Lightning strikes in France

by Fergus Muir
Friday, September 2, 2011
11:21 AM

SEVERAL local riders were among the 5,225 taking part in the 1230 Km Paris-Brest-Paris Audax ride, held every four years.

The weather was broadly kind – Dunmow rider Tom Deakins rode throughout in cycling sandals - and cannily avoided a thunderstorm by taking three hours sleep in the next control when lightning lit up the sky ahead.

Ian Reid from Barnby near Beccles commented: “The things that stand out in my mind are the people at the side of the road, ordinary French families cheering the riders on with ‘bon courage’ or ‘bon route’ as you passed at any time of the night or day.”

Nino Piccoli (20:10) was the winner of the Anglia Velo 10 on the A14 ahead of Peter Balls (West Suffolk Whs) 20:49. Great Yarmouth CC’s Neil Turner took third place in 21:21.

A brisk breeze from the west gave the riders a headwind out to the turn at Risby. Wind blew away hopes of fast times in the VC Norwich 10 on Bank Holiday Monday. “Not as fast out as expected,” said Piccoli who won, this time in 20:50. And it was definitely a slog back. Jim Burgess (Anglia Velo) was second in 22:12 and Gavin Moore(Stowmarket & District) third in 22:15.

The previous day Moore was with Jonny Shuster and Liam Gentry in a ten-man break in the Eastern Road Race League race at Bicknacre. The group worked well together, stayed away and the Suffolk trio finally took third, fourth and fifth places respectively behind winner Brian Crump (Eagle RC)

Racing on a tight and challenging circuit on the sloping car park of County Hall, Norwich, Matt Toone (Stowmarket & District) outsprinted Phil Buick (Iceni Velo) to win the senior race. The next racing there, planned for Sunday, September 11 has been cancelled – the track is needed for car parking for a rescheduled premiership football match. However there will be racing for all ages there on Sunday, September 25.

Results:

VC Norwich 10, Morley: 1 Nino Piccoli (Team Pedal Revolution) 20:50, 2 J Burgess (Anglia Velo) 22:12, 3 G Moore (Stowmarket & District) 22:15, 4 M Arnold (Pedal Revolution) 22:16, 5 D Murphy (Diss CC) 22:21, 6 G Rushmore (King’s Lynn CC) 22:38, 7 A Stuart (VC St Raphael) 22:50, 8 D Lorne (Norwich ABC) 22:52, 9 L Wright (North Norfolk Whs) 23:03, 10 N Vaughan (VC Norwich) 23:11.

RAY Legg who has died after a stroke at the age of 65 was one of the best known characters on the Suffolk cycle racing scene.

The West Suffolk Wheelers club member knew everyone in time trialling, had an encyclopedic knowledge of the sport and was never happier than when talking about it. He liked to ride his bike every day, mile on mile, and, having just retired, was looking forward to doing just that.

As his voice made clear, Ray was originally from south London and my first record of him in competition was aged 22, riding for the Sorian RC in the 1968 West Suffolk Wheelers 12-Hour.

He covered 220 miles. Ray actually joined West Suffolk Wheelers around 1974 and subsequently won the Bury club’s 12-Hour Cup no less than 16 times. He preferred the longer distances and the last event he rode was the CC Breckland 12-Hour just a week before his death.

He did 189 miles, achieving a dearly-held ambition – gaining a Veterans TTA Plaque for beating the standard for his age at all four main distances by an improved margin all in the same year.

The funeral will be on Monday at 12.45pm at the West Suffolk Crematorium, Risby near Bury St Edmunds.

Cyclists are urged to come on bikes and in cycling gear, parking at Risby Village Hall.