Press Cuttings: 2009

YEOVIL Cycling Club’s early-season road races attracted full fields on Sunday. The 60-mile Ham Hill event for elite, first-, second- and third-category seniors had 68 starters and the 45-mile Pittard
Trophy for third- and fourth-category. seniors and juniors had 79.
Yeovil spokesman Garry Mitchener said: The Ham Hill event is always an exiting race as the top riders fight it out on the Yeoviton- Ilchester-Coppitts Hill-Coombe Street Lane- Mudford-Marston Magna-
Queen Camel-Bridgehampton-Yeovilton course. `
This time a breakaway group of ten formed on the first of the four laps and they worked well together and held the chasing bunch at bay.
New prize for the first rider over the top on the last accent of Coppitts' Hill Went to Oliver Beckingsale of Giant. An international and Olympic mountain biker, he showed he can perform just as well on roads by making a blistering attack.
On looking over his shoulder on Coombe Street Lane he saw he had a gap and went for the win, which was a good move because there were fast finishers in the chasing group.
He held them off and at the finish he had ten seconds in hand over runner-up Gregg Sandy of Somerset RC.
Nic Tilling of GWRTeam/ 3Vi/Swindon Cycles was third, Paul Stadon of VC Montpellier fourth, David Sinclair of GWR fifth and Richard Tanguy of the local-based Pendragon-Kalas team sixth. The race was run off at 27mph.
The Pittards Trophy race followed the usual pattern for this event with individual attackers gaining a few seconds before they were reeled in by the main pack.
Even the hill prize, which was taken by Chard Wheeler Dave Moffett, failed to produce a break.
A bunch of 30 contested the sprint to the finish and Team Tor 2000s Peter Johnston was clear winner from runner-up Garry Chambers of www.cyclelogic.co.uk and third-placed Stephen Chmieliski of Weston Wheelers.
Barry Clewett of Dorchester was trying to win the race for the third time. He came fifth.

OPENING event of the Yeovil clubs Thursday-evening series - a five-mile contest on the Yeovilton-Northover-Yeovilton course - attracted 35 riders and featured a record time.
In calm conditions Team Tor 2000s Doug Dewey set a course record of 10 mins 37 secs to win from club-mate Michael Leech (11 mins 27 secs). Chards Dave Moffett and Yeovils Mike Loader tied for third place with 11 mins 37 secs. Hugo Baldacchino of Yeovil was fifth.
Only 16 riders took part in the next event, which was plagued by wind and the threat of rain. Baldacchino (12 mins 19 secs) and Shaun Walsh (12 mins 30 ' secs) ensured the hosts secured second and third places. The event was
12-year-old Jacob Newbury’s first time trial - he clocked 20 mins 47 secs.

THE Yeovil clubs ten-mile time-trial last Thursday attracted 27 entrants and left home rider Mike Loader delighted.
A competition spokesman said: On a cool evening, a north-easterly wind made conditions hard for the riders. After covering ten miles on the course based at Podimore on the A303, there were some disgruntled riders after they had
finished - none more so than Mike. He had timed himself as being 25 secs slower than he was a few days earlier when the Yeovil club ran an open event on the same course. However when all the results were in he was more than pleasantly surprised at recording the fastest time for the evening - 22 mins 19 secs for an average speed of 26.89 mph.
Other riders to go under 23 mins were Dave Moffett of 1st Chard Wheelers/Mackinlay (22 mins 40 secs) and Tom Aliban of Guerciott/JJcoach.com (22 mins 52 secs).

SELECTED OTHER-TIMES: Hugo Baldacchino (Yeovil) 23 mins 1 sec, Rick Johnston (Somerset RC/ Bicycle Chain) 23 mins 38 secs, Shaun Walsh (Yeovil) 23 mins 48 secs.

YEOVIL Cycling Club staged its annual John Andrews Memorial road race at Long Sutton last Sunday in ideal conditions for the 65 mile event.
The promoting club had no representatives but a Yeovil-based rider Graeme Lackford, who rides for the local sponsored race team Pendragon-Kalas, was at the head of the race for over 40 miles.
After attacking on his own he was quickly joined by North Petherton man Jon Wynn and they held off the chasing pack with their lead never more than a minute at any time.
It was only in the last 200 metres the chasers caught them but Wynn held on to take the win with Lackford narrowly beaten into third place.
The other prizes went to Hugh Wilson (Forza Cycles), Simon Burgess (Severn R.C), Glyndwr Griffiths (Bristol South CC) and Robert Gough (Chippenham & District Wheelers).
The British Cycling appointed referees also congratulated the organiser Shaun Walsh and his team of Yeovil club members for running a good safe event although they did reprimand some riders for straying over the white line.
On the time trial scene, Yeovil scored their first team win of the season in the 1st Chard Wheelers- Mackinleys ten-mile event on Saturday Hugo Baldacchino lead the team clocking 22mins 42secs for fourth place supported by
Chris Martin 23:03 in eighth place and Dave Driver 24:29 in 14th. Other times were Alex Walsh 25:08 and Doug Ward 27:03.

