Fine day for first time trial of season
A fine, bright day greeted riders for the the first club time trial at Nomansland on the very testing P182 course at Nomansland on Sunday 26th April. Organiser Phil Wilks had been up early to sign the course and check for hazards.
Nine riders signed on for the event, a big improvement from the 3 riders who rode on the course last time an event used the course.
The man in form was Sotonia's Will Weinberg with a fine 24 minutes 2 seconds on the course which finishes at a higher altitude than it starts, so always a challenge!
Thanks to Phil Wilks for organising, Mary Corbett, Norman Harvey and Julian Gee for timekeeping and marshals Jon Legg and Jon Dudley.
Position Rider Club Time
1 Will Weinberg Sotonia CC 24.02
2 Jason Mold Army CU 25.50
3 Richard Johnson Sotonia CC 27.10
4 James Peckham Sotonia CC 27.47
5 Graham Harman Sotonia CC 28.30
6 Simon Miles Come & try it 31.43
7 Sarah Miles Sotonia CC 34.38
8 Peter Pike Sotonia CC 36.12
9 Colin Witt Cradwood CC 37.58
You cannot be serious....
At this time of year, some riders race for fun, sometimes in fancy dress, others are seriously training for the next season. Both types of riders were in evidence today when the Tandem Tart, Mary Corbett put on a Boxing Day 10 mile time trial on the P161 course in the New Forest.
Conditions were kind, dry but with a nagging east wind making it cold for riders and officials.
It was a dead heat for the fastest ride of the day, with the third rider only 20 seconds behind. These three serious competitors finished minutes clear of the riders having a bit of seasonal fun.
Riders were grateful to Mary and her team for putting on the event to plug a gap in the calander and funds were rasied for ME research.
Thanks due to Mary Corbett, timekeepers Claire Newman, Dave Crocker, Martin Napier, helpers/marshals Mike and Cathy Anderson, Lee Shirley and Julian Gee.
Post. Rider Club Time
1 Ben George, New Forest CC 23.33
1 James Meakin, Trash Mile RT 23.33
3 Bryce Dyer, Bournemouth Cycleworks 23.55
4 Simon Berogna, VC St Raphael 27.50
5 William Terry, Poole Wheelers CC 29.58
6 Katy Parsons, SRAM CC 30.38
7 William Hughes, Solent Pirates 30.59
8 Stuart Martingale, Sotonia CC 31.49
9 Stuart Peckham, VC St Raphael 31.54
10 Skye Martingale, Type One Style 32.06
11 Richard Blake, Private Trial 32.15
12 Mary Corbett / John Burriidge (Tandem) Sotonia CC/ New Forest CC 33.16
13 Gordon Richardson, Portsmouth Tri Club 36.42
14 Simon Hall, Crabwood CC 38.28
15 Tony and Esther Hamilton (Tandem) SRAM CC 39.39
16 Norman Harvey, Sotonia CC 53.53
Click on the link to see a short video of the action: https://youtu.be/yctTxtQTne0
Record ride following afternoon switch
A change to an afternoon slot rather than the usual Sunday morning may have helped contribute to a record winning ride in this season's Sotonia CC hill climb on Dean Hill.
An improvement in the size of the field from recent years was the pleasing effect of a move to an afternoon start, and the weather was favourable, albeit the day was overcast with a brisk breeze, but this may have helped riders on the steeper part of the course.
It was great see a number of riders travelling some distance to take part and it was one of these, 46 year old Robin Taylor, Bristol South CC, from Bath who finished in 1 minute 55 seconds who took an impressive 4 seconds off the course record jointly held by professional rider Red Walters and New Forest's Phil Brown. Taylor is now bouyed up for the upcoming National hill climb championship which he rides next weekend.
In second place, in an equally impressive 2.00 was another traveller, 20 year old, 3rd year medical student Michael Henderson of Oxford University CC.
While the first woman was 16 year old Skye Martingale in a very creditable 3.21.
