In addition to our normal weekly evening time trial, the club now has a growing number of members competing in many other local events. Here is a brief roundup of what some have been up to during the last week.
On Wednesday TT night, three Star riders, Lee Heron, Simon Bull and Stuart Quick headed down to Abingdon to race in round 3 of the ART Summer Crit Series. Held on the closed circuit Dalton Barracks course, the race was for Cat 4 riders with a timed distance of 40 minutes plus 2 laps. These races can be very tactical and a fresh crosswind added to the difficultly in judging pace and when and where to follow any breaks. Stuart tried to follow some of the initial breaks, but his efforts didn’t last, while Lee and Simon patiently waited in the main bunch. With 2 laps to go three riders did manage a clean break for the podium positions. A huge sprint from the main bunch then followed with Lee coming in a close second over the line, giving him an overall 5th place and valuable points towards his 3rd Cat progression.
Then on Thursday evening, two teams of five Banbury Star riders competed in the Ben Owen Memorial 10 mile team TT, hosted by Didcot Phoenix CC. Sixteen teams competed, with the combined times of the best four riders from each team giving an overall team time, thus deciding the winning team. Starting at Stadhampton near Didcot, the out and back course heads down towards Watlington, before making a return journey up to the finish line in Chalgrove. The host club recorded the fastest combined time of 1.28.37, with Banbury Star A team finishing in 8th place with a time of 1.35.49 and the B team 13th on 1.46.16. Fastest individual Star times were Simon Kisley on 23.14, closely followed by Jonathan Ward on 23.47 and Lee Heron on 23.54.
Finally on Sunday Oli Wright and Mike Kirby headed further afield to compete in the Hemel Hempstead Open 25 TT. The undulating course started at Ambrosden near Bicester running out to Aylesbury Parkway and back. Mike set a time of 64.25 with Oli on 64.52. Mike’s 16 year old son Harry (BMCC) who occasionally rides in our weekly TTs, had a great ride beating his Dad by almost 5 minutes to record a sub 60 minute time.