Press Cuttings: 2000

A YEOVIL Cycling Club side won an open team time trial for the first time in many years last Sunday - in a club record time.
Chris Absolom, Mike Loader and Toby Creighton recorded 54 mins 55 secs to Win Poole Wheelers Open 25-Mile Three Up more than a minute clear of the experienced Northovers VT trio.
The form of the local men bodes well for this weekends YeovilRoad Races. Absolom and Loader ride the 73-mile Ham Hill Trophy open to elite, first, second and third category seniors and in the 43-mile Pittard Trophy for third and fourth category seniors and juniors. Both events start at Ilchester Primary School - the Ham Hill at 10am and the Pittards 45 minutes later.
Queen Camel’s Nick Armstrong started his Veterans League campaign on Sunday at Holt, near Wimborne. Riding the 45-mile event for over- 50s, he found his success last year working against him as he was a marked man throughout the race.
He made numerous attempts to break clear of the pack but was quickly chased down. In the end he was placed sixth across the line and third in his age group.

Yeovil cycling club's recent time trials have seen the host’s Mike Loader and Anglia Sport’s Graeme Lackford battling tooth and nail for honours.
The first 10 mile event went to Loader by 36 seconds from Lackford. Loader clock 22 minutes 38 seconds. The next trial saw Lackford gain revenge, pushing Loader into second place by four seconds. Lackford's time was a personal best 21 minutes 35 seconds.
Yeovil veteran Nick Armstrong wrote the Tour of the Abberleys, a three day stage race of 120 miles on the Worcestershire Wales border. His best placing came on the second day, fifth in-class

NUMBER ONE: Yeovil Cycling CIubs Toby Creighton receives the Pittards Trophy from Robert Barker, left, of sponsors Pittards Plc and club president Garry Mitchener.
Creighton's trophy victory was the clubs first win in the competitions 37-year history The 43-mile race attracted a 58-man field, and Yeovil club riders were at the head of the race from the off. Creighton was amongst the leaders throughout, and it was only at the final climb, up Coppits Hill, that he sped away from the pack to claim a convincing win. In the Ham Hill Trophy Yeovil’s Mike Loader finished in 18th place in the second category, with club-mate Chris Absolom crossing the line just outside the top 20.

THERE was little respite from the tough climbs over a Pennine course as Yeovil road racer Chris Absolom competed in the National Veterans Series.
Absolom travelled to Norland, near Halifax, West Yorkshire, for the first round of the series. There were stiff climbs during the 65-mile course - a circuit of under five miles covered 14 times.
Six riders broke away in the early stages. Pre-race favourite and last years winner, Ian Hallam, who is the world masters champion, was not among the leaders.
The pacesetters held off the trailing pack, including Hallam and Absolom, who was placed ninth.
Toby Creighton took a big step up in class in only his third road race. He rode the 85-mile Steve Taylor Memorial event at Gloucester. Creighton acquitted himself well, finishing 17th place and collecting four points towards second cat licence.
Yeovil’s Thursday evening time-trial series starts tonight with a 20-mile event. This year’s programme includes three 25 milers and a 50 miler in a 22-race series. Starts are at 7pm from
Podimore Services.
Road-race circuit training events at Merryfield airfield, near Ilton, begin this Tuesday and run until September, 7pm start.

Olive TAbor is reaping the rewards some good preparation during the closed season-the Yeovil cycling club junior champion recorded a personal-best at Thruxton.
Tabor clocks 25 minutes 19 seconds, an improvement of 39 seconds, on the A303 based track.
Veteran Nick Armstrong continued his veterans league campaign, competing at the circuit of Redrice, which takes in Danebuerry Hill and Middle Wallop, Hampshire.
The 48 mile event was run as handicap race, with the under 50s starting five minutes behind the older men. Armstrong finished sixth.
Army Rider Paul Haggerty won the Yeovil Thursday evening time trial for the second week running, clocking 22 minutes 30 seconds to finish ahead of Mike Loader (22 minutes 42 seconds) and Chris Absolom (23 minutes 48 seconds).