There were also some good rides by Sotonia's youth riders, led by Benji Pike in 2.57.
The full result:
Post. Rider Club Time
1 Robin Taylor Bristol South CC 1.55
2 Michael Henderson Oxford University CC 2.00
3 Gareth Maude North Hants RC 2.25
4 James Peckham Sotonia CC 2.38
5 Tim Cooke Sotonia CC 2.42
6 Mike Marsh Sotonia CC 2.45
7 Jon Legg Sotonia CC 2.50
8 Benji Pike Sotonia CC 2.57
9 Cam Hubert Didcot Pheonix CC 2.59
10 Sam Cooke Sotonia CC 3.00
11 Sam Dorkings New Forest CC 3.06
12 Paul Macken Sotonia CC 3.17
13 Skye Martingale Type One Style 3.21
14 Adrian Robinson Sotonia CC 3.26
15 Gemma Herbertson Elevate RT 3.51
16 Darren Pike Sotonia CC 3.53
=17 Marit Davidse Sotonia CC 4.23
=17 Billy Dyer Sotonia CC 4.23
19 Wout Davidse Sotonia CC 4.57
It's big thanks to timekeepers Mary Corbett and Norman Harvey and organiser was Julian Gee, who was also start timekeeper. Also thanks to Stuart Martingale for the action pictures.
2 weeks, 2 championships, 2 new champions
June has been a very busy month for those in the club who like to ride time trials. Firstly we had our inter-club competition with VC Venta, and then on the 19th June, our club 10 mile competition, fiollowed a week later by the 25 mile test.
The club has a new 10 champion in 17 year old Niclas Olley who clocked 23.22 on the P164 course on the Beaulieu circuit. The 25 was won for the second year by Will Weynberg, who is having a good season and this year clocked a rapid 55 minutes 55 seconds on breezy evening to put over 4 minutes into Phil Wilks in second place.
10 mile times:
Mark Lidic 3C CC 23.05
Niclas Olley Sotonia CC 23.22
Rado Moga Come & tri it 24.28
Pat Lafford Crabwood CC 24.40
Mike Anderson CC Moncontour 25.58
Samuel Marcadre Sotonia CC 26.00
Jon Legg Sotonia CC 26.01
Guilio Scorponi Sotonia CC 27.32
Corbyn Gregson VC Venta 28.03
Alan Bigwood Crabwood CC 28.44
Lorenzo Scorponi Sotonia CC 28.51
Peter Pike Sotonia CC 30.51
Gemma Wilks Sotonia CC 31.58
Colin Witt Crabwood CC 32.56
Martin Balk 3C CC 33.20
25 mile times:
Will Weynberg Sotonia CC 55.55
Phil Wilks Sotonia CC 1.00.05
Pat Lafford Crabwood CC 1.01.04
Jon Legg Sotonia CC 1.05.02
Matt Perks Southampton Triathlon Club 1.08.49
Simon Hall Crabwood CC 1.09.53
Darren Pike Sotonia CC 1.13.44
Chris Summers Sotonia CC 1.18.04
Colin Witt Crabwood CC 1.20.21
Dave England Crabwood CC DNF
Thanks to all who took part and especially to organisers Nick Wisby and Graham Harman and the timekeeps across both events: Norman Harvey, Mary Corbett, Dave Crocker, Martin Napier and Julian Gee and Martina Olley for marshaling.
Action from the 25 via the link below:
Our battle with VC Venta...Ouch, beaten again! - Interclub ‘10’ Thursday 12.6.25
Thursday 12th June saw the club’s annual competition against our rivals from up the road, VC Venta.
The course used this year was the P161, the Beaulieu circuit, HQ at Parc Pale. There was an excellent field of 60 riders from the two clubs down to ride (including a 2-up and a tandem trike). Fortunately the thunderstorms early in the day had passed through and the evening was bright and the roads were dry, and the wind even dropped as the evening went on - perfect!
