New Forest News

YOU’VE got to be in it to win it, they say.Writes Bob Jolliffe......... That’s certainly true for New Forest Cycling Club’s Stuart Peckham who, as well as leading his club’s championship table, has won the Thorney Hill series.
His answer is to be there and be consistent. Ben Boardman may have beaten him by 39 seconds in the second of the two Thorney Hill series time trials with his time of 23-54, but he only took part in the latter event.
Peckham’s time for the two tough 10-mile events – 25-37 for the first and 24-35 for the second – totalled 50-02. Keith Bradfield, another rider who likes to “be there”, took second in the overall with 26-00 last week and 26-32 in the first event.
And up-and-coming rider Graham Lenton took third overall with 26-28 in the second race and 27-02 in the first.
The test, on the Thorney Hill-Burley-Crow loop with its hard climb of Braggers Wood Hill to the summit finish, was also the first of what will hopefully become an annual inter-club event between the newly-formed Hargroves Cycles Cycling Club and New Forest CC.
This one went firmly to “The Forest” with Hargroves’ fastest rider, Phil Glasgow, taking fourth in the competition with 25-20 behind Boardman, Peckham and junior Hugo Walters (24-45). Geri Robinson was NFCC’s fourth counter, one position behind Glasgow with 25-31.
Others (NFCC unless stated): Peter Wilson (Bournemouth Arrow CC) 25-12, Andrew Hanley 25-36, Martin Plumb (Veralum CC) 25-47, Dan Mitchell 26-41, Rob Brinsdon 26-56, Tom Reid (juvenile) 27-01, Paul Langdon and Phil Wilks (both Hargroves CCC) tied on 27-06, Gary Plumb 27-09, Richard Rajski 27-24, Phil Underwood 27-35, Chris Conrath 27-58, Konnor Bracher-Walsh 28-08, Phil Jones 28-43, Antony Moyle 28-53, Geoff Weller 28-56, Peter Norris 29-00, Paul Shields 29-07, Chris Mills 29-37, Mark Hudson (Come and Try It) 31-10, Peter Hawker 31-53, Chris Norris (juvenile) 32-48, Gemma Wilks (Hargroves CCC) 33-19, Martin Balk 33-40, Tracy Mitchell 34-35. Hargroves’ member Steven Whitcher punctured and finished with 34-35.
Peckham fourth
Stuart Peckham was in the mix two evening later in Bournemouth Arrow’s evening 10 on the Ringwood to Sopley road, won by Poole-domiciled High Wycombe CC rider Adam Topham in a rapid 21-07.
Peckham took fourth in 23-57 behind Primera’s Will Chambers (22-39) and GA Cycles’ Simon Barnes (23-36). Other NFCC times: Howard Doe 25-51, Richard Baldwin 28-06.
All ages enjoy birthday ride
Fifteen New Forest CC members aged 14 to 74 enjoyed the club’s annual birthday ride on Sunday.
Tom Reid was the youngest participant at age 14 while club president Roger Bacon, at age 74 proved he still has the power by completing the 104km ride just a week after finishing the Cyclists’ Touring Club’s veteran’s tri-centennial 100-mile over a very hilly course in Cornwall with other club septuagenarian Peter Hawker.
Sunday’s Forest circuit started at Sway and took in Sowley, Calshot, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, Emery Down, Linwood, Ringwood and Burley.