Sunday 9th May saw Newbury Road Club hosting the first Open event on the new 25 mile course between Thatcham and Theale – H25/1a. With the weather warmer than previous club events on the course and a strong field it was inevitable that the course records would fall.
As it was, over 3 minutes was taken off the previous record of 53m 17s by Richard Pywell (Team Botterill) just failing to duck under 50 minutes, finishing 1st in 50m 06s. An average of a fraction under 30mph.
For the women Lizi Duncombe (Socks4Watts RT) led home the female riders in 57m 30s and a new women's course record.
In a field of just over 60 riders, almost half finished under the hour. On the veterans side, James Fawcett, (a3crg) took the honours with a plus of 16m 40s. In an event that had 6 teams, the team award went to the Army Cycling trio of (Stefan Gloyn, Jonathan Hitch and Jeremy Redford) 2hr 40m 30s.
Newbury Road Club had several of it's own riders with Claire Emons recording a season's best time of 58m 51s,
Tristan Davenne finishing with 57m 59s, Marion Templeman 62m 12s and Cliff Voller 63m 09s
It was great to have so many members of the club turning out to help arrange the event and ensure it ran safely on the day.
Thanks to all the helpers, Debbie Dawes, Nestor Patrikios, Guy Jackson, Tom Rossiter, George Catlow, Dave Portwood, Chris Burch, Sian Lakey, Becky Milsom, Glen Knight, Bob Lyle, Ian Lakey and to Lorraine Murrell for recruiting our volunteers. Fortunately on the day they enjoyed a dry if somewhat breezy spell at the side of the road.