New season for Swindon RC's racing brigade kicks off at Thruxton (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

New season for Swindon RC's racing brigade kicks off at Thruxton

ON a bitterly cold and windy morning, Swindon Road Club's road racing season kicked off with the De Mayo circuit races at Thruxton last weekend.

Having spent much time of late racing mountain bikes, Tim Morris tried his hand at the Junior race, finishing a respectable third behind Marc Perry (team Maestro) and Jon Opie (Tor2000).

In the fourth-cat race, James Carrington garnered his first valuable BC points with an excellent fourth place.

One place behind was Scotsman Simon Nicoll taking a break from his arduous triathlon training.

Swindon RC ladies are far from idle as Jayne Croston demonstrated when taking fifth place in the Surrey League circuit races at Hillingdon.

Tracy Clark (High Wycombe) took the win in front of Tamar Collis (Addiscombe CC).

Over 80 riders signed on for the Chippenham Wheelers Hilly 24-mile time trial, the first event of the WTTA Hardriders series.

In cool and dry conditions, Paul Pickup (Liphook Cycles) scooped the win with a very respectable time of 55min 30sec.

Best result for the sizeable Swindon RC contingent was produced by Chris Pike in 1.04.15, Chris Broad-Drake 1.05.53, Trevor Sherwood 1.06.04, Sean Bolton 1.07.03, Rob Merrison 1.07.22, Graham Messer 1.07.32 and Gary Loyden 1.15.27.

For news and information about the Swindon RR, see website on www.swindon-rc.co.uk