Amy Pritchard leads London invasion to take victory at Wolsey Road Club 25
Amy Pritchard on her way to winning the Pat Pepper Trophy in a new course record at the Wolsey RC 25. Picture: Dominic Austrin - Credit: Archant
A friendly invasion from London women-only cycling club Giant Camden Team Liv was a feature of the Wolsey Road Club 25 in the Waveney Valley.
Gorleston rider Lucas He, was the first junior, at the Wolsey RC 25. Picture: Dominic Austrin - Credit: Archant
Amy Pritchard, who won the Pat Pepper Trophy at the event last April and subsequently wowed Wolsey club members at their prize presentation lunch, returned this year bringing a minibus full of 11 teammates and their bikes.
Pritchard duly came up with the goods in the shape of a repeat win and a new women's course record of 1:00:33 for the Redenhall-Bungay two-lapper. Amy was most closely watching Verity Smith (Stowmarket & District) but in fact it was Becky Murley (formerly Taylor) of Wisbech Wheelers who led the East Anglian defence – taking second place in 1:01:03 with Verity third with 1:03:29.
Cindy Berry, the Norwich rider who rides for Pedal Power Ipswich, came next with 1:03:52, followed by Rachel Holman (1:05:13) and Jan Smith (1:07:14), the Great Yarmouth rider who is slicing minutes off her times this season.
Turning to the men, two black arrows from VeloVelocity dominated – with Stuart Fairweather (53:12) the fastest, from Ben Stancombe (54:03).
Cindy Berry was the top Norwich finisher in fourth at the Wolsey RC 25. Picture: Dominic Austrin - Credit: Archant
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Said Fairweather: 'I think it was a slow day and I couldn't get my heart rate up but I did okay and ended up winning.
'It was cold and misty, so I don't think many people went particularly well.'
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Nevertheless VC Baracchi's Lucas He won the Junior prize in style with 56:04 for fifth place overall.
Young Norwich rider James Pickering put in a storming ride in the third round of the Mud, Sweat and Gears MTB series, winning the Sport category and being beaten only by two Expert/Elite riders.
Wisbech Wheeler Becky Murley at at the Wolsey RC 25. Picture: Dominic Austrin - Credit: Archant
Racing on dry ground around the treeless Olympic Park at Stratford, competitors found harsh and bumpy going.
'Loads of punctures, due to a lot of rocks,' said Kieran Jarvis who was third in Expert/Elite.
Nicole Beck (Epic Orange) was Female Sport winner comfortably clear of Emma Bond of HKR.
Heacham roadman Charlie Wright took sixth place in the Simon Hook Memorial road race in Essex, sprinting for the minor placings behind lone winner Arlen Vartazarian (HJL).
