What an amazing turnout, 103 riders took part on the WSW reliability ride named the Suffolk Punch on Sunday 12th February. The all new format Punch has 3 distances 38, 62 and 80 miles at various speeds. Riders left in groups of 6 with the first group leaving at 9am and the last group away at 9:22. The reliability ride as the name suggests is an unsupported ride with everyone responsible for their own bike and well being. Being an early season ride, the weather can be cruel but this year it was particularly kind, well above 6 degrees.
First DNF arrived back in the Club HQ just after 10am with tyre issues, the joy of tubeless. Jason Alcock the organiser of this year’s event contacted local business and secured 5 prizes including a super Garmin watch worth nearly £200 and the prizes were well received by the recipients after their ride. Some tremendous rides with the first of the 80 miler group back in less than 4 hours! Yaz provided the catering which was well received by the riders on their return with many complementary comments.
At £5 per entry the East Anglian Air Ambulance will benefit with over £625 towards their running costs.
A side note from Justin Wallace, long-time organiser of the Punch who handed over the reins to Jason Alcock this year: One little story that has emerged from Sunday’s Suffolk Punch deserves a wider audience. Barry Denny asked if I’d got any finishers certificates left as he has a collection of 23 dating back to 1992. After overcoming some serious health issues, this remarkable man now has 24. The latest, signed on behalf of Jason, who has lifted the event up a level. Here’s to number 25 Barry.