SCCU Open 25m TT 2008

By Paul J Wright

Southern Counties CU Open 25m Scratch, Handicap and Team TT, Broadbridge Heath / Crawley, Sunday 20th April 2008

Paul writes; After several weekends of time trials where the riders were wrapped up against biting winds or heavy rains it was good to get out to an event where the weather was almost "pleasant". Leg and arm warmers are beginning to be shed as the temperatures slowly drag themselves towards "bearable" and, consequently, times are beginning to get faster.

The early numbers had the benefit of the still of the morning but as more riders set off so the wind rose slightly making it a bit more difficult for the later riders.

Paul Thatcher (Brighton Mitre CC) set the early mark with 58.31 and this stood for almost twenty minutes until Martin Williamson (SCCU PM) came in with 58.06. Ten minutes later it was Tim Stevens (34th Nomads) who went top with 55.51,

Fast times were beginning to come in with seventeen riders in all making it under the hour.

After Stevens it was Mike Coyle (VC Etoile) who went top in a time of 55.32, then after another twenty minutes it was Keith Coffey (Bec CC) who shaved twenty one seconds off the lead time and posted 55.11.

It was all down to what scratch man Steve Dennis (East Grinstead CC) could do. On the early part of the course there wasn't much between him and Coffey, maybe a handful of seconds, and on the long stretch down to the "bottom turn" it was still close, but over the distance Dennis managed to carve out a twenty second gap on the Bec CC rider, eventualy coming home in 54.51.

Of some consolation to Coffey was the fact that he led Bec CC to the team prize along with Shaun Kennedy (5th place - 56.17) and James Hughes (17th place - 59.42).

The Ladies section of the event was won by Addicombe CC's Tamar Collis who posted a time of 1.05.05. second was Deborah Percival (34th Nomads CC) with 1.06.45.

Pictures by Paul J Wright, contact him for more pictures and Hi-Res - pjw2409@tiscali.co.uk