Wessex CX League, Round 5, Southampton
It was time for Sotonia's home round on Sunday for round 5 of the Wessex CX league at Southampton Sports Centre with 400 riders signed up and eager to tackle a slightly tweaked course from previous editions that featured rider "favourite" - The Bank of Doom and a whole bunch more corners!
Sotonia riders excelled in many of the day's races - in the U8s Leighton Riley was building a repertoire of celebrations after a second win with Annie Forsyth and Flo Boustred, 2nd and 3rd in the girls race. In the U10s, Ella Greenhalgh was on the podium with Theo Plumb second in the boys. Rita Howbrook finished 5th in the U12s and Eve Carline showed impressive skills on the 'Bank of Doom' in her U14 girls win.
Race of the day went to the U16 boys with Tom Allen locked in a 3-way battle for the whole race that came down to a bike throw in the sprint that he also won, with Tom Wilks 5th.
Not to be outdone, our junior men proved up to the task, Niclas Olley winning with George Connell 4th.
Next up the v40 open race and another strong ride by Andy Gardiner to win, Tom Budden (4th) and Pete Boustred (5th) also on the podium for Sotonia.
Emma Harrison was 5th in the Junior women's race, Gemma Wilks 3rd v40 female. Finally, club coaches Jon Hall and Phil Connell duked it out in the v50 open race, Jon narrowly taking the final podium spot with more clubmate duels no doubt to come this season!
As always, these events could not happen without the hard work of organisers Jez and Tom, with so many others also giving their time to help transport kit, set up, marshal and take down the course at the end of a long day. Big thanks to all involved in creating such a successful event!
September Segment Of The Month results
The return of autumn may have put off a few riders (along with the start of cross season), which meant that only 15 riders braved the Airfield East segment.
In the women’s competition, Jen Dawson claimed her second win of the season, beating Debbie Hallett into second place, and series leader Sophie Sellars into third. Just three points separate Sophie and Jen now, going into the last month.
Jeremy Hubbard continued his superb time trialling form to claim top spot, by a clear 30 seconds. Paul Macken came in second, with Sam Cooper claiming the final podium place. Jeremy now has a clear lead in the overall, but things are tight between Paul Macken and Will Weynberg for second place in the overall, with just 3 points separating them. The rest of the leader board was re-organised a bit, with some notably strong performances from Greg Sanger and Martin Nobbs.
Both competitions, though, will be shaken up a bit by the final points selection, with each rider being able to discard their lowest points tally for the final GC.
There were no entries in either the male or female U16 sections.
Our final segment of the month is a hard one to pace. “Keep going until it stops hurting” is a perfectly named segment on which to end the competition. Just outside of Winchester, there’s a steep first section and then a false flat to the end at 2.2 km.
Don’t forget to play your joker in this, the final month of the competition. Just let us know by the end of 3 October.
Good luck!
Full results are viewable here
Tim
August Segment Of The Month results
Last month sent Sotonians up a long climb in the New Forest. Sophie Sellars continued her 100% winner’s record in the female competition, with Jen Dawson hard on her heels. These two dominate the overall competition too, with Debbie Hallett not far behind.
Once again Will Weynberg came out on top in the men’s competition, recording the 3rd fastest all time climb up the segment; James Gilfillan was close behind, with the segment’s 7th overall fastest. Jeremy Hubbard continued his strong form to claim third place. In the overall, Will is in first place, with Jeremy Hubbard in second. Paul Macken takes the third spot, showing that wily experience still counts for a lot.
Tom Allen continued his 100% record in the U16s male; he's also the only entrant, but I doubt anyone can beat him...? No U16s female entrants, sadly.
September is one for the rouleurs. Once again, we send competitors out to the New Forest, this time to Airfield East. You’ll need to watch the weather forecast for this. It can be brutal if you find yourself plugging into a headwind for 4 km on the top of the Forest. (P.S, if you’re a tri-rider, please let us know if we need to discount any attempts done in a group!).
Full results are viewable here.
Wessex CX League, Round 1, Clanfield
Cross is back! Some very uncross-like conditions at Clanfield for round 1 of the Wessex CX league this weekend hosted by Solent Pirates. It was hot and hilly for a tough early season test and a big turnout from team Sotonia.
Impressive podium finishes for James Sutton in the U12s, Matilda Wilks and Eve Carline in the u14s, Tom Wilks and Tom Allen in the U16s, Niclas Olley in the Open Juniors, Gemma Wilks in the v40 Women and finally, a win for Andy Gardiner in the Open V40 race!
