Cycling report by Simon Foster - Andover Wheelers
Andover Wheelers young star Neil Coleman was the quickest of the local club when finishing in 3rd place in their open 2001 10.2mile hilly time trial. The course which started in Vernham Dean, then took in the lung-busting climb of Conholt Hill after only 600mtrs. After the shock the riders faced a fast descent down through Tangley to Hatherden where they turned left for Wildhern and the long strength-sapping climb to Pill Heath. With the final climb over there was only the roller-coaster descent into Upton and the last slog along the valley back to Vernham Dean.
With a special prize for the fastest climb of Conholt, Coleman made a fast start and was lying second at the top with a time of 5.44min. Fastest to the top was Gaz Kristensen of the Army CU in 5.34 min, with pre-race favourite Malcolm Cox VC St Raphael reaching the top in 6.00 min.
Over the rest of the course Cox gradually reduced the deficit on Coleman and set about overhauling Kristensen.
With the climb from Wildhern to Pill Heath into a headwind this was to be where the race was to be decided, and sure enough Cox showed all his strength to set the fastest time of the day as he finished in 26.26 min, to Kristensen's 26.23 min and Coleman with an impressive 26.47 in 3rd.
One of the surprise rides came from the promoting clubs Lee Gardner who was lying 5th at the top of Conholt with 6.04 min and went on to finish in 29.18 in 6th place just behind team mate Jake Prior, who trailed Gardner at the top of Conholt with 6.12 but then rallied to finish with 28.36.
Other Andover times: - times to top of Conholt in brackets:
Andover Wheelers have been forced to cancel their forthcoming 10 mile promotion on the 28th April 01 due to the Foot and Mouth crisis, as the HQ for the event is adjacent to a dairy farm.