A SOAKING FOR SEAMONS

ON Saturday, Seamons Cycling Club promoted their Open 25 mile time trial and 115 of the north wests top cyclists entered hoping to grab a share of the £300 prize list, which included the coveted Dennis Chapman Memorial Trophy for the winner.

Just before the race was due to start, the heavens opened and a torrential downpour hit the early starters making some of the roundabouts like skid pans.

The riders struggled with surface water over an inch deep on some sections of the course making times slower than normal.

One of the riders caught in the storm was Bob McPartland who said afterwards, "The rain was so heavy it was making it dangerous, I thounght about packing in because I couldn't see properly.

It was like riding through a river for the first 10 miles."

Fastest of the Seamons riders once again was Steve Davis who overcame the conditions to finish in a time of 58 mins 44 sec.

He was pushed close by a disapointed Dave Bates who was credited with a time of exactly 1.00.00.

Bob McPartland finished in his best time of the season so far 1.1.13 and these three led the Seamons to yet another team win.

The winner was Dave Worsdale of GS Strada in 55.37.

Other Seamons time were Dave Fox 1.5.44; Phil Holden 1.7.47; Kevin Cairns 1.10.52; Dave Tickle 1.11.09 and Vin Fitzgerald 1.16.49 who won the prize for being an older rider at 75 years old.

The penultimate 10 mile race last Wednesday evening saw Dave Bates emerge as the victor in a time of 23 mins 43 secs with Chris Siepen relegated into 2nd spot with 24.09, Dave Fox recorded 24.22 to take third place.

The ride of the night however was done by Pete Devereux who rode strongly to clock his best time of the season so far 24.43.

Other times included John Woodhouse 25.25; Kevin Cairns 26.14; Dave Tickle 27.11; Dave Attwell 27.55 and Fred Foster 29.36.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.