Many thanks to the stalwarts of Exeter Wheelers for running tonight’s Evening Ten; Sally Hutter, Ken Evans, Mike Rose, Jack Dallyn, Didier Lebatteux, Ann Owens, Andy Webb and Ian Moore.

The wait for a nice helpful easterly wind continues; such a wind would provide riders on the East Devon Evening Tens course with two wind-assisted legs versus one wind-hampered leg rather than the other way round. Tonight was another case of

The west wind doth blow
and we shall have slow
times.

Fastest on the night was a two-up of Lubos Obornik and George Kimber, with 22.08, which would’ve been faster if the former hadn’t had a dropped chain. Aidan King continued his good form, a 23.05 on a road bike in less than ideal conditions. James Greenaway of Exeter Wheelers went well again, an equal third spot with the consistent Jimmy Richards of Pure Endurance, both of them on 24.18.

Last week week Tim Fowler (EWCC) punctured during the race, this week at least he finished the ‘ten’ before puncturing on the ride back to Exeter – hope the tube change and the rest of the journey went okay Tim.

It was good to see that we had a good turn out of female riders – and a reminder to all of you that the last East Devon Evening Ten in the series will be a Females and Juniors only event, to take place on the 17^th of July, so please spreads the word…

Apologies if I have Bettina’s surname wrong, or indeed anyone else’s – drop me an email at to supply me with any corrections in that respect.

and maybe next week that east wind will blow….

An updated league table will be posted here tomorrow evening, meanwhile here are tonight’s results in full:

Vets. Age Categories: A = 40>44, B = 45>49, C = 50>54, D = 55>59, E = 60>64

After 4 of the 10 events in the calendar the table is as below. A reminder that points are awarded on the basis of 10 for last place on each night, with one additional point for each place above, and riders’ best 8 results to count. Jimmy Richards way out in front, the top three have all ridden four events.

A respectable turn out of 24 riders signed up for tonight’s East Devon  Evening Ten, the 4^th in the series – last Wednesday’s event was an Open 10 and didn’t count – no doubt the nicer weather of the last few weeks after our cold wet spring means riders are now getting lean mean and ready to kick pedal. And there was no rain in sight. Hurrah.

Thanks go to Adrian and the rest of the Sid Valley CC team for kindly organising the event.

Conditions were thus better than the last event, but still the quotient of pesky Westerlyness in the NW wind made it tough on many sections of the two outward legs.

It was a close run thing between first and second fastest, with Sam Rowell of Cranbrook CC nicking victory by the slenderest of margins, one second, over Tristan Kelsall-Spurr of Exeter Wheelers, 22.39 v 22.40. Aidan King of FTP was third at 23.08, whilst Jimmy Richards’ fourth place  will keep him at the top of the league table.

Natalie Grainger of Podium Addict was fastest female at 26.01, and Cranbrook CCs Alice Lake showed off her splendid new bright yellow TT bike (nice…) for second spot on 26.41. Talita Ancona was third fastest female with a time of 27.52.

Despite the conditions there were some ‘course PBs’. Richard Crosby from Alphington smashed his course PB by c. 40 seconds with a 29.03, whilst Stuart Pollard on his shiny metal bike and 24.55 was a course PB for him. Another EWCC rider, the evening’s runner-up Tristan Kelsall-Spurr bested his course PB by about a minute, mainly because his only other time on the course was the New Year’s Ten which was slow and cold, back in January. Asked afterwards what his approach was to tonight’s race his reply was textbook Fabian Cancellara – “I pushed very hard on the pedals”.

If there was a team prize I’d say that went to Exeter Wheelers in the shapes of Kelsall-Spurr, Greenaway and Pollard. Well done young’uns !

BTW Don’t have times for Tim Fowler (EWCC) and Mark Hughes (1st Chard Wheelers) – happy to install them in the results tale if anyone has them? and apologies if I have Zoe Brittens'(?) name wrong.

League table after four events will be posted here tomorrow evening.

Vets. Age Categories: A = 40>44, B = 45>49, C = 50>54, D = 55>59, E = 60>64