Great riding everyone.
Photos: Pitchside Paul
June Segment Of The Month results
Well, you may or may not be able to rely on England at the Euros, but you can rely on our segment of the month delivering.
In June, 22 Sotonians pulled themselves up the steep Loosehanger climb. Fastest overall was James Gilfillian, a new entrant to the competition, followed by last season’s overall competition winner, Andy Gardiner and then Will Weynberg.
Nothing could separate Jen Dawson and Sophie Sellars though, who shared the top step in the female competition, with Debbie Hallett taking third place.
Izzy Hall sat this month out, so there was no U16 female rider. Tom Allen was the sole U16 male rider, with a superb time that also placed him 7th in the open men’s competition.
It’s early in the season to read too much into the GC, but once again it looks like a competition between Jen and Sophie for the female top spot; 3 points separate those two. Will Weynberg heads the men’s competition by two points from Ed Slot.
Full results are viewable at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JK7LTq2wZX9MLy-DbK_JTsKVcCPXsXvpFgRB2cAEMec/edit?usp=sharing
Next month is a return to the rouleur competition. Choose a day when you get a westerly wind to blow you along the King Somborne Flat, and you’ll fly down this 5.5 km almost pan flat segment. https://www.strava.com/segments/5672925
And if you want to play your joker, let us know by the end of the third day of the month. Full rules of the completion are available at https://docs.google.com/document/d/16wxgkBCLWIyCIM9Ne3VOcBkP8jy1lXe3fKleM4EH02w/edit?usp=sharing
May Segment of the Month results
May’s segment contained an element of jeopardy, what with it crossing two level crossings and all. But 22 Sotonians entered; not all were lucky with the train times though.
Sophie Sellars was the fastest woman but is lying second in the women’s competition, courtesy of Issy Hall’s fast time (Issy was halted twice by the trains – ouch) and her bonus points for suggesting this segment. Sarah Needle and Jen Dawson round out the women’s podium. Issy was the only, and therefore the fastest, U16 female.
Ed Slot made a welcome return to the men’s competition. Will Weynberg may have found his return less welcome, as he beat Will into second place, with Jeremy Hubbard transferring his excellent TT form into a fine third position.
Full results can be viewed at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JK7LTq2wZX9MLy-DbK_JTsKVcCPXsXvpFgRB2cAEMec/edit?usp=sharing.
In June we go to Loosehanger climb https://www.strava.com/segments/3095383. This one is a 1300m sharp climb on the western edge of the Forest. You have one day left if you want to play your joker.
Full details of how to enter the competition can be found at https://docs.google.com/document/d/16wxgkBCLWIyCIM9Ne3VOcBkP8jy1lXe3fKleM4EH02w/edit It’s not too late to enter. The overall GC will be awarded based on 5 of the 6 months. So even if you missed May, you can still enter now and be on a level playing field with the early starters.
Tim
The Tandem Tart Ten is coming!
It’s not just all about tandems though. Come and join us on Sunday 23 June 2024 for a morning of fun in the beautiful New Forest. Held on the P164 R2 Lyndhurst course, you will probably have ponies, cows and the odd donkey cheering you on your way.
HQ is the Lyndhurst and District Community Centre. The event is aimed at all standards of cycling and all types of bikes. If you’ve never ridden a time trial before, please give it a go. You will be made most welcome.
All profits will be donated to the ME Association’s Ramsay Research Fund.
Get those entries in!
Solo Riders
https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/27178
2 up TTT
https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/27180
Tandems
https://www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/race-details/27179
2024 Segment Of The Month Competition
The 2024 edition of Sotonia’s Segment Of The Month competition will run from May to October this year and is open to all Sotonia riders.
We have improved the points structure (to allow you to still compete for the GC even if you have had to miss a single month) and have introduced a new category to entice the rouleurs or the climbers to enter a specialist competition.
Full details of how to enter the competition are available here.
May’s segment is a nice long, flat 13km loop around Lockerley, Tytherley and West Dean. What a way to start the season.
Jim Love obituary (15.01.1929 - 1.03.2024)
Jim Love may not be known to the now many members of the Willesden and Sotonia Cycling Clubs. He was modest, principled, a strong but gentle man. He started cycling as a teenager. As a Londoner he joined the Willesden Cycling Club when he was about 16 and quickly became a good rider taking part in time trails, track racing and of course club runs with often over 100 riders mobbing cafes!
