Steve and Sam top the Victoria 2up Championship - Martin Jones smashes the N&DCA 25 - 25 July 2015

The Engine has seen riders posting quick times all over the region in the last few weeks, In truth it's hard to keep track with the mid-week 10s and club events. Martin Jones and Steve Franklin have been bothering the scorers in the midlands (on the K courses) and Roy Robinson has been making incursions on the Kent courses.

Four of the team were recently (18 July) at the Team Cambridge 10 on the F2D/10, version that turns at Madingley roundabout. Dave Wentworth led the team home in 23:46, David Ledgerton followed with 24:09, Roy Robinson with 26:31 and Stuart Hocknell with 30:04.

And that's just a snippet. So on to a quick round-up of this weekend's open events, And yes, the lads smashed it, proving that the team is evolving further.

Happy and Glorious, Victorious in the Victoria
Like London buses, you wait a few days for races to come along and then you get two on the same day. As defending champions the dynamic duo braved the rather chilly and windy morning conditions to go and smash out a short-23 on the rolling 10.2 miler.

Sam Hayes (rear) and Steve Robinson (front) in action in the third round of the Victoria CC 10.2 mile 2up

Dave 'The Legend' Ledgerton, deciding that one race in a day isn't enough used the Victoria event as a precursor for the afternoon's 25. Dave pushed out a 26-minute time for the 10.2 (26.22), demonstrating to all, that he is well and truly getting back to form.

David Ledgerton

It didn't rain over us (N&DCA Rd 7)
As if that wasn't enough, Steve decamped to Guilden Morden to set up the N&DCA Round 7 event. 'The Engine' were promoting this round of the event, with the support of our chums in the Bonito Squadra Corse. The event was based on the rather tough F14/25 Guilden Morden circuit.


The weather was dry but the wind conditions were challenging in places. However, this did not stop man-of-the-moment Martin Jones from stamping his mark on the top end of the results board. Martin clocked 55.51 to take 6th place (and 3rd place in the counting scores for the Association competition).

Martin Jones powering through the southern section to the turn

Following in Martin's footsteps (or tyre tracks?) were Simon Doyle, Steve Franklin and David Ledgerton. Doyle posted a 59.58 to just nip under the hour mark for the second time on this course in a week. 
The strength and quality of the field was so high that 18 riders posted 25mph+ times. 
Steve Franklin, in his inaugural F14/25 course ride, turned in a very creditable 1.04.15 to claim more points in his pursuit of glory in the over-arching competition. 

David posted a new LTS PB of 1.07.20.

Steve 'Whiskers' Franklin

Speedy Doyle

The N&DCA event was made possible through the support and commitment of many, including Mary and Chris Hartley, Rik Palmer and John Pick and, importantly, though he won't say so himself, Steve Robinson, 

Results are posted on the TimeTrialling Forum - N&DCA Rd 7 2015

All snaps courtesy of Davey Jones.

Andy Roffe hits his stride with a sub 21 minute 10

There was a time when a 21 minute ten was pretty much the benchmark for the quickest members of the team, but these days you need to be able to go sub 21 to really be able to claim to be one of the team's true fast men.

Over the last few weeks Andy Roffe has proved that he is right up there with Martin Jones and Sam Hayes by clocking a cracking 20:58 at the VTTA 10 the E2 at Newmarket to take a superb 11th place. Andy also followed this up with a 21:04 a couple of days later on the F20. Strong rides indeed!

Andy Roffe smashing it!

Andy was supported at the VTTA E2/10 by Dave Wentworth who, despite being full of antibiotics, rode superbly to clock 23:58. Dave has been knocked back this year by a few illnesses, but shows that even when on prescription drugs he can still clock some cracking times!

The following week saw a number of the team return to the E2 in search of PB's. Andy Roffe showed that he is the very epitome of consistency by clocking 21:10, his 3rd circa 29mph ride in 7 days!

Dave Wentworth was next up for the team, substantially improving on his previous ride to clock 23:35, and edge out the team's 3rd counter Chris Hartley who clocked a very creditable 24:13.

Roy Robinson is another of the more senior members of the team still putting in strong times. Having never ridden the E2 before he took to the course like a duck to water and recorded 26:20, his 2nd fastest 10 in the last ten years, and a sure sign that retirement seems to suit him.