By Garry Mitchener 9

YEOVIL Cycling Club’s Come& Try It five-mile time-trial attracted 30 riders.
The event, at RNAS Yeovilton, saw Hugo Baldacchino fastest rider on a cool and breezy evening. He clocked 11 mins 51 secs.
Another Yeovil rider, Chris Martin, was second. He posted 12 mins 7 secs. Somerset Road Clubs Rick Johnson was third with 12 mins 8 secs, John Wilkinson of Team Tor 2000 came fourth (12 mins 14 secs), Chard’s Dean Ward finished fifth (12 mins 24 secs) and Yeovils Andy Parsons was sixth (12 mins 39 secs).
Yeovil spokesman Garry Mitchener said: The fastest of the riders who had come to try it was Alan Brimecombe with 13 mins 55 secs although he was not strictly a newcomer to the sport, having been a successful rider in the 1980s.
Other new riders were Chris Wood with 15 mins 21 secs, Matthew Gleed with 15 mins 33 secs, Jane Anderton with 17 mins 21 secs and Alice Shuttleworth with 19 mins 22 secs.
It was nice to see some of the 12 year olds riding in their first season. Daniel Martin was the fastest this time, clocking 16 mins 53 secs. Gregory Morris posted 17 mins 12 secs and Jacob Newbury completed in 19 mins 28 secs

CREWKERNE’S Tom Aliban, who rides for Guerciotti-JJ Coaching, is enjoying a good run in local time-trials.
Now a veteran, Aliban did most of his racing in South Africa - but he seems to like British time-trials. He won the latest Yeovil evening ten-mile event by clocking 21 mins 57 secs. The previous race was a two-up team time-trial but Aliban, riding as a solo, beat the fastest teams by 2 secs.

RESULTS, Two-Up: =1 Chris Martin (Yeovil) & Dean Ward (Chard), Rick Johnson (Somerset RC )& Shaun Walsh (Yeovil) 22 mins 45 secs, 3 Andy Parsons (Yeovil) & Glen Higson (Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA) 23 mins 12 secs, 4 Alex Walsh & Andy Gaylard (Yeovil) 24 mins 17 secs, 5 Hugo Baldacchino(Yeovil) & Rod Bowditch (Team Tor 2000) 24 mins 57 secs, 6 Ricky Gibbs & Ed Gibbs (Yeovil) 28 mins 33 secs.
Solos: 1 Tom Aliban, 22 mins 43 secs, 2 Andy Smith (Farnham RC) 22 mins 49 secs, 3 Steve Osborne (www.votwo.co.uk) 23 mins 45 secs, 4 Roger Easton (Chard) 24 mins 35 secs, 5 Barrie Whitehead (Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA) 25 mins 17 secs, 6 Mike Loader (Yeovil) 25 mins 58 secs. Solo Ten-Miler: 1 Tom Aliban 21 mins 57 secs, 2 George Gori (Chard) 22 mins 24 secs, 3 Rick Johnson (Somerset RC) 22 mins 46 secs, 4 Glen Higson (Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA) 22 mins 49 secs, 5 Hugo Baldacchino (Yeovil) 22 mins 52 secs; 6 John Wilkinson (Tor) 23 mins 5 secs.

IAN Smith won the Yeovil Ten-Mile Handicap Shield, recording 25 mins 10 secs on a cool and windy night.
Yeovil spokesman Garry Mitchener said: His handicap allowance was 4.12 which gave him an adjusted time of 20 mins 58 secs. His preparation was not ideal - he ran 5km the previous evening - but he was only
2 secs off his personal-best time, won by 18 secs from Ed Gibbs and was 37 secs better than defending champion Ricky Gibbs.
Fastest rider on night was Tom Aliban o Guerciotti-JJ.coach. He clocked 22 mins 7 secs. Aliban was followed by Charles Rees (22 mins 22 secs) of Gillingham & District, Chris Martin (22 mins 30 secs) of Yeovil, Hugo Baldacchino (22 mins 38 secs) of Yeovil, Dave Moffett (22 mins 42 secs) of Chard and Mike Loader (23 mins 59 secs) of Yeovil.
When Yeovil staged the last ten-mile event of their 2009 series their highest-finishing rider came fourth.
Visitors provided the top three, Gillingham’s Charles Rees a runaway winner by recording 22 mins 4 secs with an excellent time for such a windy night, said Mitchener. Chards Dave Moffett was second with 23 mins 13 secs, Somerset Road Clubs Rick Johnson third with 23 mins 19 secs and our Shaun Walsh fourth with 23 mins 32 secs.
George Gori of Axe Valley clocked 23 mins 36 secs and our Chris Martin came sixth with 23 mins 42 secs.
There are four events left in the series. These are five-milers and are ideal for youngsters and newcomers to the sport as they are run on the relatively quiet Yeovilton-Northover road.
Start times are 6.45pm for the next three Thursdays and 6.30pmfor the last event on 17 September. Riders should meet at the RNAS Yeovilton sports Pavilion 30 minutes before the start for signing on.

