There was still a cold nip in the air at the weekend, and this was evident in the performances of the riders who were brave enough to face the timekeeper.

Many were wearing the type of clothing that would normally indicate they were out for a training ride instead of actually racing, with woolly hats, gloves and long leggings - but at least it was one way of starting the racing season.

On Saturday some Shaftesbury CC members travelled to Suffolk to ride the Eastern Counties CA ten miles event on the A14.

There was a field of 83 and nearly all started.

The surprise of the event was SCC rider Brian Hayes who has returned to racing after a lay-off of some 20-odd years and says he is just riding to enjoy it.

He recorded a surprising time of 23 minutes 52 seconds to take the first handicap prize.

Tony Hanlon was riding his first event of the season and had a 9.5 minutes late start. His racing time would have been 25.50 and Lorna Hanlon recorded 26.24 to take second place in the ladies event.

The race was won by Glen Taylor of Team Clean-Freshstart in 21.02 with the tandem event being won by Ewan Hendon of Cyclos Uno partnered by Vic Haines of Team Clean-Freshstart.

Terry Anderson, the Shaftesbury Senior and Veterans Club champion decided to try his talents against the local veteran road racing fraternity and rode the Glendene Vets Road Race centred in the Debden area on Sunday morning.

It was a testing course over 40 miles and Terry was in the final break.

Coming up to the finish there were three riders left who sprinted for the finish and Terry not being the world's best sprinter had to give best and take a well earned third place.

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