Every month we take a quick look at the highlights from the previous month. July covered all aspects of our sport, from grass track to tarmac and also the mountains of Europe – There’s something for everyone
Track
At the start of the month Katie-Ann Elliston was representing the club at the Plomsgate grass track where she finished second overall in the women's omnium with a third in the women's devil and second in the unknown distance event. In the 5-kilometre Katie-Ann attacked the bunch on the final lap to finish fourth overall and in the last event of the day, the 500m handicap Katie-Ann won all her heats and progressed through to the final, where up against the other four finalists, all male she stormed through to take first place.
A week later and Katie-Ann was riding at the Heckington Show an event that has been running for 154 years! Coming third in the 400m and fourth in the one-mile scratch saw Katie-Ann win third overall winning a BC National championship bronze medal.
Club Track Championships
Sunday 17 July saw the annual club track championships take place at Herne Hill, south London. With some great racing taking place during the afternoon, and eight riders competing for the Championships, it wasn’t long before Katie-Ann started to dominate the events and consequently going on to win the championships, her fourth in succession and a new club record.
Time trials
At the start of the month the club promoted the Norman Wells 50-mile time trial, on a new course near Writtle as a pre-cursor to staging the National 50 in 2023, as part of the clubs centenary celebrations.
On the day David Halliday (Team Boootrill) took the win in 1hr 51 mins 18 sec with second going to Wheelers rider Henry OKill 1hr 55mins 18 Secs. Paul Gribbon (pictured right) finished in a creditable time of 2hrs 17 mins 21 secs for his first 50. Jan Harvey-Burns (pictured left) won the women’s event in 2hrs 15mins 31 secs, almost 20 mins from her nearest competitor.
Success came for the Wheelers in the HPC 10-mile TT with Dan Jenkins bring the team home in a time of 22:44. Dan Walsh produced a personal best of 22:51 as did Women rider Jan Harvey-Burns, 25:11, whilst Club Junior, Thomas Womack (23:29); Andrew Merchant (26:45) and Adam Jones (26:46) all produced course best times. Former club juniors James Jenkins (19:31) and Simon Alexander (20:56), both riding for Richardson’s Trek team, produced outstanding rides on the day.
Earlier in the month Paul Gribbon and Dan Jenkins both rode the Essex Roads 25-mile tt on the e1/25d course, which due to roadworks on the day was reduced to 14.8 miles. Not deterred by the change of distance Paul went on to gain second on the handicap.
Road racing
Its’ been a busy month on the road race scene with riders of all ages competing around the country.
At the start of the month several riders took part in the Colchester Centurion Summer Race Series at the Northern Gateway circuit. Dan Pugh finished just outside the top ten in 11th place, with Jon Rouse finishing in the bunch. In the 3rd and 4th category event Club Junior Tom Womack put in a a great effort to claim 14th place.
By mid-July Jon Rouse and Dan Pugh were representing the club in the Kent League series with Jon finishing 15th in the category 4 race and Dan placing tenth in the category 3 race. Dan Pugh was in action again at the Simon Hook Memorial Road Race alongside Henry O’Kill, with Henry taking 13th and Dan 22nd placings.
Towards the end of the month the British Cycling Masters Criterium Championships was held at the Hillingdon Circuit, West London. The racing which took place over two days saw several current and past Wheelers competing. Bob Barber riding the 70-74 age category finished fifth, whilst in the younger 65-69 years age group, Wheeler Roger Crouch finished sixth and another ex-Wheeler Peter Anderson who had travelled down from Leeds also finished sixth. On day two Dan Pugh was in action in the 45-49 years age group, finishing in the bunch.
Handcycling For club hand cyclist Rob Womack it was a long drive up to Rhyl, north Wales, a journey worth taking where he finished in first place in three of the stage races, second in another and winning the overall event.
It’s not all racing…
Every year the Wheelers assist at the Southend High School for Boys, Big Bike Ride. Acting as bike checkers and ride leaders along with the teachers hundreds of riders make their way to Shoebury East Beach where a barbeque greets them before the ride back.
The annual club barbecue also took place mid-july, where riders returning from the Sunday morning club runs, families and friends of the club were able to meet up and relax in the hot afternoon sun and catch up with some tasty food thrown in for good measure.
Whilst some members like to race, others don’t and prefer relaxing rides around the country lanes of Essex, one member in particular heads over to the continent and for this year, that was a five-day tour of the Alps! During which time Martin Harris visited and rode up several well-known cycling climbs including Le Col du Galibier and Alpe d'Huez. Going to prove that cycling takes many different forms and there’s something for all tastes.