by Paul Godfrey

HOWARD Staunton sailed to what appears an unassailable lead in the Hainault Roads Club evening ten series with his forth consecutive win on Wednesday night.

With riding conditions less favourable than the previous week he still managed a terrific ride to record a winning time of twenty three minutes and two seconds securing a further ten points to add to his accrued thirty.

Club champion, Rob Dulson, took second place with improving form stopping the clock in 24.32. Paul Gee, the only rider on the evening to better his previous week’s time, came in hot on Dulson’s heels in 24.55 for third place.

Next up was Ilford businessman, Roger Pimm, recording 25.52. Paul Emery rode to sixth place for a consistent third time in the series with his time of 27.27 nudging Brian Ward into seventh place by merely five seconds as Ward crossed the line in 27.32.

Picking up three, two and one point were Kevin Barton, Chris Pimm and Patrick Smith with times of 28.39, 31.12 and 34.24 respectively. With seven private entrants from other clubs the series remains as popular as ever.

Meanwhile, on the same evening, Hainault’s time trial star, Ian Short, took on the CC Breckland open 10 mile time trial on the B10/3 course near Morley in Norfolk. Short rode a blistering 21.35 to finish with a podium-placed third overall.

Will Dorset of the North Norfolk Wheelers won the event in 21.25.

Last Saturday saw three Hainault Roads Club racers venture to Newmarket for the Lea Valley CC promoted 50 mile time trial on the E2/50c course. Regardless of a stiff headwind on the leg towards Red Lodge the riders weren’t noticeably slowed but the returning advantage didn’t deliver any extraordinarily fast times.

Capitalising on his current, exceptional form Howard Staunton rode the fastest of the Hainault riders covering the fifty hot miles in 1:56.44 gaining a personal best time into the bargain.

Rob Dulson produced an outstanding ride too recording 1:57.38 with Mark Steers less than a minute behind with his time of 1:58.24. The winning time of 1:44.41 went to Sean Childs of the Royal Navy & RM CA.

The following day Ian Short and Chris Tomkins entered the Maldon and District CC 50 on the E21/50. As a SPOCO SE (Sporting Courses) counting event the course employs demanding, hilly roads around Bradwell and Latchingdon in Essex.

On one of the hottest days of the year the early morning start made things slightly more comfortable. Short managed to support the heat well to finish in eighth place overall with his time of 2:00.03 although he was later said: “I’m pleased with my ride but gutted not to have gone just four seconds quicker, 1:59.00 looks so much better on the results boards!"

Tomkins rode a fine race to secure 28th in the field of 58 riders in 2:13.58. The event was won by Steven Dennis of East Grinstead CC with 1:50.21.

The weekend also saw Hainault’s Paul Godfrey attend the BikeRadar Live cycling festival at Donnington Park. He took part in the Procycling Magazine Hot Laps race – a time trial around the tough 2.5mile circuit – and was up against former Hour Record holder and twice World Pursuit Champion Graeme Obree. In searing heat and fierce winds Godfrey powered around in a time of 5.55 and took fourth place overall with Obree beating him by just 12 seconds to take second place with 5:43. Andy Sexton of Planet-X took top spot on the podium crossing the line in 5.31.