Mark Elms wins at Dunton & The Norman Wells Memorial Trophy

On Wednesday Southend Wheelers held their Club Championship 10 miles time trial out at Steeple. Fastest time was set by David Bryant to take the Championship in 23mins, 22secs. Runner up was Keith Dalton who recorded 25mins, 26sec and he also took the 1^st veteran award. Jenny Patience posted a time of 26mins, 28secs to take the ladies award and Matthew Kane was fastest junior with another personal best time of 28mins, 29secs. 

On Sunday the Wheelers promoted their Open 50 miles time trial in the Steeple area. The damp conditions made the corners slippery for the 57 entrants. However, the conditions did not hinder Paul Smith, PCA Ciclos Uno from speeding round the course in a superb time of 1hr, 54mins and 7secs to take the Norman Wells Memorial Trophy for the second year in succession. The 2^nd podium place went to ex Southend rider Colin Willgress, Essex Roads CC, with a time of 1hr, 59mins, and 35secs. The third podium place was claimed by Hugh Vivien with a time of 2hrs, 2mins, and 57secs. Fastest Southend rider was David Bryant, in a creditable 2hrs, 3mins and 9secs in 5^th place and winner of Group “A. The other Southend rider was Keith Dalton who recorded 2hrs, 15mins, and 24secs. 

Thursday saw the Wheelers out in force again with 9 competitors at Dunton for the Ford Cycling Club’s 4^th category race. Novice rider Nigel Beeson in his first race found the going tough in the fast conditions and was soon dropped from the main bunch to finish the race on his own. Simon Alexander won the first intermediate sprint and was prominent in attempts to break away from the field. Soon after the halfway point, a group of eight riders, including Mark Elms, went clear of the main field and gradually built up a lead approaching a minute. Alexander made a lone attack to try and bridge the gap, but it was too late and he was marooned between the leaders and the main pack of about 25 riders. In the run in too the finish, Elms went for an early sprint and held off the chasers to score a superbly judged win. Alexander was 30secs in arrears in 9^th place while Dave Whybrow, Mike Knott, Graham Pearl all finished in the main Bunch. Elms senior and Terry Butcher had been tailed off earlier and finished a lap behind. David Bryant for the second time in two weeks was brought down in a crash and was unable to finish.