Zwift Racing League Week 5 report
This week was a shorter race in Watopia for Sotonia’s Zwift teams. For Bees (men's B category team), Jerome Bakker was rider of the night, stepping in at late notice to ride strongly and earn his cat up (he’d been riding as a C in a cat B team but is now officially a Bee!).
A strong overall performance in GC suffered a little bit for lack of prime points (although James Cooper made good use of a newly renovated turbo power pack to avoid any signal dropouts and earn our only prime points). Bees finished 5th on the night but slipped to 3rd in the table. It’ll be a tough one next week to finish in the coveted 2nd spot overall.
Buzz (mixed B category) again performed strongly as a mixed team riding in a dominantly male competition. Dan Lickman led the team in on a tough night, but the rider of the night award was earned by Annie Dixey, who stepped in at late notice after earlier riding 30 miles outdoors. They now sit 12th in their league but have the realistic possibility of climbing at least two places higher with a strong final race.
Cranks (women's C cat) missed Hannah Budden who ended her streak of successive top 10 places, but handed on the mantle of team leader to Donna Bennett, who came in 7th and earned a few prime points along the way.
Next week is the final race of the round, and in a new arrangement will have different races for different categories. B cat will race on Watopia’s Eastern Eight while C cat take on Downtown Titans.
There’s honour to be fought for to earn the “Sotonia team of the round” plaudits: Bees sit on 86 league points, while Cranks are just one point behind on 85.
Then we have a few weeks off before the new season starts on November 8th. We are likely to rebalance the teams, so if you’re interested in starting racing with us, do let us know. As last week, we’re particularly interested in male A category riders, male or female B category riders and female D category riders. Come join us.
Zwift Racing League Week 4 report
Are we only four weeks in? It feels like we are well settled in by now. This week we emulated the famous Tour de France finish on the cobbles of Champs Elysees. Thank goodness none of us had to do the full TdF 8 laps: “just” six for the Bs and 5 for the Cs.
Sotonia Buzz (mixed B category) continued their strengthening and had their strongest points finish; three of their riders delivered what look like their season best 1 minute power numbers. Congrats Dan Lickman, Joffrey Carlier and Dan Stephens. Commiserations to Annie Dixey on the signal loss – the virtual “chain drop”. Proper all round performance, with Jez Hart and Sonja Gailer earning the points to lift their team two positions higher overall. They now sit 12th in their league.
Sotonia Bees (men’s B category) are still in awe of an extraordinary last lap solo breakaway by Evan Jardine-Skinner that saw him hold off a chasing pack to win the last lap sprint segment. And still have enough in him to stay in the pack for a chase to the line. Magnificent stuff, leading the team to a 5th place finish on the night and holding 2nd in their league overall.
Sotonia Cranks (women’s C category) welcomed Gemma Wilks into the team; she promptly rode her way into 5th place, with Hannah Budden continuing her amazing run of top 10 finishes each race. Vikki Sutcliffe took a well earned week off – but we’re not sure that “drinking cocktails in Mexico” is exactly what is meant by a “recovery week”. They came in 4th on the night and now sit 3rd in their league. I’m sure they claim bragging rights for having two more total points than Bees (408 vs 406) while Bees will want to claim the edge for having more league points (70 vs 69).
Next week we’re riding in Watopia, with a race designed to test VO2 (short climb), sprint and threshold power (longer power). One for the all rounders.
The new season starts on 8 November. We particularly want female category D riders and male category A riders. If you want to join in, just comment below, talk to any of the team or contact us in any other way you’d like.
September segment of the month
Only 8 Sotonians ventured out East to this month’s segment on Beacon Hill. We welcomed James Peckham to the competition, a new entrant straight in at number 1, with Paul Macken and Andy Gardiner hard on his heels. In the women’s section, Jen Dawson was the fastest woman, with Debbie Hallet chasing her up the hill.
