THE local time trial scene kicked off on Sunday with a sporting open 25-mile time trial around the Somerleyton course, in which Liam Gentry of Velo Club Baracchi took an impressive third place.

THE local time trial scene kicked off on Sunday with a sporting open 25-mile time trial around the Somerleyton course, in which Liam Gentry of Velo Club Baracchi took an impressive third place.

The event was organised by Gt Yarmouth CC and went without a hitch on two laps of the circuit starting and finishing in Blocka Road and running past Somerleyton to Blundeston Corner, Lound, Browston and down the Beccles Road to St Olaves. Twenty-three rode.

Gentry achieved a time of 1-00:33 behind Glenn Taylor of Shorter Rochford RT (58:16) and Lee Bark of Stowmarket & District CC (59:54).

Other Baracchi riders had excellent rides. Nick Esser was eighth with 1-03:56 and Mark Newnham tenth with 1-05:14, sandwiching former member Simon Asher of VC Norwich, who was ninth in 1-04:55 without tri-bars.

Newnham's ride was a personal course best time. Other times by Baracchi members were Mark Pearson 1-10:13 and comeback veteran rider Chris Womack 1-22:44. On handicap Pearson moved up to sixth and Womack up to 15th, so they were strong rides.

Neil Turner of the promoting club was their fastest rider with 1-06:09 for 11th place, which also won him the handicap first prize.

On Saturday John Thompson rode an Audax event, this time from Ugley in Essex. The 156km event in two legs was first in the Gt Dunmow, Braintree and Witham area to the control at Stisted and then via Thaxted back to the headquarters at 105km. The second leg was to Gt. Chishill in Hertfordshire and through Newport back to the base.

Thompson found the hills and headwinds quite testing and it was only with a certain amount of will power that he was able to set off on the second leg. A gentle ride on Sunday with fairly heavy legs rounded off his weekend.