Chard Wheelers stage annual time trial competition (From This is The West Country)

Chard Wheelers stage annual time trial competition

11:00am Tuesday 25th September 2012 in News

A SUNNY Saturday morning at Merryfield saw Chard Wheelers stage their annual Time Trial Championships.

The racing was hotly contested with 15-year-old Rob Hogg winning not only the Under-16 title but also the overall club championship. His time of 22 mins 13 secs for just under ten miles was a great achievement in his first proper year of racing. Paul Barratt took second and also went under 23 minutes.

Dave Lane was third and last year’s champion, Nigel Ware, finished fourth. Alan Braley collected another Lanterne Rouge for last place riding his recumbent bike but surely won the prize for most elegant and stylish rider.

Wiebke Rietz won the Ladies category by some margin and immediately drove off to Cornwall for a circuit race. She needed only 14 BC ranking points to achieve Elite racing status and secured enough points at Portreath to achieve it. Britain only has 14 Elite women riders.

Sue White in her first ever competitive cycle race took second in the ladies’ TT at Merryfield. Her son, Ryan, won the Under-14 section and chairman Brandon Ellis’ son, Rowan, won the Under-12s.

Evan Richards and Magnus Larsen won the under-ten and under-eight categories respectively. Ruby Bond, Ryan White and Rob Hogg attended a South-West regional squad session at Newport velodrome in Wales.

After three hours’ training they were accredited and all three are now cleared and trained for track racing.

For more information about Chard Wheelers and its varied activities phone Brandon Ellis on 01460-221479, Dave White on 01460-57875 or visit the club website.