Mike Loader took fifth place in the Western Wheelers 25 at Glastonbury on Friday, clocking 58 minutes 3 seconds.
On Sunday he won the Clevedon 50 at Axbridge recording 1 hour 56 minutes 56 seconds in his first attempt at the distance.
Sixty riders took part in the John Andrews Memorial Road race. Andy Millward (VC Camelot) of East Chinnock was sixth and Yeovil’s Toby Creighton was tenth.
The 88 mile race attracted a full field - a few pre-entered riders failed to show but their places were quickly filled by reserves and entries on the day.
Jimmy Little of Chippenham and District Wheelers took the sprint by a bike length from James Powley (Team Total Fitness) and Keith Sheriden (VC St Raphael).

Yeovil is Mike Loader returned from Staffordshire last Saturday well satisfied with his performance in his first National Championship.
He recorded 56 minutes 6 seconds in the 25 mile event which gave him 46th place out of the 120 top trialists - the seedings had predicted him finishing around 80th.
Veteran Chris Absolom was Yeovil's best performer in the 84 mile event near Swindon - he finished 11th. Toby Creighton suffered a punctured wheel on the third of the four laps and failed to finish.

Yeovil cycling club's time trial team were hoping to record some fast times in the Poole Wheelers 10 on Monday. The Oakdale-Bakers Arms-and back course on the A35 had a gift hill - this is a start at the top of a hill which does not have to be climbed at the finish. Unfortunately the weather was against the competitors - and local riders said this slowed everyone by at least a minute.
Mike Loaderr was the best Yeovil entrant, recording 22 minutes 16 seconds for eighth place in the 90 rider field. Winner Paul Rogers(VC St Raphael) clocked 20:23 Yeovil’s Dave Walters recorded 24:30 and Junior Olive Tabor 26:13.
Loader warmed up with a win in the Yeovil club event last Thursday. Conditions were windy - but Loader clocked 22:45, putting him well in front of John Fazackerley and Nick Evans who tied for second on 24:32. Yeovil's road racers took part in the 100 km Gerald Curtis Memorial race at Tiverton, Devon. Graeme Lackford (Anglia Sport) wass best local rider, getting into the winning seven man breakaway and taking fourth place.
Taunton’s Greg Sandy won the bunch sprint for eighth place with Yeovil’s Chris Absolom right behind him in ninth.

JEREMY Carpenter was first rider home in the Gillingham & District Wheelers Time Trial Carpenter recorded a creditable time of 25 mins 19 secs in the race, which was reduced from 18 to ten miles due to bad weather.
Duncan Marsh of Shaftesbury was second in 25mins 46secs. First veteran was Mike Donovan (27mins 30secs). Sarah Roberts won the women’s event in 34mins 3secs.
Nine club members entered the Frome 10 Mile Time Triad, which was marred by poor weather for the second successive year. Fewer than half the field of 56 were able to start.
Carpenter (25 mins 41 secs) was the first Wheeler home, and was seventh overall. First woman Wheeler to finish was Roberts (29 mins 34 secs), who was placed second overall.
Now in its 10th year, Gillingham & District Wheelers organises both on and off-road rides. They hold regular Time Trials during the summer and a variety of mountain bike and cyclocross events during the Winter months.

POWERFUL PEDALLERS: The Stars of Tomorrow National Series Under-23 Cycle Race gets under way at Huish Episcopi sports centre on Sunday The race took in Somerton, Compton Dundon, Langport and High Ham and was won by Christian House (KVC Blue En Virg Oblique Midera Cycling) who goes through to the World Championships
Picture by Clive Davies.

