Charlie’s Lubenham TT report, and the end of an era
Tuesday’s Round Robin TT 10 at Lubenham was Angela’s last event providing tea, coffee and amazing cakes. Angela has been supporting our Tuesday night TT’s for over 10 years, providing much needed refreshment for bedraggled riders. A big thank you to Angela from all your friends at Welland Valley Cycling Club, and the wider cycling community, keep in touch x
Charlie Hardwicke has really progressed this year, and is set to progress even further on a TT bike. Check out this report from Charlie:
“Tuesday night was my first ever TT on a proper TT bike and I want to start this report with a huge thank you to the club and Robert Woodford for loaning me the bike and to Phil Rayner for his great pre-race bike fit.
I arrived feeling anxious before the race, unsure whether I would be riding my road bike or the new TT bike seeing as I’d only ridden it once before (a loop through the Langtons at the weekend). However, the worry soon turned to anticipation following Phil’s speedy bike fit and, after a quick warm up to make the final decision about what I was going to ride, I was feeling much more stable and ready to race the TT bike for the first time.
We arrived at the start with a couple of minutes to spare, a bit later than usual but it did mean less time for the nerves to build up. After a brisk out-of-the-saddle start, I quickly settled in and found my rhythm, gaining confidence with the new set up and managing to stay on the skis down the hill and bends out of Theddingworth.
It all went well on the first half apart from a brief encounter with a truck towing a tank. And the TT gearing definitely gave my legs a workout on the hill into Harborough. After a swift descent from the Harborough roundabout, I was soon met with my first taste of wind on a TT bike. I was worried at first, not knowing how the situation could end, but I soon got to grips with the conditions and pushed on. Enough to catch my parents and finish ahead.
Thank you to Angela for the excellent cake and drinks back at the hall and to everyone for being so nice about my bike change and helping with what we had forgotten. I’m looking forward to my next TT!”
42 riders made it to the startline for what was Round 9 of the Round Robin TT series, and Round 21 of the Club Championship.
Fastest overall was WVCC’s Hans Van Nierop at 23:06, followed by Jamie Kershaw (23:12) and James Moore (23:22).
Fastest club woman was Milly Pinnock (26:33), with Leah Cuthbertson being fastest overall (24:48).
Huge thanks to all the officials and volunteers that made the event happen.
Results and standings courtesy of Mike Ives:
https://wellandvalleycc.github.io/events/2026-event-21.html and https://roundrobintt.github.io/events/2026-rr-event-09.html
Next up is Round Robin #10 on the Lamport course, organised by our friends at Kettering CC on Thursday 13 August. Sign up by via the CTT website:
Photos by Rich Hardwicke
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