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Mark is Hulme and dry after a worthy show

9/ 8/2008

DESPITE the increasing popularity of the 10-mile time trial there is no getting away from the fact that the half-century - the 50-mile test, is the classic distance.

So when top UK time-trialist Michael Hutchinson drastically reduced the competition record to an almost unbelievable time of 1 hour 35 minutes 27 seconds there was considerably more than a flicker of interest among fans of the sport.

Without detracting anything from the individual performances in last Sunday’s Pennine Cycling Club 50 it’s interesting to note the Joel Wainman’s winning time was more than 13 minutes slower than that impressive result from Essex a week or so ago.

Yet in the ranks of clubman racers the Team Swift rider’s 1-48.36 would be a time greatly aspired to by the greater majority of cyclists.

Still giving the matter perspective, the time of 1-55.21 clocked by West Pennine’s Mark Hulme on the Dishworth course was well worthy of praise.

Hulme’s team-mate, veteran Kev Shand, was also inside the target, albeit by a mere 22 seconds. His 1-59.28 was an excellent time for a 58-year-old who continually wonders why he cannot go faster as he gets older.

Saturday’s Manchester and North West Veterans Time Trial Association 25 on Cheshire’s Chelford course had a field full of riders with the same problem.

Team Swift’s Dave Isherwood, a West Pennine second claim member, had less of a conundrum than most when he clinched third place with his time of 58.06.

Lancashire Road Club’s Paul Shallicar put in a winning ride exactly one minute faster than Isherwood's.

Saturday’s breezy conditions intensified as you moved south reported Sel Ives who travelled to Etwall, Uttoxeter, for the Heanor Clarion 25. Hoping to get below a 1-2 the West Pennine man had to be satisfied with a final result of 1-03.11.

The wind seemed to have little affect on local man Andy Eager who knocked out a cracking 53.36 winning time.

Ives’ club rival Mick Standring drove east on Saturday for the Yorkshire Velo 10 on the notably fast A63 course at South Cave just west of Hull. His trip was worthwhile, as he posted a personal best of the season with 24.52.

Following his setback in the recent five-day Ronde van Vlaamst / Brabant, Daniel Shand took stock while he rested before replying with two excellent results.

On Wednesday he picked up eighth spot in a 113 km race at Budingen / Zoutleevw, midway between Brussels and Hasselt.

Shand, back wearing the Profel-Prorace colours, just failed to latch on to the seven-man breakaway group.

When it came to the final gallop to the line the Rochdale lad headed in a big bunch only 35 seconds behind the leading group.

The winner was Kevin Pudseys from Shand’s old club, KWC Heist Zuiderkempen.

Twenty-four hours later Shand was on the start line at Linden, 5 km north east of Leuven, for another multi-lap criterium.

The action was fast and furious, with every break covered and counter attacked.

Again luck played a big part, and Shand just missed getting up with the one breakaway that did look like going to the finish. He chased, heading a 26-rider group to finish ninth, only 20 seconds down.

The winner was Seppe Abts of the Splendid Prorace team, with British Cycling North-West rider Ian Bibby in second place.

All the eights. West Pennine members and local cyclists congratulated Castleton’s Jack Hanson who yesterday reached the age of 88 on the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year of the new millennium