IAN Smith won the Yeovil Ten-Mile Handicap Shield, recording 25 mins 10 secs on a cool and windy night.
Yeovil spokesman Garry Mitchener said: His handicap allowance was 4.12 which gave him an adjusted time of 20 mins 58 secs. His preparation was not ideal - he ran 5km the previous evening - but he was only
2 secs off his personal-best time, won by 18 secs from Ed Gibbs and was 37 secs better than defending champion Ricky Gibbs.
Fastest rider on night was Tom Aliban o Guerciotti-JJ.coach. He clocked 22 mins 7 secs. Aliban was followed by Charles Rees (22 mins 22 secs) of Gillingham & District, Chris Martin (22 mins 30 secs) of Yeovil, Hugo Baldacchino (22 mins 38 secs) of Yeovil, Dave Moffett (22 mins 42 secs) of Chard and Mike Loader (23 mins 59 secs) of Yeovil.
When Yeovil staged the last ten-mile event of their 2009 series their highest-finishing rider came fourth.
Visitors provided the top three, Gillingham’s Charles Rees a runaway winner by recording 22 mins 4 secs with an excellent time for such a windy night, said Mitchener. Chards Dave Moffett was second with 23 mins 13 secs, Somerset Road Clubs Rick Johnson third with 23 mins 19 secs and our Shaun Walsh fourth with 23 mins 32 secs.
George Gori of Axe Valley clocked 23 mins 36 secs and our Chris Martin came sixth with 23 mins 42 secs.

RESULTS, Five Mile Time-Trial (Yeovilton-Northover course): 1 Mike Loader (Yeovil) 11 mins 25 secs, 2 Hugo Baldacchino (Yeovil) 11 mins 40 secs, 3 Chris Martin (Yeovil) 11 mins 46 secs, 4 Shaun Walsh (Yeovil) 11 mins 52 secs (personal-best time), 5 Rick Johnson (Somerset RC) 11 mins 56 secs, 6 David Gorton (Team Tor 2000) 12 mins 5 secs. The race featured for 12 year olds - Chris Brettell (Team Tor 2000) 14
mins 43 sec, Greg Morris (Yeovil) 15 mins 29 secs, Daniel Martin (Yeovil) 15 mins 42 secs, Jacob Newbury (Yeovil) 18 mins 42 secs.
Walsh has excelled with personal-best times at 50 and 25 miles. He recorded 1 hr 59 mins 21 secs in the Severn RC 50 and 57 mins 35 secs in the Andover 25.
Yeovil’s last open promotion of the season is a ten miler on Saturday (3pm) on the Podimore-Ash flyover and back course.

TAUNTON’S Greg Sandy won Yeovil Cycling Club’s Autumn Time Trial on the A303 based Podimore - Ash Flyover course but it was not without drama. During his warm-up ride the seat pillar broke on his special
time trial bike and he had to borrow a machine from a team mate who had just completed his ride.
It was a bit small for him but with the saddle raised to its limit he managed to achieve a rideable position.
It seemed to make little difference as he powered round in 20 minutes 08 secs, just 13 seconds outside the course record.
He also lead his Somerset Road Club team to victory in the team prize.
Behind Sandy were David Kiddell (Cavalier C.C) who was second in 20:44, Barry Holley (VC Walcot) came third with a time of 21:21, Kelvin Price (Somerset R.C), the owner of the borrowed bike, fourth in 22:24.
Yeovil’s Dave Driver was the fastest veteran on age standard clocking 23:21 for a plus of 8:39.
Fastest Lady was Louise Berman with 24:51 and best Junior Sebastian Baylis clocked 24:49.
Mike Loader was Yeovil’s best with 22:02 in 12th place. Dave Moffett was Chard’s best when finishing seventh by clocking 21:41.
The annual hill climb was held at High Ham, near Yeovil, in warm, sunny and light wind conditions but there were no record rides. Visiting rider Rob Edgell (Somer Valley) was fastest recording 3:07.5 for the half
mile climb.
Anthony Morris is the new Yeovil champion recording 3:20.3 to beat reigning champ Hugo Baldacchino by two seconds

PEDAL POWER: Yeovil Cycling Clubs top performers from 2009 were rewarded at the organisations annual prizegiving and buffet. From left, Hillclimb champion Anthony Norris, five mile handicap winner Christine Vince, ten-mile handicap winner Ian Smith, Ivy Andrews Trophy winner Greg Norris, best 50 Shaun Walsh, Points Cup winner Hugo Baldacchino and veteran BAR Dave Driver. Absent, Webb Shield winner David Notley. Club spokesman Garry Mitchener said:The Ivy Andrews Trophy is a new award this year for best performance in road racing. It is in memory of Ivy who died last year and was a loyal servant of the club for more than 40 years. Road racing was her particular interest which began in the 1960s with her son John racing for Yeovil. The first recipient was Greg Norris, an under-14 racer who won three circuit races. No junior, senior or veteran came anywhere near that performance.