Paddington track was his main track, then Herne Hill. By 1948 he had earned his place in the Olympic Team Pursuit. A bad crash a few weeks before the Olympics and an off-day at the penultimate training day meant he was reserve. Although some said it was team politics not to have too many “London boys” in the team, Jim was too modest to be drawn. The team won a Bronze Medal.
Jim maintained his links with the Willesden serving as club president. He still holds two Willesden Club records, maybe it is time to revive those events and try to beat him? He held the Club 25 record in 1949 at 1hr 1m 16s.
As a teenager Dad also became a keen photographer and over time took and inherited many photos. Jim, always meticulous, has passed this archive to the National Cycling Archive held at Warwick University free for anyone to visit.
Charity Bike Jumble
A printer by profession, Jim loved books. Most of these are being sold for charity at a Bike Jumble on 21st April in Brockenhurst.
One of Jim’s many friends and track rival was Charlie Mariner. In 1949 Charlie invited Dad to present prizes at the Southern Paragon annual dinner dance and it was there that Jim met Eileen, also a keen cyclist with the Southern Paragon. They married in 1952.
As many cycling clubs began to fade in 1960s Jim and Eileen became founder members of the Sotonia Cycling Club in 1967. Jim sketched the orange and white club vest early designs at their kitchen table. Jim was club coach and President and remained a Vice President.
Jim was also a member of the Pedal Club and Scrumpy Wheelers which showed the breadth of his love of cycling.
In the build up to 2012 Olympics in London Dad was honoured to be included meeting many athletes, politicians and Princess Anne several times. He was given tickets to the 2012 track cycling and triathlon and was astounded and delighted to see so many people understood and cheered the track cycling events.
Last summer Jim was again honoured to unveil a plaque at Herne Hill Velodrome to mark 75 years since the ‘48 Olympic track events were held there. Thought to be the last man standing from that track squad he was accompanied by his proud family and daughters of team members Reg Harris and Alan Geldard. This proved to be a fantastic family day out. Dad delighted in seeing all the youngsters racing at the same meeting as internationals “taking part in the best sport in the world”. This day buoyed him for the last few months of his long life.
Cycling was always the hub of Jim and Eileen’s lives with the spokes being the friends, social events, competition, holidays, adventures, photography, books, fitness, and more friends and the rim joining all these aspects of their life together.
Jim is survived by his wife and sister, both Eileen, children Brian and Carol, grand-daughters Imogen and Lucy.
Sotonia P161 10 mile TT results, 14 April 2024
Results purely listed as fastest time order:
| Pos | Name | Club | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeremy Hubbard | Sotonia CC | 22.44 |
| 2 | Niclas Olley | Sotonia CC | 24.27 |
| 3 | Corbin Gregson | VC Venta | 25.00 |
| 4 | Martin Ingman | CTI | 25.44 |
| 5 | Jon Dudley | Sotonia CC | 25.58 |
| 6 | George Connell | Sotonia CC | 26.20 |
| 7 | Jason Harrison | Sotonia CC | 26.47 |
| 8 | Oliver Hutchins | VC Venta | 26.53 |
| 9 | Samuel Ridgment | Sotonia CC | 27.49 |
| 10 | Greg Sanger | Sotonia CC | 27.51 |
| 11 | Mick Anglim | NFCC | 28.36 |
| 12 | Justin Olley | Sotonia CC | 29.43 |
| 13 | Darren Pike | Sotonia CC | 29.55 |
| 14 | Chris Summers | Sotonia CC | 30.22 |
| 15 | Claire Johnson | Sotonia CC | 30.45 |
| 16 | Erick Muriithi | Sotonia CC | 31.16 |
| 17 | Mary Corbett & Norman Harvey | Sotonia CC | 31.21 |
| 18 | Emma Harrison | Sotonia CC | 31.37 |
| 19 | Poppy Carline | Sotonia CC | 31.43 |
| 20 | Benji Pike | Sotonia CC | 31.52 |
| 21 | Eve Carline | Sotonia CC | 31.56 |
| 22 | Joanne McCarthy | Sotonia CC | 33.02 |
| 23 | Wout Davidse | Sotonia CC | 34.05 |
| 24 | Ella Ridgment & Marit Davidse | Sotonia CC | 35.04 |