CYCLING: For the second week running Great Yarmouth Cycling Club has cause to celebrate its achievements as a top-quality sports club as the results from the Go-Race Series at the Lotus Cars Cycle Race League 2010 were published.

Last year saw GYCC return to competitive cycle racing, taking a strong team every Wednesday evening to the racing facility in Hethel, west Norwich, to compete against top riders from across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

Despite fierce competition the league table was dominated by GYCC members, with five of the top ten places going to riders from Yarmouth.

Congratulations go to GYCC sprint specialist Ben Mackett who won the overall Go-Race Series with 21 points.

Ben not only showed consistency in his riding ability but a great team spirit to assist other GYCC riders gain points in the competition.

In fourth place was Lewis Bird, whose race experience shone through from his success as a rider in the 1990s and assisted fellow team-mates in some of the handicap races where tactics played a big part.

Veteran racer Neil Turner achieved fifth place overall and showed himself to be a keystone in the success of the GYCC racing team.

He often rides to provide support for team-mates whilst passing on tips and words of wisdom to the novices such as young rider, Dominic Lee.

Dom put in a fantastic effort in his first competitive races to gain eighth overall, whilst newly-signed member Matt Smith showed his strength to finish in ninth place.

Acknowledgements also go to Julian Claxton who gained points along with veteran team-mates Norman Harlow and Paul Anderson, who acted as great ‘domestiques’ to assist in keeping the pace high for the sprinters.

Last year saw GYCC’s return to competitive cycle racing begin in style and the Lotus League was the perfect environment for this to take place.

The club gained a huge growth in membership during 2010, developing a strong core of young riders who were keen to race and show neighbouring clubs from the Eastern region just how much talent we have.

Now 2011 is already proving to be even more successful with fantastic results witnessed the previous week by young riders at Hog Hill.

This weekend promises to be a big one for the club as the EasyStart Academy is set to recommence tomorrow at Yarmouth Stadium from 9am-noon whilst on Sunday GYCC hosts one of the early-season time trials with Somerleyton Open 25 TT in which numerous riders have signed up to test themselves against the clock.

The next few weeks and months look set to be an exciting time for GYCC and as the early season time trials and road races start to increase in regularity it is the time of year a cyclist relishes.

To get involved, or to learn a bit more about what the club can offer visit www.greatyarmouthcyclingclub.co.uk