Ross-on-Wye and District Cycling Club held the first of their summer races at Old Gore on Thursday, April 21st. The event should have been held on the popular Walford course, but due to traffic lights, was switched to Old Gore for the ten mile race.

The first event shows who has been training over the winter months, some in the gym, some on Turbo trainers and the old fashioned ones out on the roads. With very little wind to battle into, Will Bevan took the outright win quite easily covering the 10 miles in 23 minutes and 29 seconds. Unbelievably he wasn’t happy with that.

Starting his first proper season, Rick Harris took second spot (25:26), highlighted at the club’s prize presentation as one to watch this year. Dave Pearce of Royal Dean Forest was third. Paul Stephens was third Ross rider home in 26:16, with ex club champion Alan Cook in 26:56. First lady home was Angie Downs in 33:36. The ladies section of the club has grown exponentially in the last few years, making up a large portion of the club, even taking over the Friday pensioners’ rides

Other times were James Coull 27:33, Sam Walker 27:34, Bob Hill 29:00, Kerry Trigg, 29:19, Tom Knight 29:23, James Wilson 29:24, Richard Harrington 30:03, Charles White 32:09, Paul Cooper 32:25, Jon Airey 32:25, and Rachel Rend 36:19.

Last month Will Bevan and Paul Stephens travelled to Neath to race a 25 mile time trial as a pair working together taking it in turns to cut through the air. Very strong winds helped push the speed up to 40 mph on the open sections, it also saw the speed drop to 18mph travelling in the opposite direction.

Each team started two minutes apart, but that didn’t stop them passing 10 other teams, to finish fifth overall in 59:02, less than half a minute from third place. Without a few of the problems during the event, would have almost certainly taken third.

Details of upcoming races can be found by searching Ross cyclist on the web or facebook.