WHEEL MEET AGAIN: Members of the Western Division team meet a rider from Italian side Amore e Vita before taking part in the Stars of Tomorrow National Series Under-23 Cycle Race around Langport on Sunday Toby Creighton (Yeovil CC) and Mark Perry (Somer Valley CC) rode for Western Division but finished outside the top 20. The race was won by Christian House, who rides for Belgian team KVC Blue En Virg Oblique Midera Cycling. From left, James Shaw, Perry, Creighton and Andrew Parsons, who rides for
he Italians despite hailing from Taunton.
Picture by Clive Davies.

THE Chris Boardmans of the future will be in action in Somerset on Sunday - they compete in the Stars of Tomorrow National Series (Under-23) Cycle Races which begins in Langport.
The Winner of the race qualifies for this years Under-23 World Championships, so it is no surprise that the majority of the nations top under-23 riders have entered - including those who race on French and Belgian circuits.
The race begins at Huish Episcopi sports centre at 11am and takes in four laps of a 20-mile circuit which passes through, among others, Somerton Compton Dundon, Walton Hill and Othery. After the fourth lap, the race turns from Langport (at Picts Hill) towards High Ham, where it will finish at around 2.40pm.
Local riders competing include Mark Perry of Somer Valley CC and Toby Creighton of Yeovil, who won the Pittards race in his home town earlier this year.

MIKE Loader was the only local representative at the National Ten-Mile Championship, staged at the Festival of Cycling.
The course on the A1 was really testing - new champion Michael Hutchinson (Bio Race Team) recorded 20 minutes 22 seconds, the slowest winning time for several years.
Loader (Yeovil Cycling Club) finished in 23 minutes 39 seconds, reflecting his seeding - he finished around 80th in the 120 man field.
Graeme Lackford of promoting club VC Camelot came close to victory in a 10 mile time trial on the A303 at Podimore. He recorded 21 minutes 58 seconds - 11 seconds slower than winner Jerry bandage(www.bikeshop.UK.COM).
The following day, six riders took on a 50 mile challenge while four Chard Wheelers rode a 25 mile event, also on the A303 Podimore course.
Over 50 miles, Chris Absolom recorded 2 hours 2 minutes 58 seconds to Win - but he was pushed hard by John Fazackerley (2 hours 3 minutes 19 seconds), who was riding the distance for the first time. Mark German was best over 25 miles with 1 hour 4 minutes 54 seconds. Mike Chubb clocked 1 hour 6 minutes 3 seconds for second spot.
Again on the A303 Podimore course the Chard club staged an evening 10. Weston-super-Mare’s John Wynn won in 22 minutes 39 seconds but was followed closely by Weymouth’s Gary Foden (22 minutes 42 seconds) and Kevin Frost(22 minutes 49 seconds).
Foden and Frost were supported by Rob Alway (23 minutes 15 seconds) to take the team award.

Paul Hopkins(Giant Benetton) got home first in Gillingham and District Wheelers 10 mile time trial championship with 26 minutes 5 seconds. Top Wheeler was Jeremy Carpenter (27 minutes 30 seconds). Peter Court of Sturminster Newton was first veteran home (28 minutes 50 seconds) and leading woman was Carole Miller (33 minutes 2 seconds).

Mike Loader was the top host rider in Yeovil cycling club is open 25 mile time trial. He clocked 56 minutes to clinch fourth place and land in Yeovil 13 prize.
Yeovil's other big achievers were John clarinet, with a personal best time of 58 minutes 43 seconds, and John Fazakerley, Who, despite stopping with mechanical trouble, finished in a personal-best 59 minutes 25 seconds. The race was won by Andy Winterbottom (Wellington Wheelers) in the 55 minutes 8 seconds.
Chard Wheelers father and son team Doug Ward and Dean Ward achieved personal-best times. Father clocked 1 hour 6 minutes 16 seconds while his 14 year old son took six minutes 51 seconds off his previous best with 1 hour 7 minutes 49 seconds.
VC Camelot's Matthew Law was top Junior - he knocked two minutes off his previous best with a time of 59 minutes 46 seconds.
Yeovil veteran Nick Armstrong continued his upturn in form in the Solihull road race, a Veterans League event staged in Warwickshire. He won me over 55's race and was fourth in the over 50s event.

