Rachael and Ian get time trial win
33 riders take part in Easter Monday 25-mile sprint along A4
THE tandem pair of Rachael Elliott and Ian Greenstreet won Newbury Road Club’s 25-mile Easter Monday time trial, finishing in 52 minutes and 42 seconds.
The Newbury Velo riders hold a number of mixed national records, so it came as no surprise to see them come home in first place.
Of the solo riders, Henry Latimer of the Didcot Phoenix Club, comfortably took the honours with a time of 55m 27s, ahead of North Hampshire’s Lee Williams with 55m 42s and Andy Morgan from GS Henley in 56m 12s.
The Newbury RC programme of racing returned following the restarting of outdoor sports on March 29.
The event was the first since last October and provided many riders with their first taste of racing on the open road after many months of virtual racing.
Racing got under way at 9am on the A4 between Theale and Thatcham, using a new variation of a course that has been in use since the 1950s.
The event saw a mix of local riders from both the home club, Newbury Road Club and also Newbury Velo.
The club also welcomed some newcomers, as well as friends and regulars from other clubs in the area and from an entry of 40 riders, 33 actually took to the road.
Of the two women who entered, one succumbed to a mechanical failure just before the start, leaving Reading’s Teresa Robbins to compete, finishing in a very respectable 68m 30s.
Racing continues now on Wednesday evenings for the remainder of the spring and summer, while there are further bank holiday events at the beginning and end of May.
Full details can be found on the club’s website.