Weekly Round-up (Posted from India)

image, sportagraph.com
• Poole-Based mountain biker, Sally Bigham (Topeak-Ergon) has just returned home after a hectic few weeks travelling and racing. A year’s sabbatical from her Bournemouth University job, has given her the time to concentrate on cycling, and the extra training time is starting to pay dividends. Bigham, with Karien Van Jaarsveld, recently won the Cape Epic stage race in South Africa and followed up that victory with second place at the Rocky Mountain Bike Marathon at Riva Del Garda, Italy. The 105 KM course included 3561 meters of climbing with lots of technical descents, made tricky after a few days rain. Sally loves this race and after missing out last year due to injury,was glad to be back. So glad in fact, she had been training in the Italian mountains the week before the event. Bigham was forced to give second best to the Finnish cyclist, Pia Sundstedt, who proved too strong on the long mountain climbs. Bigham’s time of 5hrs 7 was only 3 minutes behind the flying Finn.

image;Sportograph.com

She will now focus on the European and World Championships next month, “I am hoping to improve on my 7th & 8th placing’s last year. After that I will race the Trans Alp, an 8 day stage race in July. I will also be racing in other, big one day marathon events in Austria,Norway and France” Said Sally.

• Warming up for the National Championships in Hartelepool in two weeks’ time, Stephen Whitewick (Utag Yamaha) won the Hampshire RC 10 mile time trial. Recording a time of 20.21, Whitewick finished 21 seconds ahead of team mate and British Best All-Rounder, Julian Jenkinson. Terry Icke (Poole Wh), with 22.19 finished in 8th place. Whitewick will face stiffer competition at the National 10 Champs, with Olympic gold medalist Bradley Wiggins (Sky Pro Cycling) expected to take the title. Other locals in the mix were
J Thacker (vc st Raphael) 22.27, J Chapman (cc Weymouth) 23.10, N Spencer (BJW) 23.34, R Martin (Poole WH) 23.38, T Jeffries (NFCC) 24.49, Judith Martin (PW) 27.50. Claire Day (Born to Bike) won the Ladies race at the Ogmore Valley Wheelers 25. With a time of 1.01.19 on the R25 in Wales, Claire also finished ahead of husband Tim,1.02.48.

This years Moreton Village circuit series kicks off next Thursday, 12th May. Long time promoter, Pete Washington is standing down this year so the series is being run on a Co-Operative bases. All riders hoping to race will be expected to marshall at least one event in the 13 race series. Enough people have already volunteered to officiate at the first race. You can sign up to marshall on the date of your choice on the Series website; moretoncycleraces.org.uk. Racing is under The League International rules with a handicap format. The Moreton circuit is fast and flat with three corners that come round quickly, race distance is about 30 miles/1hr 10m. Entry is on the line with the first group off at 7pm.
Hugo Walters (NFCC) Picked up 4th in the U16s at the Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth last Saturday, Walters team mate John Heffernan & Steve Moss & Ellie Gilham (Bournemouth Arrow/Hotel Collingwod) were also racing.

Alex Rowe (BJW)


• Rob Jeffries (Poole WH) consistently picks up results on the track, at the Bank Holiday meeting at Palmer Park Velodrome, Reading. Jeffries won the B sprint final and placed 2nd in the Derny Paced race. His team mate Gordon Skillen, however was not so lucky, a crash in the final race of the meeting saw Gordon T Bone a couple of riders. He left some skin on the track but was more concerned about his broken frame. Meanwhile, Alex Rowe (BJW) came off in a downhill MTB event and sustained a broken elbow, (did mine in a RR two years ago and i can tell you its very painful). Apparently Alex hit a tree!!

club events



Poole Wheelers 27km 2/5/11 P433 14 Starters
1, P Jones(BJW) 37.21
2, S Biirtwistle 38.23
3, L Girling 39.39

BJW 10 3/5/11 P303 19 Starters
1, L Piercy (drag2zero) 23.13
2, M Savage 23.42
3, S Mclaughlin 23.51

New Forest CC 10 2/5/11 P337 29 Starters
1, C Humm 24.17
2, B Boardman 24.23
3, R Claridge (Crabwood CC) 24.26

CC Weymouth 10 2/5/11 P451 14 Starters
1, B Riglar 24.36
2, J Thacker (vc St Raphael) 25.13
3, J Glynn 25.18

Poole WH 10 4/5/11 P431 23 Starters
1,G Dighton 23.01
2,S Birtwistle 23.02
3,T Icke 23.08

Bournemouth Arrow 10 5/4/11 P311 26 Starters
1,W.Stephenson 22.29
2,W Newbury(Primera) 22.41
3,N Spencer 23.14