad were off competing in two local club open time trials.
Nine riders travelled south to take on Didcot Phoenix CC’s annual 25 mile open time trial.
This is a reasonably quick course on good roads and with little climbing. Starting at Cumnor on the outskirts of Oxford it proceeds along the A420 to the Faringdon roundabout and then back again.
The fastest time on the day was by Marcin Bialoblocki, a former pro cyclist and former national champion of Poland, with an astonishing record time of 45.49 and setting a new record time. The club’s top performer was Suzy Patience, taking the fastest women’s prize with a time of 1.02.34. Mark Boyles was the fastest of the Banbury men with a personal best for the course of 58.34, finishing 24th in the 64 rider field. Other times; Stuart Quick 58.39, Lee Heron 1.00.20, Roger Foster 1.00.34, Keith Barcock 1.02.31, Michal Wisowski 1.04.11, Albert Stepien 1.04.31 and Oli Wright 1.04.53.
Suzy Patience receives her prize
Travelling west to Alcester, five riders contested the Worcester St. John’s CC 10 mile time trial. From the start at Dunnington cross roads, the course runs along the B4088 and then on to the A46 into Alcester. Whilst conditions were warm and sunny a rising headwind made for a hard slog to the finish for the large 100 strong field. Simon Kisley led the Banbury Star riders home with a time of 22-10, followed by Geoff Hewett on 25-25, Matthew Sleath 25-30, Ian Maconnachie 26-04 and Mike Gillett 26-36.
Finally, an amazing achievement by new member Amy Russell, who competed in her first Ironman event on Saturday. Amy joined the club in January, having not ridden for 10 years and yet after a few gentle cafe rides and some training she completed the 56 mile bike section in 3 hours 38 minutes.