On behalf of Thanet Road Club, our sincere thanks to Richard Braginton for once again sponsoring our early season event in memory of Jim.

Thanks also to Dave Mastin for organising the event. This task once fell to our late President Dave Saffery, who would have been delighted with the enthusiastic early season support from the riders, the team of helpers and the success of the event.

1st Andy Miles and Phil Bull VC Elan 20:18
2nd Paul Burrows and Antony Bee Kent Cycles 20:38
3rd Malcolm Jeffries and Jamie Beecham VC Elan 20:45

Fastest Vets Shay Giles and Ken Beecham VC Elan 22:45 (plus 8:00)
2nd fastest vets, our very own Andy Burrows and Colin Inett 25:03 (plus 6:42)

Fastest Composite team Graham Terry Kent Cycles and Carl Bradford San Fairy Ann 23:02

Fastest team with a lady Coralie Glaunes VC Elan and Fiona Boxall Greenwich Tritons 25:34.

Fastest Junior/Juvenile Jack Finch and Jack Spicer VC Deal 23:52 (and they would have been faster, but for 2 teams impeding them whilst warming up on the course!).

Other TRC times:
Pete Huckstep and Steve Robertson 25:12
Bill Hawkes and Colin Robinson 23:06

Christine Burrows reported...
Only a few hardy souls braved the wind and rain today
Simon Henderson 1.01.19
Andy Burrows 1.11.29
Chris Bax (2nd Claim) 1.06.52

Winner Paul Mill 58.01

31st March – Fowlmead
Given the near perfect conditions at Fowlmead for TRC’s opening evening 10 of the season it was surprising that we only had 10 riders and that their times were so slow. Ok so it is early season, but the indications are that with some of the main contenders for the points trophy just scraping ‘evens’, that riders were cycling with their brakes on!

NB (and this is for our new members), our evening points competition is scored based on the best improvement over the previous ride; thus the best improvement scores 10, the second best scores 9… etc. Call me a cynical old B’Stard, but on Wednesday’s showing, there’s a fair clutch of TRC riders aiming for a maximum next week!

Still, with your sketch writer off on no.9 and Simon Henderson starting 10, I was anticipating being caught by the first corner. In the event, our ‘in form’ rider didn’t start and was seen wandering about shivering; now this is hardly surprising, because he does indeed look seriously fit and with a BMI in single figures, he’s going to be feeling the cold, even on a balmy day at Fowmead. Anyway, to the racing… if you can call it that…

1st Tom Smart VC Deal 26:14
2nd Mister Able B’Stard Last Legs CC 26:32
3rd Chris Bax VC Deal 27:34
Bob Connell 28:54
Colin Robinson 29:09
Pete Huckstep 29:18
Tony Culshaw 29:29
Colin Inett 29:51
S Herrington Deal Tri 30:16
Ollie Robinson 39:52

For the record, the air temperature was 7 Celsius, with a fresh WSW wind, increasing to strong with the squally showers… as I said at the outset, near perfect for Fowlmead!

Colin Inett reported:

A dry day until the heavens opened 5 minutes after Andy and I set off! Later riders had sunshine.

Andy Burrows 27.02
Colin Inett 27.08

Chris Bax 24.18
Shay Giles 23.58

Fastest was Peter Tadros (In Gear RT) 21.05
Fastest OAS Reg Smith (DCB Kent) +7.24.

Colin Inett reported...
A drizzly morning with a strong headwind on the return leg. In addition, there was a major accident on the M20 at 7am necessitating closure of both motorway lanes, so we had all the diverted traffic to contend with. Fortunately, everyone finished intact.

Colin Inett 1.15.00.
Andy Burrows 1.07.47.
Simon Henderson 58.56 PB
Chris Bax (2nd Claim) 1.08.20.

Fastest was Kevin Tye (Datateam Allstars) 56.16

Given the conditions, Simon`s ride was outstanding. One can only speculate what he will do on a good day on a good course!

Colin Inett reported:

A cold, dry morning with a bitter cross wind.
Simon Henderson 23.48
Steve Robertson 28.49
Colin Inett 28.29
Andy Burrows 27.25
Chris Bax (2nd Claim) 25.57

Fastest was Ben Instone (scientific-coaching.com/SRM) 20.38
Fastest OAS was Reg Smith (DCB Kent-Demelza) + 6.17

Andy Burrows won 3rd prize OAS +3.55
Colin Inett won 4th prize OAS +3.31
Andy and Colin won 1st Team OAS... well done the lads!

Christine Burrows reported:

We set off at 8am and drove through two blizzards before arriving at Bethersden more or less in one piece - Ashford was horrendous! A few intrepid souls made it to the hall and after a course inspection and 15 minute late start, 41 of the 75 entrants took to the road and nearly as many mad spectators stood about.

The race was won in 23:06 by Dave Wheeler (Sean Yates came 5th this year)

Andy Burrows 28:13 3rd vet on std
Steve Robertson 28:34
Shay Giles (TRC 2nd Claim) 26:07 1st vet

The Velogods delivered a brief window of dry weather, with a moderate south westerly breeze and a balmy 9 degrees Celsius. A lucky 13 riders took advantage of these clement conditions on bikes ranging from the TT exotica to a ‘shopper’ (sorry Shay, no way to talk about your new Dolan!). Paul Burrows clocked the fastest time; he was wearing shorts, so was probably in a hurry to get it over with!
Paul Burrows VC Elan 23:34
Dave Williams Kingsnorth 25:14
Malcolm Whitehead Kingsnorth 24:44
Chris Bax VC Deal 26:20
Shay Giles VC Elan 27:17
Rick Perkins 34:32 (with a puncture)
Jeremy Temple VC Elan 26:05
Jeremy Saynor VC Deal 27:09
Andy Burrows 26:43
Steve Robertson 27:39
Colin Inett 28: 32
Steve Quincy VC Elan 30:21
Pete Huckstep/S Claus 31:54 (2-up)

Colin Inett reported that on a fine dry morning with a light wind, the Q15/20 "didn't seem any easier", although this was probably because he and Andy were trying so hard; a fact evidenced by the TRC duo lifting the team prize with a plus of 12:05... well done the lads!

Andy Macpherson 39:21
Colin Inett 43:07
Andy Burrows 39:41
Steve Robertson 43:49
Chris Bax (2nd claim) 38:26

Fastest was David Wheeler (Rye and District Wheelers)32:30 and fastest OAS was Reg Smith (DCB Kent) with a plus of 10.14