The result though was the same as previous years, with Sotonia outgunned both is terms of number and speed of the opposition riders. Each starter scored a point for their club and the 10 fastest riders from both clubs scored points 20 down to 1 in addition to produce the overall club score, the result this time was VCV 162 plays Sotonia 96, a resounding win for the boys and girls in blue!
After the event we were treated to an amazing selection of cakes supplied by Isla Hoult of VCV and Mary Corbett as part of her ‘Tandem Tart’ fundraising for ME Research…Mary competing with her 84th partner, Christine Walker, in the event!
Thanks to all those who took part but especially the timekeepers Dave Crocker and Martin Napier and Steve Walker visiting from Leamington and co-opted as start timekeeper on the night – thanks Steve! Also big thanks to Dave Martin, VCV for assisting the timekeepers and special thanks to Ley Green marshal Martina Olley for her help and the pictures, and to Stuart Gilmour for co-ordinating things at the VCV end!
Post. Rider(s) Club Finish time Points
1 Hamish Hunter VCV 20.54 21
2 Matthew Gilmour VCV 22.08 20
3 Niclas Olley SOT 22.36 19
4 Oscar Hoult VCV 22.41 18
5 Tommy Stroud VCV 22.45 17
6 Pete Bousted SOT 23.06 16
7 Ekke Piirisild VCV 24.09 15
8 Samuel Hughes VCV 24.10 14
9 Marius Kwint VCV 24.40 13
10 Jonathan Hall SOT 24.56 12
11 Christopher Purver VCV 24.57 11
12 Albert Buckingham-Ellison VCV 25.08 10
13 Oscar Reynolds VCV 25.21 9
14 Jon Dudley SOT 25.31 8
15 Oliver Hitchings VCV 25.39 1
16 James Wells VCV 25.50 1
17 Jon. Legg SOT 26.03 7
18 Patrick Furze VCV 26.14 1
19 Martin Evans VCV 26.23 1
20 Thomas Sadowski VCV 26.34 1
21 Chris Hutchings VCV 26.38 1
22 Conrad Ciaramella SOT 26.57 6
23 Oliver Starkey SOT 27.12 5
24 Matteo Scarponi SOT 27.20 4
25 Giulio Scarponi SOT 27.25 3
26 Yana Polyak VCV 27.26 1
27 Lorenzo Scarponi SOT 27.34 2
28 Paul Kent SOT 28.23 1
29 Rhys Gilbert SOT 28.31 1
30 Greg Sanger SOT 28.40 1
31 Darren Pike SOT 28.50 1
32 Kate Belfield VCV 29.15 1
33 Isla Hoult VCV 29.16 1
34 Vanda Jeffreys VCV 29.19 1
35 Martin Nobbs SOT 29.43 1
36 Eve Carline SOT 29.55 1
37 Debbie Hallett SOT 30.01 1
38 Nick Richens VCV 30.03 1
39 Benji Pike SOT 30.04 1
40 Chris Summers SOT 30.12 1
41 St.John De Zilva VCV 30.30 1
42 Jon Chapman SOT 30.41 1
43 Morgan Gilbert SOT 32.00 1
44 Aneurin Gilbert SOT 33.01 1
45 Brenda Hoult VCV 33.27 1
46 Nigel & Alexander Dibben (2-up) VCV 33.37 1
47 Mary Corbett & Christine Walker (Tandem) SOT 34.06 1
48 Evan Gilbert SOT 34.38 1
Anna Turgoose VCV DNS
Adam Koperdan VCV DNS
Gemma Wilks SOT DNS
Nicola Ferguson VCV DNS
Peter Pike SOT DNS - apology
Richard New VCV DNS
Russell Speight VCV DNS
Phil Wilks SOT DNS
Will Weynberg SOT DNS - apology
Matthew Downie VCV DNS
Hamish takes the hill climb
It was a perfect October day for this year's Sotonia hill climb on Dean Hill. The sun was out and there was little, if any, wind - a rare thing indeed!
