There were wintry wins for Norfolk riders Emily Quantrill, Kieran Jarvis, Chris Skinner and Paul Groombridge at the final round of the King's Lynn MTB 2006/17 Winter Series on Shouldham Warren near Downham Market.
As expected, it was cold and hilly for this Revel Outdoors-sponsored event, but there was no snow, and though water was standing on the course when the three-hour race got under way, by the time the 90-minute competitors joined in the sandy soil was drying considerably.
Junior winner Kieran Jarvis started 15 seconds ahead of the Senior field, but was shortly joined by leading Senior Chris Skinner, and the pair were together until Norwich rider Skinner opened a gap on the last lap.
Elvita Branch led the Senior Women at first, but Em Quantrill (Pedal Addiction) maintained speed better and eventually won by 3:36, though Branch still takes the Series Win.
Paul Groombridge (Push Sport) slowly gained a few seconds on Mark Wingar (Gipping RT) at the front of the Senior 90 Minuter, but the overall title goes to evergreen John McAndrew (Ely & District), third on Sunday.
Top finisher from the organisers, King's Lynn MTB, was Dave Penny who missed a podium place in the Three Hour by just five seconds. Full results are at www.timelaps.co.uk.
Ben Beynon (59:40), riding for Strada Sport's time trial arm Team Pedal Revolution, was the only Norfolk rider inside the hour in the 24.9 mile Ely and District Hardriders.
Winner was Cambridge University's Felix Barker (56:27) while VC Baracchi riders Mark Richards (1:00:18) and Liam Gentry (1:01:43) took seventh and ninth places, with John Swindells (Iceni Velo) 13 second behind Gentry for 10th spot.
Wind and potholes are usually the big challenges on this Fenland course. However, Norwich Amateur BC's Jason Turner, who took his road bike round in 1:9:29 for 24th place, said that the latter didn't seem too bad after experience riding on the A11. The north east wind, however, contributed to a horrible last drag to the finish in Little Downham
Remarkably, Tommy Power scored a second win in eight days at Hog Hill.
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