BROADWITH AND BIDDULPH DEFEND 2015 TITLES

This weekend the Mersey Roads Club hosts the 2016 RTTC National 24-hour Championships on the D24HR course based on the Quina Brook and Prees Heath Circuits starting just up the road from the Farndon Sports and Social Club at Farndon, South of Chester, the event headquarters.

No less than 94 compete for the honours, including four tandem pairs. Both of last year's champions return to defend their titles, Michael Broadwith (Arctic-Tacx RT) and Lynne Biddulph (Born to Bike-Bridgtown Cycles), who since 2004 has won the women's title six times.

Making his debut in the day-long event. Broadwith won with an impressive 537.35 miles, under four miles short of Andy Wilkinson's Competion and Championship record of 541.17 miles established in 2011.

THREAT TO TEAM RECORD?

It remains to be seen if Broadwith can hit record pace this time out. Broadwith heads a strong Arctic-Tacx RT squad with 2014 Champion Jonathan Shubert, who won with 518.28 miles, and the experienced Tim Bayley, a member of the winning Arctic RT team in 2001, who will be challenging for the Team Competition record.

Seeded riders include Robert Gray (Pedal Power Loughborough),George Marshall (Rapha CC), Gregory Woodford (Reading CC), Stuart Edwards (Royal Navy & Royal Marines CA) and Samuel Crossley (Dulwich Paragon CC) while the leading tandem duo are CC Desiragear's Mark Arnold and Chris Hopkinson.

With Broadwith away at 14-25 last of the solo riders and Arnold and Hopkinson off at 14.30. As usual Lynn's New Raven Cafe at Prees Heath will be open all night for riders and spectators. The Championship is incorporated in the 73rd Mersey Roads Club's `24` which also includes the VTTA `24` Championship.