Making the most of the conditions was 18 year old Hamish Hunter from Fordingbridge, who had celebrated his birthday only 2 days before. Hamish who started his career with Sotonia, but these days rides for VC Venta, ascended the hill in 2 minutes 31 seconds. Runner up for the promoting club was Oliver Starkey in 2.42, while the third fastest time was recorded by Paul East who had come all the way down from Reading to ride as he had been unable to get a ride in the National Hill Climb championship which was taking place the same day 'oop north'.
Thanks to all those who took part and to the timekeeping team of Martin Napier, Dave Crocker and Graham Harman. Julian Gee and wife Linda were the organisers.
| 1 | Hamish Hunter | VC Venta | 2.31 |
| 2 | Oliver Starkey | Sotonia CC | 2.42 |
| 3 | Paul East | Reading CC | 2.54 |
| 4 | Jon Legg | Sotonia CC | 3.03 |
| 5 | James Peckham | Sotonia CC | 3.05 |
| 6 | Paul Macken | Sotonia CC | 3.15 |
| 7 | Steve Noton | Sotonia CC | 3.55 |
| 8 | Yair Yaniv | Sotonia CC | 4.50 |
You can see all the riders here: https://youtu.be/UMBnrHuGeIw
Eventful event and eight times
It is now getting towards the end of the time trial season, but riders were pleased with the decent autumn morning for Sunday's 10 mile club time trial on the P141 course, Romsey-Stockbridge road.
Whilst all the riders completed the course safely, the event was not without incident. Firstly, evential fastest rider, Evan Jardine-Skinner turned up and found he had left his cycling shoes at home! He was going to hand his number in and not start, but was persauded by race offiiclals he would do just fine in his training shoes, despite not being able to clip into his pedals. This proved to be good advice and he recorded a very fine 23 minutes 56 seconds for his ride, only his second race of the season.
12 year old brothers Lorenzo & Giulio Scarponi rode together as a 2-UP, but one had mechanical issues and swapped bikes mid-ride with his father Matteo who had started behind, and who was able to fix the problem and finish on his son's bike!
Thanks to time trial secretary Graham Harman for organising the event and riding out to marshal the turn. Timekeepers were Julian Gee and Dave Crocker.
1. Evan Jardine-Skinner Sotonia CC 23.56
2. Mike Marsh Sotonia CC 24.32
3. Richard Burch Sotonia CC 29.12
4. Peter Pike Sotonia CC 30.26
5. Lorenzo & Giulio Scarponi (2-UP) Sotonia CC 32.06
6. Chris Summers Sotonia CC 32.14
7. Matteo Scarponi Sotonia CC 33.19
8. Shai Waters Come and try it 33.52
Final evening club time trial of the season
The club ran its last evening event of the time trial season on the P161 10 mile circuit near Beaulieu, yesterday Tuesday 20th August.
14 riders took part on a bright but breezy evening and perhaps the strong wind which has been blowing all day put other riders off?
Easily the fastest on the night was speedy 17 year old Bobby Buenfeld (VC Venta) who zipped round the course in 21.04. Other notable rides came from 84 year old Dave Crocker who handed over timekeeping duties on this occasion to accompany fellow timekeeper Mary Corbett round the course on their tandem trike in very respectable 35.52. Grandfather/Grandson combination Peter Price and 16 year old Shai Waters, the latter riding his first event, rode as a 2-up and recorded 33.23.
Thanks are due to Phil Connell for organising, Jon Dudley, Martin Napier and Julian Gee for timekeeping duties and the marshals were Graham Harman, Skye and Stuart Martingale.
