Gil Jessop Sporting 14 mile Time Trial

Race Report

Early season time trials in 2010 were always likely to be a challenge given such a long and hard winter. However 43 riders entered this event, including in form Wouter Sybrandy (Sigmasport RT) and time trial newcomer Dan McCarthy. Riders used the demanding Hungry Hill Lane circuit around the picturesque Surrey Lanes near Ripley. The road surface put paid to the hopes of four riders retiring with punctures. A quick pre-race repair saw Niall Digby (first veteran) reaching the start as last man off with moments to spare and all the pre-race favourites safely completed the course.

Whilst riders battled a brief snow flurry records started to fall, the first lady home and ninth on scratch was Rebecca Slack (London Dynamo Prologue). Rebecca stormed through to an event record of 37.50 by nearly a minute from club mate Jenny Lloyd Jones 38.43 set in 2008. Meanwhile the men’s event record was clipped by 12 seconds when Wouter Sybrandy posted 30.50– breaking Ben Instone’s 31.02 set in 2007. Peter Tadros’ (In Gear Quickvit RT) second place earns him honary Poulidor status as this is the third time he has been pipped at the post.

The team event saw five clubs in contention on the start sheet but with 13 no shows all bar promoting club Kingston Wheelers did not field enough riders to compete.

Robert French Weybridge Wheelers CC won the prize for ‘most handsome bike’ beating off some stiff competition and took home some chocolates for Valentines Day.

The event organiser would like to acknowledge Evans Cycles who re-routed their sportive at short notice in the interests of rider safety. The sportive had been due to run over the same course as the time trial.

1	Wouter Sybrandy	Sigmasport RT	30.50
2	Peter Tadros	In Gear Quickvit RT	32.11
3	Dan McCarthy	VC Meudon	33.25
4	Niall Digby	Sigmasport RT	34.18
5	Luke Wallis	Pearson Cycles	34.48
6	John Lewis	Charlotteville RC	35.50
7	Mick Deen	Redmon CC	36.20
8	Ben Elliott	Kingston Wheelers CC	36.33
9	Rebecca Slack	London Dynamo Prologue	37.50
=10	Rupert Bole	Kingston Wheelers CC	38.01
=10	Geoff Smith	Sussex Nomads CC	38.01

Woman:Rebecca Slack (London Dynamo Prologue) 37.50
Veteran: Niall Digby (Sigmasport RT), 34.18
Team: Kingston Wheelers CC 1.55.02 (Elliott, Bole, Leslie)

For the full results sheet in PDF format, click here.

Gil Jessop
The Kingston Wheelers Cycling Club was formed in 1924. Six cyclists met in a cafe on the Portsmouth Road near Kingston police station. Gil Jessop, for whom this race is a memorial, joined the club in about 1930. The second world war curtailed activities for a number of years. The last club run was in 1941 and most members were called up for service. Gil Jessop served in the armed forces and after demob, he helped to reform the club in Chessington in 1953. He later became President of the club until his death in the early 1990s.

The 2009 edition of the race was cancelled due to the icy conditions. To read a report of the 2008 race click here.