YEOVIL Cycling Club’s Mike Loader came second in North Devon Wheelers 25-mile time trial on the A377 Exeter to Barnstaple course.
He recorded 58 mins 11 secs - winner was National 25 champion Stuart Dangerfield (55 mins 8 secs).
Loader Won the Yeovil clubs final Thursday-evening 25-mile time trial with 55 mins 48 secs. The next three riders recorded personal-best time - Yeovils John Fazackerly 58 mins 20 secs, Chard Wheelers Tim Reeves 58 mins 22 secs and Yeovils Dave Walters 59 mins 29 secs.
VC Camelot’s Matt Law was best of the local riders in the same night’s circuit racing at Castle Coombe, Wiltshire. He was fourth in the 50km third and fourth category event.

Yeovil Cycling Club’s Michael Loader took fourth place in the Bournemouth Jubilee 25, staged on a course between Wimborne and Beer Regis. He recorded 57 minutes 8 seconds - one second behind third spot. Chard’s Stuart Woodsell 58 minutes 33 seconds, Tim Reeves 59 minutes 15 seconds, Colin Maddock 1 hour 13 seconds, Yeovil is John Clemit 1 hour 41 seconds.
Army Rider Paul Haggerty (55 minutes 47 seconds) won Yeovil's latest 25. Second was Woodsell (57 minutes 41 seconds) while Clemit recorded a personal-best 58 minutes 22 seconds and Chard’s John Wenglorz finished in 59 minutes 2 seconds in his first 25.
Yeovil’s latest 10 mile time trial incorporated the Yeovil club handicap shield. Veteran Steve Pym won the shield, clocking 24 minutes 8 seconds. With his handicap allowance, this gave him 20 minutes 40 seconds-more than a minute better than runner up Doug Northcott. Haggerty was fastest on the night with 22 minutes 35 seconds.

Yeovil is Michael Loader was denied victory in the Bristol South CC 30 mile time trial when he ran into trouble on the A38 north of the city.
Two potholes hindered Loader - he first suffered a derrailed chain and was then hit by a punctured tyre.
Despite these setbacks, he finished in one hour nine minutes 45 seconds - only two minutes behind winner Peter Wheddon of Clevedon and District.
There were no such problems for Loader in the Bournemouth Jubilee 50. He secured second place in a time of 1 hour 57 minutes 7 seconds, making him one of only two of 48t riders to break the two hour barrier.

Mike Loader broke Yeovil Cycling Club’s 30 mile time trial record in the border CA event on the A31 on the Hampshire Surrey border.
Loader recorded a time of 1 hour 8 minutes 15 seconds as he shaved more than one minute of the previous best which had stood for 10 years.|
Loader’s time secured him a top-10 finish in a high-class field of more than 100 riders. He finished exactly 3 minutes behind winner John Woodburn, a former lands end to John O'Groats record holder.
Graeme Lackford of Anglia Sport was the only cyclist to really master the wet conditions in a recent Yeovil 10 mile time trial. He clocked 20 minutes 5 seconds, well ahead of Tim Reeves (Chard Wheelers, 23 minutes 17 seconds), Andy Millward (VC Camelot, 23 minutes 22 seconds), Dave Russell (Mendip, 23 minutes 33 seconds), Mark German (Chard Wheelers, 23 minutes 49 seconds) and John Clemit (Yeovil CC, 23 minutes 49 seconds).
Paul Horan of Mere was the surprise winner of Gillingham and District Wheelers final 10 mile time trial of the season. Horan, who had been out of form, finished in 24 minutes 41 seconds. He was followed by Blandford’s Andy Howell (25 minutes 4 seconds) andy Wheeler’s Jeremy Carpenter (25 minutes 14 seconds).
First veteran home was Peter Court of Sturminster Newton in 25 minutes 50 seconds and first female finisher was Sarah Roberts (28 minutes 35 seconds).
Horan's return to form continued in the Frome Open 10 - he was first Wheeler to complete the course, in 23 minutes 43 seconds.