Overall, Jen has a one point advantage over Debbie in the women’s competition with Izzy Hall rounding out the podium. Andy Gardiner still heads up the men’s competition; this looks like an unassailable advantage over Paul Macken (and Richard Johnson in third), but who knows what the final segment in October will bring?
Actually, we do know what October will bring. Something closer to hand, in the New Forest. Red Walters currently has the KoM onFlat on Forest Road; can anyone earn it off him and win the final segment of the month for this year?
https://www.strava.com/segments/6544416
Full results can be seen here.
Zwift Racing League TTT report Week Three
This week, three Sotonia teams (and a Penny) took to Makuri Islands Wandering Flats course: 19 km of pretty flat parcours, with a 3 km kicker at the end. This one was designed to push people right to the edge of their abilities, and the Sotonia riders rose willingly (and unwillingly) to the challenge.
Once again, Cranks and Bees share the bragging rights. Cranks (our women's C team) were the third fastest in their league, and the third fastest of all registered women’s teams in the BC South region. They now sit third in their league. They like the number three.
Bees (our men's B team) won their league on the night and now sit second in the league.
Buzz (our mixed B team) rode bravely in a tough league: Bees’ winning time in a higher league would only have placed them third in Buzz’s league, but Buzz rode well (ably DSd by Alastair Cooper) to finish with all 6 team members within an 8 second spread.
Penny Allen wins the rider of the night award this week, for riding a TTT all on her own to fly the Sotonia Derailleurs flag high and proud.
Next week is a sprint fest. 6, 5 or 4 laps of the Champs Elysees circuit will see who’s got the best powers of recovery. Sadly, the riders won't be able to choose how many: the higher categories race the longer distances.
Worried you're missing out on the fun? It’s never too late to join in. Just let us know, or comment below. You can join an existing team or you might want to plan to join a new team ready for the next season, starting on 8 November. We're particularly keen to hear from any men's A category and women's D category riders.
Tim
Wessex CX League, round 1, Clanfield
A great start to the new cross season came early this year at Clanfield, home to hosts Solent Pirates who put on a great event. It was one for the climbers with an extended route that this time went further up the unforgiving South Downs hillside for some long ascents and boneshaking descents in the dry and bumpy conditions on a course not short on technical features.
Five year old Leighton Riley bagged our first of many podium spots in the U8 boys, Freddie Trosh 3rd U10 boy. Billy Dyer, Matilda Wilks, Cordon Eccleston and Eve Carline taking 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th in their U12 races.
Top club finishers in other categories read as follows… in the U14s, Tom Wilks impressed with 5th place in his first race after moving up from the U12s. In the U16s, Izzy Hall also moving up a category, finished an equally impressive 5th.
In a larger than expected Junior men’s race, Louis was 17th in his first outing in the category.
The v40 mens race saw a strong Sotonia presence in the top 10 with a fine second place for Tom Budden and 4th for Andy Gardiner. Ian Crocker 8th and Phil Wilks 11th.
In the women’s race, Gemma Wilks was 10th senior and Donna Bennett was 8th v40.
Jon Dudley also got on the podium with 5th place in the v60 men's race.
Great riding everyone!
August segment of the month
In the sultry heat of August, 19 Sotonians battled it out on the Longstock park roller. Once again, Issy Hall was the sole, and therefore the fastest U16 female, but she adds to her glory by being the second fastest female overall. Sarah Needle cemented her record at the top of the tree, coming in fastest again, with Jen Dawson rounding out the month’s podium. But Issy Hall, by virtue of having played her joker, now sits at the top of the female standings; can anybody displace her while she turns her attention to the cross season?
George Connell was the only, and the fastest U16 male rider. For the men, Andy Gardiner rearranged his working commitments to make a late charge to the top of the rankings, and he had clear Sotonian orange water between him and second placed Richard Johnson. Mike Marsh took 3rd place. (All three are, or have represented Sotonia Bees in Zwift racing; you too could improve your racing if you joined us….). Andy also has a handy (Andy) lead at the top of the season standings, again beating Richard into second place, with Paul Macken in third. Special mention, though to U16 George Connell, currently sitting 5th equal. And also welcome to a couple of new entrants to the competition: James Cooper (also a Sotonia Bee, by the way!) and to John Phillips.
