Swindon RC riders tested on hills around Dursley (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Swindon RC riders tested on hills around Dursley

FIVE Swindon Road Club members competed in the Dursley Hilly 22.5-mile time trial, the most challenging of the WTTA Hardriders series events, on the hills to the south of the Severn valley.

A field of 52 riders rose to the challenge on a bright, windy morning with Nik Gardiner (Timetrial.co.uk) taking the honours in a time of one hour, five minutes and one second.

Swindon's Mick Murkin finished fastest veteran on a course that reduced a number of riders, including the club's Chris Broad-Drake, to running certain sections with 1-in-4 gradients.

Paul Gregg led home the rest of the SRC contingent with an excellent time of 1.13.37 that was eventually good enough for 18th place.

But Dursley RC once again took the team prize with Gloucester pushing SRC back into third spot.

With five of the 12 hardriders events completed, the SRC team of Broad-Drake, Sherwood and Lowe currently lie in second place behind Dursley RC.

The beautiful spring weather resulted in very large turnout for last week's club evening '10', jointly promoted by the SRC and the Corinium CC.

Some 45 riders signed on, representing the promoting clubs and the Cheltenham & County, Angliasport, Evans Cycles and Swindon Wheelers. Near ideal conditions allowed many riders to achieve personal bests on the course.

Results and times are as follows:

C Broad-Drake 23.41 (PB), R Foskett 23.46 (PB), T Sherwood 23.46, G Messer, 23.53, J Schvartz 23.53 (PB), M Kent 24.20, N Lowe 25.35, A Roberts 25.42, S Telford 25.50, J Foster 25.56, M Allen 26.16, I Foskett 26.35, S Davis 27.17, R Cantwell 27.30, B McPhail 28.01, A Smith 28.13 (PB), T Holdsworth 29.02, L Foster 34.34.

The sixth event in the WTTA Hardriders series is a 24-mile course near Devizes that includes the ascents of Milk Hill and Blacklands.

A field of over 60 riders, including four SRC members, signed up for the event, which was won by David Kiddell (Cavalier CC) in 58.28, with Swindon's Daniel Higgs taking the junior prize.

Chris Lowe improved to finish in eighth place in 1.2.02, leading in teammates Trevor Sherwood (24th), Chris Broad-Drake (26th) and Mick Murkin (38th).

The result consolidated the road club's second position in the team competition.

For news and information about the Swindon Road Club, check out its website on www.swindon-rc.co.uk