Nick Armstrong of West Camel, near Yeovil, finished second to ex-professional John Macmillan in the over 50s section of the Veterans League meeting at Holt, near Wimborne. Dave Pitman (VC Camelot) of West Coker, near Yeovil, came third in the under 50s category.
Pitman finished third in the North Bristol road race, Armstrong coming in second of the over 50s. In the circuit of Bredon Hill, Pitman was fourth and Armstrong fifth.
Yeovil CC member Mike Loader ended up third in the mid Devon 25, staged on the A38 between Plympton and South Brent. He clocked 59 minutes 29 seconds. The event was won by Mendip CC’s Gary Foreacre (58 minutes 10 seconds).

The 10 mile time trial on the popular A303 based Podimore-Ash flyover route has attracted an entry of 102 - the first rider gets away at 2:30pm.
Manchester Wheeler Steve Hulme is the scratch man facing a strong challenge from local riders. The Bath and Gillingham clubs field teams of nine. Mendip and Yeovil have six riders each while there are four entrants from Weymouth. Riders range from Dean Ward, aged 14 of Chard to Terry Swift, 78, of Glastonbury.
Mike Loader and Doug Northcott were Yeovil's best performers at the Andover Wheelers Weyhill weekend, Hampshire. Loader clocked 21 minutes 46 seconds on Saturday in the 10 miler and 57 minutes 5 seconds in the Sunday 25. Northcott recorded 22 minutes two seconds in the 10 mile race.

POSTMAN Eamonn Deane (Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers) overcame a strong crosswind to win Yeovil Cycling Club’s final Open of the season.
He clocked 21 mins 15 secs for victory in the ten-mile time trial - Weston-super-Mares Jon Wynn was second in 21 mins 29 secs, 2
Yeovil’s top road racer Graeme Lackford - who rides for Essex team Anglia Sport -took third place, his 21 mins 35 secswhich equalled his best.
Scratchman Steve Hulme (Manchester Wheelers) was fourth with 22 mins 7 secs and Weymouth’s Gary Foden was fifth (22 mins 13 secs) to lead CC Weymouth to the team award for the second year running. Kevin Frost (22 mins 31 secs) and Patrick Hogben (24 mins secs) were Weymouth’s other counters.
VC Camelot’s Matthew Law was fastest junior (23 mins 43 secs) and Verley Feetcher (Salisbury RC) was leading woman (25 mins 28 secs). Shaun Walsh was Gillingham’s top rider.- he beat his previous quickest by 2 mins 46 secs to take the prize for the best improvement. .
Mike Lawrence (Clevedon & District) was top veteran on age standard, clocking 23 mins 39 secs. Mike Loader was best from the promoting club, recording 22 mins 34 secs for eighth place. John Fazackerley finished in 23 mins 52 secs, Nick Armstrong 24 mins 30 secs, Mark Askill 25 mins 2 secs and Dave Walters 25 mins 14 secs.
Colin Maddock was fastest Chard Wheeler (24 mins 13 secs). The event attracted 102 riders.

Chris Absolom made it six victories in a row when he took Yeovil Cycling Club’s hill climb cup on the slopes of High Ham near Langport. The veteran roadman recorded 3 minutes 4.2 seconds, the fastest time in the combined club event over the half mile climb but 18 seconds outside his 1997 record ride.
VC Camelot junior Matthew Law clocked 3 minutes 15.2 seconds in second place. Both Absolom and Law rode track bikes with a single fixed gear.
Yeovil’s John the Fazackerley was the third (3 minutes 19.2 seconds). Steve Pym, in his first hill climb, was four (3 minutes 28.4 seconds), John Clemit came fifth (3 minutes 31.5 seconds), Toni Bond was six (3 minutes 32.3 seconds) and Darren Edmonds finished seventh (3 minutes 33.4 seconds).