The Lewes Wanderers hosted the seventh running of their 10-mile time-trial series on Monday 13 July, drawing riders from clubs across the region. The evening’s conditions were hot and dry, and the event produced a clear winner plus a number of notable performances and personal bests.
Elms extends run of victories
Calum Elms continued his dominance of the series, taking his fifth straight victory with a time of 21 minutes 22 seconds. That mark sat just three seconds shy of his fastest-ever ride over the distance.
Close finishes and club competition
The podium places showed competition both between clubs and within Lewes Wanderers itself. Thomas Bowden of Eastbourne Rovers CC finished second overall and posted the fastest time on a purpose-built time-trial machine, clocking 23:44. Back at the host club, an ongoing, friendly rivalry between Chris Hurcomb and Dan Street continued: Chris again finished ahead, recording 24:11 to Dan’s 24:16.
- Neil Edwards completed the top five with 25:20, also placing fourth in the road-bike category.
- Adam Goward and Darren Haynes followed closely behind, separated by seconds.
- Peter Baker was runner-up in the TT-bike class with an effort just outside 26 minutes.
Other rides of note included Nick Miles, who shaved a substantial 1 minute 31 seconds from his previous personal best to finish two seconds behind Baker, and Richard Brazier, who recorded 26:29 on his first attempt at the distance. Among the women, Maddie Johnson (Eastbourne Rovers) led the field with 27:19, followed by Emma Simpkins in 28:59.
"It was another hot, dry evening and we saw some excellent times, including several personal bests," a club source said.
Nearby events and club riders on the move
Riders from Lewes did not confine themselves to the club event. The following night, Peter Baker travelled to a 10-mile time-trial near Smallfield organised by East Grinstead CC, where he posted 28:36, finishing sixth of eight. Meanwhile, Richard Burchett rode at the a3crg event held at Goodwood’s racing circuit and recorded a competitive time of 22 minutes during a larger field of 152 riders.
| Rider | Club | Time | Notable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calum Elms | Lewes Wanderers | 21:22 | 5th consecutive win |
| Thomas Bowden | Eastbourne Rovers CC | 23:44 | Fastest TT bike |
| Maddie Johnson | Eastbourne Rovers | 27:19 | Fastest woman |
Attendance and finishing numbers were modest: 18 riders completed the Lewes event. The series has eight rounds planned; one earlier round was cancelled after a power cable fell onto the course at short notice. With at least one more event to run, competitors and spectators from across East Sussex can expect further tight contests and seasonal personal bests as the series concludes.
The Lewes Wanderers’ time-trial evenings continue to provide competitive opportunities for local riders, and the results underline the club’s active presence in the county’s time-trial calendar.
