The Wheelers promoted their own open races based around Boroughbridge this weekend. Both the 25 mile time trial and the 50 mile were based around the A168. The weather for the 25 on the Saturday afternoon was not good but due to the good course it had attracted a full field of riders (120 men) plus 12 women and 3 Juniors.
Ben Kellet our up and coming Junior rider was off no. 1 and rode an excellent race to finish well in front of his nearest rival in an amazing time of 56.08 – this demonstrates Bens potential for the future and reflects the hard work and many miles he has put into training.
Disaster struck during the ladies race with an experienced lady being knocked off as she rode along the rode by a driver who was turning right and “did not see her”. It was a bad accident and the air ambulance had to be called. We all wish the lady cyclist the very best in her recovery. This meant the race had to be stopped. Our own Samantha Mannion started before the accident and did finish the race in a good time of 1 hour 7 minutes and 59 seconds.
The 50 on the Sunday was organised by Samantha and the rest of the Wheelers all volunteering as marshalls, time keepers etc. Just 3 Wheelers rode this early season 50, Andrew Kerry recording the fastest time for the Wheelers and a new PB of 2:05:09 followed closely by Rachael Mellor – who also recorded a PB in 2:05:20. 3rd Wheeler home but not on top form due to his recent hard road race schedule, was Richard Binks in 2:09:30. Richard had recently come in 6th in the Percy Stallard National Vets Road Race, 7th in the Glossop hilly TT and an excellent 3rd in the Tour of Abberleys – a 3 day vets race in 4 stages based in the Midlands. He was 4th out of 90 in the prologue, 2nd in Stage 2, 6th in stage 3 and pulled back some placings in the hilly stage 4 giving him 5th and 3rd overall.
