The Ipswich Bike Club’s Wednesday evening series of Races is proving to be a great success. They have now held three of a six week programme and the numbers taking part are very encouraging. Each week they have used a different circuit within the Trinity Park (Suffolk Showground) and the events are well run ~ easy access, good car parking, signing on office, toilets, refreshments and good first aid facilities. Following a Go Ride session for youngsters, the first race is at 6.55, open to Under 16 riders and Novice Adults held over 30 minutes.

This week Josh Stuart made his debut there, and was well placed early on with Jonathan Sjolin, hanging on to the back of the leading group of about a dozen riders. The conditions were wet and the course trickier than normal and unfortunately Josh came to grief, bruising his knee and grazing his shoulder, but was ably dealt with by the First Aiders. Meanwhile Jonny was battling on, although suffering from stitch towards the end to finish about 15^th. His Dad, Soren, came back to race again after last week’s debut and rode strongly to finish about 28^th in a field of 38.

Adrian Grimwood and Alan Trolove both took part in the one hour E/1/2/3/4 race at 7.30 which starts with two groups, with the 3/4 group starting only about two minutes ahead this week. Adi’s current lack of fitness saw him drop off the group early on, but he manfully battled on to catch a few others and complete the race, a lap or so down. But at the front the fast group caught the thirds and fourths, and a new lead group of nine riders formed, which include our Alan. The pace soon whittled this down to seven, but with just two laps to go Alan punctured. He was not allowed a lap out that near the end, but after frantically borrowing a wheel from Jonny’s bike rejoined the race to finish a creditable ninth.

The surprise winner however was Matt Toone, a time trialler from Stowmarket CC, who got way from race favourites Hugo Robinson and Josh Hannan on the final lap.

I really feel that this initiative could significantly effect the racing scene here in Suffolk if they can keen this up and repeat it next year.

Who’s keen to come over, have a look, and possibly join the action?

~ Barry Denny