Revolution makes mark as records are sent tumbling

Fergus Muir

Published: 12:10 PM August 3, 2011 Updated: 2:17 PM October 10, 2020

National records were broken in the East District Cycling Association 100 mile time trial.

Team Pedal Revolution, sponsored by the Norwich bike shop and gathered together with breaking team records in mind, immortalised themselves when they broke the team competition record at 100 miles. This will no doubt eventually be beaten, but it will never be erased from the Cycling Time Trials handbook.

On a fine still morning on the Attleborough bypass course, Andy Bason led the team with 3-32:32, Nik Bowdler finished in 3-35:11 and Newmarket man Mark Arnold in 3-43:16, total 10-50:59 a 39 second beating of the Planet X record set in 2004. Bason, who lives in Telford, will be East District 100 mile champion, but was not quite as quick as event winner Julian Jenkinson whose journey from Southampton was rewarded with a winning time of 3-31:12. Jenkinson has had eight years making a living as a triathlon professional, but is now enjoying combining a job with the low-key atmosphere of time trialing.

Conditions were not perfect – it was shivering cold long after the 5.30am start, but local riders did some rides they will never forget – Dave Green from Thetford a personal best 3-46:48, Liam Gentry (Lowestoft) a debut 100 in 3-51:46, Duncan Lorne (Norwich ABC) and Martin Long (King's Lynn CC) squeezing just inside four hours with 3-59:06 and 3-59:59 respectively.

Lawrence Wright transformed the North Norfolk Wheelers club record with 4-1:03 while NABC member and Loughborough student Tim Finch sliced nine minutes off his best with 4-5:51. CC Breckland had veteran Chris Nudds on 4-7:04 and novice Matt Carter starting at the top with 4-10:21, just ahead of another first-timer Danny Watkins (4-15:01). The EDCA Ladies championship went to Laura Gambling in 4-28:01. The tandem pairs event produced another competition record – the ladies best falling to Essex Roads pair Lea Marshall and Gwen Cook in 4-4:15.

You may also want to watch:

• VC Norwich's Peter Hargreaves made his mark on the road racing scene winning the Essex Roads 44 mile road race near Maldon. The early miles followed a common pattern of short-lived breaks. Then Simon Bateson (East London Velo) broke clear away, and at first no-one chased. However Hargreaves – an Aviva worker in Norwich – attacked up the long hill, joined Bateson, and just took the sprint as the bunch came within yards of overhauling the pair. Martyn Dunnett (Diss, 17th) was next local finisher.

• Damp misty conditions enveloped the Hethel circuit for the final race of the Lotus cars season. Breakaway bids were firmly chased down and the result was settled by a sprint to a finish line moved to the wide back straight. Matt Thurston (Iceni Velo) led out and held on to win. Liam Gentry (VC Baracchi) came through to take second. Ipswich BC's Dan Zagni was third. Unattached Tim Money took the Go-Race for less experienced riders.