The season is moving ahead at a pace with the first of the year’s National events taking place on Sunday, the Knight Composites Classic TT Series event at Wimborne, Dorset, the first of the season’s six events in the series. This opening leg is promoted by the Wessex RC club over 24 miles and has attracted a good entry.

The Men’s looks like being dominated by the strong contingent from Team Bottrill-HSS Hire, led by Joshua Williams and John Dewey backed by George Evans and George Fox among others while Dean Robson (Northover Vets-Rudy Project), overall winner of the TT Series back in 2009, and Henry Latimer (Nuun-Sigma Sport-London RT) will be looking to challenge. Williams and Dewey have already made their mark this year, Williams taking the Wrekinsport Hilly `18` ahead of team mate Evans, while Dewey claimed the Dorking CC promoted East Surrey Hardriders event. Fox, too, has some form having triumphed in last weekend’s Wisbech Wheelers `10` while Robson already has two wins to his credit in 2017.

The Women’s listing is headed by Best All Rounder Hayley Simmonds (Team WNT Pro Cycling) and ParaCycling Multi-World Champion Sarah Storey (Storey Racing), a past overall winner,  brings with her Elizabeth-Jane Harris, Betherny Crumpton, and Jennifer George. Challengers include Jackie Field (CC Ashwell) and Louise Scupham (Team Jadan Weldtite P/B Vive Le Velo).

Veterans include Danny Axford (Arctic-Tacx RT), Dave Dent (GS Stella) and Allan Murchison (Drag2Zero) while long time TT Series supporter Rik Waddon (Para-T) heads the Paracycling entry.

Event headquarters are at the Allendale Centre, Wimborne, BH21 1AS, with the Village Green Café highly recommended for `eats and treats!`. The course starts just outside Wimborne with racing starting at 8.30am. Simmonds is away at 10am, two minutes after Storey while Joshua Williams is last away at 10.30am. The course record is 51-12. Don’t forget clocks go forward one hour at the weekend.