1 Bobby Buenfeld VC Venta 21.04
2 Mark Lisk 3C 22.51
3 Andrew Crocker Team Tor 2000 27.04
4 Ian Macdonald GS Vechhi 28.40
5 Emily Warner 3C 28.43
6 Adam Koperdan Sotonia CC 29.01
7 Gemma Wilks Sotonia CC 29.15
8 Chris Summers Sotonia CC 29.47
9 Claire Johnson Sotonia CC 30.06
10 Colin Witt Crabwood CC 31.10
11 Shai Waters/Peter Price (2UP) Come & Try/Sotonia CC 33.23
12 Mary Corbett / Dave Crocker (Tandem) Sotonia CC 35.52
The Magnificent Seven ride again...
Just seven riders faced the timekeeper for this year's running of the Sotonia 25 mile time trial championship at Bartley on the P128 course.
The unfortunately typical summer conditions of overcast skies with plenty of rain earlier in the day had no doubt put a few off. However, conditions weren't too bad for the event itself with further rain holding off and fairly light winds.
With just 4 Sotonia members taking part it was Will Weynberg who posted the fastest time of the evening on his road bike with a very creditable 58 mintues 39 seconds. No stranger to Strava segments, Will showed he has the stamina to move up to something requiring more endurance, in this his first 25 mile TT.
Beaten into second place was defending champion Jeremy Hubbard, a little off the pace this year with his 1.00.10.
Big thanks to Nick Wisby for organising the event. Dave Crocker and Martin Napier for timekeeping duties and marshals, Graham Harman, Skye and Stuart Martingale, Claire Newman and Julian Gee.
Tight at the top in title race
Whilst guest rider Paul Lockyear (New Forest CC) recorded the fastest time of the evening in last week's (Thursday 20th June) Sotonia Club Championship 10 mile TT on the P164 course at Lyndhurst, the race to be crowned men's champion was very tight race, with four rides within 14 seconds of each other.
However, this year's men's Champion is Peter Boustred with a good time of 22:56 on pleasant summer evening with not too much wind. This year's women's champion is again Gemma Wilks as fastest woman on the night, 15 year old Skye Martingale, now rides for Team Type One Style.
With 33 riders taking part the event was well supported and repaid the efforts of organiser Stuart Martingale's team of timekeepers, marshals and helpers on the night.
Full list of times:
1: Paul Lockyer.New Forest CC 21:45
2: Peter Boustred. Sotonia CC 22:56
3: Dan Mellor Sotonia CC 23:02
4: Jeremy Hubbard. Sotonia CC 23:09
5: Andy Gardiner. Sotonia CC 23:10
6: William Shield. Southampton University RC 24:05
7: Niclas Olley. Sotonia CC 24:07
8: Lewis Refill. Sotonia CC 24:14
9: Tom Wilks. Sotonia CC 24:24
10: Mike Anderson. CC Montentour 24:54
11: Alec O'Loughlin Southampton University RC 25:37
12: Stanley Phillips. Sotonia CC 25:40
13: Gareth Davies.Southampton University RC 25:51
14: Jon Legg. Sotonia CC 26:01
15: Skye Martingale. Team Type One Style 26:14
16: Simon Carlin. Oceanlake Tri 26:42
17: Oliver Starkey. 26:43
18: Oliver Berney.Utag RT 26:46
19: Justin Olley. Sotonia CC 28:14
20: Rhys Gilbert. Sotonia CC 28:15
21: Darren Pike. Sotonia CC 28:17
22: Phil Carline. Sotonia CC 28:46
23: Gemma Wilks. Sotonia CC 28:51
24: Ian Macdonald. GS Vecchi 29:13
25: Peter Pike.Sotonia CC 30:07
26: Chris Summers. Sotonia CC 30:12
27: Benji Pike. Sotonia CC 30:53
28: Poppy Carline. Sotonia CC 32:09
29: Eve Carline. Sotonia CC 32:27
30: George Boustred. Sotonia CC 32:41
31: Morgan Gilbert. Sotonia CC 34:00
32: Aneurin Gilbert.Sotonia CC 34:22
33: Evan Gilbert. Sotonia CC 35:20