Spring is sprung for Andover Wheelers (From Basingstoke Gazette)
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Wheeler Duncan gains top four spot in Army series
3:00pm Wednesday 6th March 2013 in Andover
Andover Wheeler Gary Burley enjoyed a personal best
The first weekend of spring saw plenty of action for Andover Wheelers Cycling Club.
At the REME outdoor track in Ludgershall, round eight of the Army Cycling Union Winter Series took place.
In the third category support race, Wheelers’ vice captain Alan Spurden spent most of the 50 minute race near the front of the main group. No clear breaks were achieved so it came down to a last lap bunch sprint. Alan was in the first three coming off the top bend but was swallowed up by riders coming round the outside.
By the final turn he ran wide in an attempt to break out and dropped back. A top ten finish was still commendable.
In the main race for Elite first and second cat riders, a small group managed to gap the bunch with ten minutes to go. Wheelers’ Duncan Lancashire bridged the front group and the five worked well together fending off the pelaton by around ten seconds. Duncan, mainly known for his hill climbing skills, held it together for the sprint and finished in an unofficial fourth place.
Just down the Test Valley near Romsey, local club Sotonia CC were holding the first open time trial of the season over a ten mile dash down the A3057 toward Romsey and back.
The cold weather meant fast times would be tough to achieve but Wheelers’ Gary Burley put in a sterling effort to finish mid-table with a personal best. Erstwhile captain and TT specialist, Simon Healey, finished as the top Wheeler in an overall third place, showing that the winter training miles were paying off.
On Sunday, the Wheelers’ early season time trials continued with the medium gear event on a new 25-mile circuit around three laps of the Red Rice route. On a freezing cold morning, 15 hardy souls spun their legs to put in some impressive times. It was won by Alan Spurden, who had a busy weekend and completed the course in 1hr 7min 41secs. Runner up was Simon Healey in 1.09.06 and third was Pete Harris in 1.15.31.
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