June 21st saw a number of velos setting out on a 170 mile circuit of Kent to mark the longest day,

Setting out at daybreak from the viewpoint at Blue Bell Hill, Simon Tucker, Andrew Collier, Fraser Blandford, Connor Clare, Karl Ford, Rachel Hartridge, Harvey Pope, Ali Rahmanzedh, Simon Morris and Elliott Spelman took a clockwise ride around the coast, arriving back in Medway in the evening.

Well done to all on this epic ride and thanks to Simon Tucker for organising.

Velo member David Mackey travelled to South Wales to take on the fearsome dragon ride, one of the toughest sportives in the UK.

David completed the full distance route, covering 160 miles and taking in over 4,000 metres of climbing,

Well done David!

A weekend of mixed weather saw a number of velos in time trial action.

Friday evening saw 5 velos taking part in the latest club 10. Jon Graciano underlining his dominance by claiming victory with a time of 23:22. Connor Clare was fastest road bike with 27:31, whilst Sally Smith was the fastest female.

1	Jon Graciano	Medway Velo	TT	23:22
2	Mike Stanley	Medway Velo	TT	26:20
3	Fraser Blandford	Medway Velo	TT	27:19
4	Connor Clare	Medway Velo	RB	27:31
5	Sally Smith	Medway Velo	RB (F)	28:04

Mike Stanley went again on Sunday morning, racing in the VTTA 10 on the Thanet Way course, and coming home in an excellent time of 23:59.

Thank you to all of those who rode the club 10, and thanks to Rachel, Karl and Cameron for marshalling. Thanks as well to the VTTA and their volunteers for putting their event on.

A busy weekend saw velos in time trial and sportive action.

Saturday saw the CC Bexley 10 on the Isle of Grain course, where the riders faced a brisk crosswind, however the ending of the recent road works meant that the clubs 10 mile championship could take place over the correct distance.

Debbie Percival and Rob Kennison were crowned club champs, Debbie also taking the overall victory in the female category, recording 27:16. Rob opted for his road bike and was runner up in that category with a time of 25:21. David Mackey was runner up in the club champs with his time of 26:25.

Sunday saw four velos travel to the High Weald to take part in the K20 sportive, with Debbie Percival, Rachel Hartridge, Dave Croud and Simon Tucker covering the undulating 75 mile course.

Meanwhile Bill Stacey took the high road to Scotland, completing the 91 mile Isle of Mull Sportive, braving rain, an no doubt midges too. Well one Bill!

Well done all, and thanks to CC Bexley and K20 or putting on the events.

A busy weekend saw a number of velos in racing action.

Friday evening saw the May evening 10, which despite some attempts by the anti social youths of Iwade to disrupt events, a number of good times were recorded. Jon Graciano, defending the competition he won in 2024, led the way home with a PB of 23:30, just over a minute ahead of Matt Nunn. Sally Smith also took a lead in the women’s competition, coming home in exactly 28 minutes.

Sally was also in action on Saturday afternoon, in the Southborough open 10 held on the Tenterden circuit, with Debbie Percival also joining her for the event. Debbie was the fastest velo with a time of 27.07, whilst Sally improved on her Friday night, recording 27:48.

Sunday saw the velo promoting their first open time trial of the season. Initially planned to be a 25 mile event, the race was shortened to 10 as a consequence of road works in Lenham. Thanet RCs Nic Fennell took the overall win, with Maria Sparks being the first women back. Paul Burrows was the fastest road bike, whilst Sally Smith, riding her third event in 36 hours was the fastest female road bike.

Jon Graciano was the fastest velo with a time of 23:57, with other velo times being Mike Stanley (25:30) and special mention to Rob Kennison (25:31) who rode after having pushed off all the other riders.

Elsewhere Matt Nunn travelled north to take part in the Outlaw Half Ironman triathlon in Nottingham, where he broke the 5 hour barrier with a time of 4:55:26, placing him 194th out of about 1,000 competitors, and 32nd in his category. Well done Matt!

Thank you to all those who rode our events this weekend and thank you to all the volunteers who made the event happening through timekeeping, organising or marshalling.

Result of evening 10 held on 17th May 2024, Q10/20.

1	Jon Graciano	Medway Velo	23:30	TT bike / open
2	Matt Nunn	Medway Velo	24:41	TT bike / open
3	Fraser Blandford	Medway Velo	26:57	TT bike / open
4	Sally Smith	Medway Velo	28:00	Road bike / female

Due to roadworks our open time trial is now a 10 mile event.

Velo’s Jon Graciano successfully took on the 125 mile Pilgrims Hospice Challenge sportive over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Taking on a route covering the varied terrain of East Kent Jon took on the hills in the Downs behind Dover and Canterbury, as well as the flatter roads towards Romney Marsh.

Well done Jon!

Ten velos travelled to the Isle of Grain to take part in the West Kent RC time trial, shortened to 8 miles as a consequence of roadworks near the start. Despite the non standard race distance the event formed the inaugural club road bike time trial championships, with seven of the velos opting for their road bikes, and facing a windy course and it always being a bit black over Bill’s mothers.

Debbie Percival was one of the riders who chose to ride her time trial bike, and opened her account in velo colours by winning the female race with a time of 22:32. Fraser Blandford, returning to competition, also opted for his time trial bike in the open category.

Sally Smith lead a velo one two in the female road bike event, Smith coming home in 23:14, which was also the second best time recorded by a female. Rachel Hartridge was hot on her heels with a time of 23:26, suggesting a season of good competition between the two lies ahead.

Smiths time was good enough to take home the velo’s road bike trophy for 2024.

In the men’s road bike category, Rob Kennison also claimed a podium spot overall with his time of 19:59, which also saw him claim the velo road bike title.

Matt Nunn and Dave Croud were also well placed in the men’s road bike event, Croud recording 20:23, and Nunn finishing in 21:18, whilst Mackey recorded 21:35. David Mackey, Mike Stanley and Nigel Wharton completed the velo riders in the event.

Overall the event was won by Nicholas Trbovic who came home in exactly 17 minutes.

Well done to all those who rode, and thank you to the West Kent and the marshals and timekeepers for putting on the event.