You can see a full set of results here.
The September segment is a different challenge altogether. Beacon Hill will take riders a little further East than usual, and uphill at 6% for 1.6 km. Time to boost that w/kg ratio.
As always, it’s not too late to join in the fun. Full details can be found here.
Big turnout for late August 10 mile TT at Lyndhurst
A breezy but dull tuesday in August spoke of the evenings drawing in. It also drew a very big turnout of 37 riders for the club 10 mile time trial on the p164 course at Lyndhurst.
In a change from the usual Thursday evening slot to encourage our older youth riders to attend a club event that doesn't clash with youth coaching, it clearly had the desired effect with our biggest turnout for a club 10 for a long time - including 11 youths! Proof perhaps that the discipline's future is brighter than recent low numbers might have suggested? Top Sotonia finishers were Corbin Gregson in the youths (25:26) and Mike Marsh (23:49) in the senior category. Well done everyone!
Many thanks to Phil Connell for organising, Mary Corbett and Norman Harvey for timekeeping and also to our marshals.
| Pos | Name | Club | Category | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harry Johnson | VC St Raphael | 22.11 | |
| 2 | Mike Marsh | Sotonia CC | 23.49 | |
| 3 | Sam Cooper | Andover Wheelers | 24.17 | |
| 4 | Tony Maschio | Sotonia CC | 24.19 | |
| 5 | Jonathan Hall | Sotonia CC | 24.21 | |
| 6 | Phil Wilks | Sotonia CC | 24.41 | |
| 7 | Marcus Kwint | VC Venta | 24.46 | |
| 8 | Craig Smith | Sotonia CC | 24.48 | |
| 9 | Staurt Martingale | Sotonia CC | 24.50 | |
| 10 | Russell Speight | Sotonia CC | 24.51 | |
| 11 | Jon Dudley | Sotonia CC | 24.52 | |
| 12 | James Peckham | Sotonia CC | 24.53 | |
| 13 | Stuart Peckham | VC St Raphael | 24.53 | |
| 14 | Adrian Robinson | Sotonia CC | 25.15 | |
| 15 | Mike Anderson | CC Moncontour | 25.21 | |
| 16 | Corbin Gregson | Sotonia CC | Youth | 25.26 |
| 17 | Niclas Olley | Sotonia CC | Youth | 26.43 |
| 18 | Martin Beale | VC St Raphael | 26.51 | |
| 19 | Alastair Cooper | Sotonia CC | 26.52 | |
| 20 | George Connell | Sotonia CC | Youth | 27.28 |
| 21 | Olliver Starkey | Sotonia CC | 27.38 | |
| 22 | Tom Allen | Sotonia CC | Youth | 27.40 |
| 23 | Lee Shirley | Sotonia CC | 28.18 | |
| 24 | Mark Allen | Sotonia CC | 28.46 | |
| 25 | Mick Anglim | New Forest CC | 29.18 | |
| 26 | Ian Macdonald | VC Vecchi | 29.20 | |
| 27 | Samuel Ridgment | Sotonia CC | Youth | 29.28 |
| 28 | Chris Summers | Sotonia CC | 29.40 | |
| 29 | Isabella Hall | Sotonia CC | Youth | 29.50 |
| 30 | Joshua Robinson | Sotonia CC | Youth | 30.49 |
| 31 | Skye Martingale | Sotonia CC | Youth | 31.25 |
| 32 | Jos Robson | Sotonia CC | Youth | 30.44 |
| 33 | Timon Robson | Sotonia CC | 30.44 | |
| 34 | Ella Ridgment | Sotonia CC | Youth | 37.31 |
| 35 | Justin Ridgment | Sotonia CC | 37.31 | |
| 36 | Marit Davidse | Sotonia CC | Youth | 40.30 |
| 37 | Wout Davidse | Sotonia CC | 40.30 |
Zwift Racing League starts 13th September
Let’s not wish away the summer just yet, but, come September, come the new Zwift Racing League. Come and join us!
