CARMARTHENSHIRE was the destination for the country’s top 50-mile specialists as it hosted the National 50 Championships this time 12 months ago.

Pre-race favourites Marcin Bialoblocki (NOPINZ) and Emma Lewis (The Independent Pedaler) stamped their authority on the race to win the men’s and women’s events in emphatic style.

Taking place on the A40 to Carmarthen and back to Llandovery, Lewis powered around the sporting course in 1-51-31 to win by almost six minutes from Alice Lethbridge (Drag2zero).

Meanwhile Bialoblocki, who had returned from the Polish National Championships earlier in the week, won in 1-36-23 giving him the win by 3-18 from Chris Fennell (The Independent Pedaler).

Bialoblocki also led NOPINZ to the team prize too with Conrad Moss and Lee Frost while Drag2zero won the women’s team prize with Lethbridge and third placed Vicky Gill joined by Liz Powell.

Elsewhere, it was a weekend to remember for Joseph Dobson (Manchester BC) as he took two wins in as many days.

Dobson, who had showed his form earlier in the season started his weekend by winning the Manchester & District LCA 10 with a time of 21-34, beating Sam Taylor (Weaver Valley CC) by 36 seconds while Tristan Pilling completed the podium.

The women’s event on the out and back course in Cheshire was won by veteran rider Claire Harrison ((Pro Vison Cycle Clothing) whose time of 25-04 was just four seconds quicker than Emily Martin (Weaver Valley CC).

Dobson was pushed much closer the following day when he won the Jack McAllister Memorial 25 in Shropshire by just ten seconds.

His time of 53-51 pushed Ian Lawton (Mersey Tri) into second following a close battle, Deb Hutson-Lumb (Nova Raiders) was fastest woman.

For those looking to pack their weekend with events Caithness CC held three races over the two-days over 10, 11 and 25 miles.

Olga Hamilton (Orkney CC) got her weekend off to a flyer by setting a new course record over the 25-mile distance on her way to victory in the women’s race.

Host club rider Andrew MacLeod took the victory in the men’s event with a winning time of 55-28, over a minute ahead of Thomas Lynch (Orkney CC) in second, while third spot went to Vince MacLennan (Ross-shire RCC).

The second event, taking place on the following day, brought different winners in both the men’s and women’s categories in the 10-mile distance.

Rhoda Kennedy brought another win for host club Caithness CC, clocking 25-12 and beating Hamilton into second by 16 seconds.

Meanwhile, teenager Alasdair Munro (RT23) was the fastest man in 21-03 beating previous day’s winner MacLeod by 17 seconds while Lynch completed the podium places.

Hamilton made it a hat-trick of podiums and returned to the top spot in the hilly 11-mile event later the same day.

After winning in the morning Munro made it a double, but this time in emphatic style, as his time of 26-07 was over two minutes quicker than Stuart Anderson (Wick Wheelers) while David MacIvor (West Lothian Clarion) finished third.

At the opposite end of the UK, Nicholas Fennell (Thanet RC) took the narrowest of victories in the VTTA Kent 10-mile time trial.

Fennell’s winning time of 20-13 was a single second faster than Kevin Tye (VeloRefined.com Aerosmiths) while Andrew Meilak (Velorefined.com Aerosmiths) rounded off the podium.

Meanwhile, Sarah-Anne Lucas (Folkestone Velo Club) finished her run with a time of 25-43 to top the standings in the women’s event.

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission. BG