Rob Dulson

Chigwell Row-based Dulson breaks 41-year-old club record.

Hainault Roads Cycling Club’s Rob Dulson broke a 41-year-old club record on Sunday.

Dulson, from Chigwell Row, travelled to Norfolk in a successful attempt at the long-standing 12-hour record as he rode an excellent 271.9 miles to break the previous mark which has stood since 1971.

Alongside that, the performance was also good enough for fifth place in the CC Breckland event near Norwich and staked a strong claim for club, Eastern Counties Cycling Association and national best all-rounder competitions as the season gradually draws to a close.

In near perfect weather conditions, Dulson stormed through the 100-mile point in four hours 15 minutes, right on schedule to break the record at that point.

A severe storm lasted approximately an hour, but the Hainault Road cycler battled through the poor weather and gusty wind with grit and determination.

Claw back

After that had died down, the wind also dropped and Duson was able to pick up his speed and claw his way back onto his 270-mile schedule, which he was never behind.

He rode strongly to the finish to the end of his record ride, in an event which was won by Andy Wilkinson of Port Sunlight, who recorded an exceptional distance of 317 miles.