If you ride a turbo in the winter to keep you fit, then you’d love the Zwift Racing League. Last year, we had 57 riders in Sotonia’s 7 teams. Our A team won promotion into the highest possible community league in their global time zone. But it’s not just about success, it’s about camaraderie. This year, you could join us.
All you need is a Zwift account, a turbo, a pair of legs and a willingness to make them work on a Tuesday night. Start times are typically between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm (this will depend on what “time zone” your team enters). Races are typically an hour long, and are great fun; you’ll likely be connected via audio app to the rest of your team, so you won’t just be riding on your own, but alongside the encouragement of your team mates.
We are likely to put in several women’s teams across the range of experience and ability; we’ll probably field two men’s/mixed teams in the B category, but maybe more according to interest.
If you’d like to join us next season, you can read more at the Zwift Racing League website here and you can read our own Sotonia guide to ZRL here.
If you are interested in riding with us next season, please express your interest by completing the Google Form here. If you’ve got any questions, just contact us on info@sotonia.co.uk
Join us, you know your legs will thank you.
Tim Cooke
July segment of the month competition
July’s segment took Sotonians into the heart of the Forest, for a lengthy false flat through Rhinefield Drive. Isabella Hall once again was the sole U16 female athlete in a time that was second fastest overall in the female category, beaten only by Sarah Needle, the competition leader. Jen Dawson was the third fastest through the segment but is squeezed off the season podium by Debbie Hallett and Issy Hall, who share second spot. Welcome to Mel Cook, who joined the competition this month.
George Connell continues his domination of the U16 male category (and of his Dad, sorry Phil!) although Corbin Gregson is breathing down his neck. Andy Gardiner took advantage of Will Weynberg’s absence to record the fastest segment time and establish a clear lead at the top of the overall competition, 9 points clear of second place Paul Macken. Richard Johnson was second fastest through the segment, and he shared the podium with Jeremy Hubbard. We welcomed Martin Cole and Paul Kent to the competition this month.
Full results are available at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JsG4Ln3hDt3vrMHjDF7bwmaoJNq6bS5ZHPOtWPQSxZE/edit#gid=0
Nobody backed themselves with a joker in July, so there are a few left to be played in the rest of the season. August sees the riders tackle a beautiful rolling parkland outside Longstockhttps://www.strava.com/segments/31278767 , and maybe reward themselves with a nice coffee and cake in Waitrose in the Woods. As ever, it’s not too late for any Sotonian to join the competition. Just check out the details here or drop me a message.
Tim
Women
Men
June segment of the month competition
Things are hotting up now in the Sotonia segment of the month competition. Jen Dawson was the fastest female climber up Cow Drove Hill, closely followed by Sarah Needle and Izzy Hall. Izzy, of course, was the fastest U16 female, and once again, as the sole competitor so far, she heads up the U16 overall competition. But in the female overall, things are very tight, with Debbie and Sarah tied at the top, only 2 points ahead of Jen and Izzy.
In the men’s competition, Andy Gardiner beat Will Weynberg into second place, with Ian Crocker taking the final spot on the podium. In the overall, Will still has clear Sotonia red/orange water between him and Andy in second place, with Paul Macken in third. Very special mention to George Connell, a new entrant in the U16 male competition; his time was the fifth fastest in the men’s section, and more than enough to win the U16 fastest time. Good to see Corbin Gregson in the competition now to offer some additional challenge to George.
This month’s segment is much longer: 5 km in the Forest, with a gentle slope up Rhinefield Drive. This will favour those who know how to dose their effort over a longer distance.
As always, it’s never too late to enter the competition, if you’re a Sotonia member. Just read the invitation document here.
